French Revolution History Timeline and Biographies

1789

The Estates-General Meeting

In May 1789, King Louis XVI convened the Estates-General, a general assembly representing the three estates of the French society: clergy, nobility, and commoners. This meeting marked the beginning of the French Revolution as the commoners, frustrated by their lack of power, began to demand reforms.

1789

The Tennis Court Oath

On June 20, 1789, members of the Third Estate, feeling sidelined, gathered in a tennis court and vowed not to disband until a new constitution was established. This event symbolized the unity and determination of the common people in the French Revolution.

1789

The Storming of the Bastille

On July 14, 1789, revolutionaries stormed the Bastille prison, a symbol of royal tyranny. This event is often regarded as the flashpoint of the French Revolution, leading to widespread insurrection across France and the eventual fall of the monarchy.

1789

Adopted on August 26, 1789, this foundational document of the French Revolution proclaimed the rights of individuals and the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. It laid the groundwork for modern human rights and democratic governance in France and beyond.

1790

In July 1790, the National Assembly passed the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, which restructured the Catholic Church in France, bringing it under state control. This move alienated many devout Catholics and intensified divisions during the French Revolution.

1791

In June 1791, King Louis XVI and his family attempted to escape Paris to seek support from loyalists. They were apprehended in Varennes and brought back, which further eroded public trust in the monarchy and escalated tensions during the French Revolution.

1792

On September 21, 1792, the National Convention abolished the monarchy and proclaimed the First French Republic. This marked a significant turning point in the French Revolution, shifting power from the king to the people.

1793

On January 21, 1793, King Louis XVI was executed by guillotine, a dramatic event that underscored the radical turn of the French Revolution. His death symbolized the end of absolute monarchy in France and intensified the revolutionary fervor.

1793

From September 1793 to July 1794, the Reign of Terror was marked by mass executions of perceived enemies of the revolution, led by Maximilien Robespierre. This period highlighted the extremes to which the French Revolution had descended in its quest for purity and loyalty.

1794

On July 27, 1794, Maximilien Robespierre was arrested and executed the following day. His fall marked the end of the Reign of Terror and a shift in the French Revolution towards more moderate governance, known as the Thermidorian Reaction.

1795

In October 1795, the Directory was established as the new government of France, replacing the National Convention. It represented a more conservative phase of the French Revolution, characterized by corruption and inefficiency, leading to further discontent.

1799

On November 9, 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte staged a coup d'état, overthrowing the Directory and establishing the Consulate. This event effectively ended the French Revolution and marked the beginning of Napoleon's rise to power.

1804

In December 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor of the French, consolidating power and effectively ending the revolutionary ideals of the French Revolution. His reign would shape France and Europe for years to come.

1848

The ideas of the French Revolution continued to inspire uprisings across Europe in 1848, known as the Springtime of Nations. These revolutions sought to achieve the democratic principles established during the French Revolution and highlighted its lasting impact on global politics.