French Revolution

What events marked the start of the French Revolution and led to the rise of
Napoleon? The period we know as the French Revolution, starting in earnest in 1789,
was a time of dramatic transformation in France. Political transformation first and
foremost, but social transformation too. The Palace of Versailles found itself at the
very heart of the revolution. Built to act as the official residence of the French
monarchy during the reign of Louis XIV, the Palace still held this status under Louis
XVI.

French Revolution
The French Revolution took place between 1789 and 1799, leading to the rise
of Napoleon Bonaparte.

The French Revolution was not a single event but a series of developments that
unfolded between 1789 and 1799.

Its causes are generally agreed to be a combination of social, political and

economic factors, which the existing regime proved unable to manage.

The underlying causes of the French Revolution are generally seen as arising
from the failure of the Ancien Régime to manage social and economic
inequality.

Rapid population growth and the inability to adequately finance government

debt resulted in economic depression, unemployment and high food prices.

In addition to these social changes, the French population grew from 18

million in 1700 to 26 million in 1789, making it the most populous state in
Europe; Paris had over 600,000 inhabitants, of whom roughly one third were
either unemployed or had no regular work.

Combined with a regressive tax system and resistance to reform by the ruling
elite, it resulted in a crisis Louis XVI proved unable to manage.

In the late 18th century France was on the brink of bankruptcy due to its
involvement in the American Revolution and King Louis XVI’s extravagant
spending.

This led to a people’s revolt against the inequalities of French society, the
corruption of royal officials, and despair owing to widespread economic
hardship. This period was known as the French Revolution.
French Revolution: A brief timeline
The first date to be marked with is the 20 June 1789: Collapse of Estates-
General
The Estates-General (France’s equivalent to the British Parliament) collapses
when members of the Third Estate – which represents ‘the people’ – form their
own National Assembly, to campaign for constitutional reform. This is a bold
challenge to the King’s authority. The French Revolution has begun!

14 July 1789: Storming of Bastille

A wave of revolutionary hysteria sweeps through Paris, leading to fears of a
military coup. In retaliation, rebels storm the prison fortress of the Bastille, a
symbol of royal authority. Paris falls from the King’s control. Today this date
is celebrated as Bastille Day in France.

22 September 1792: French Republic established

After a long period of debate about how the new constitution will work, the French
Revolution takes a radical turn when revolutionaries arrest the King. The following
month, on 22 September 1792, the National Convention is established. This
proclaimed the abolition of the monarchy and established the French Republic. The
King is tried and, on 21 January 1793, he is executed as a traitor.

June 1793: Reign of Terror begins

Following the King’s execution, France goes to war with various European
powers. This signals the most violent phase of the French Revolution.
Infighting within the National Convention leads to the radical Montagnards
taking power. This marks the start of the bloody Reign of Terror (la Terreur), a
year-long period in which suspected enemies of the revolution are killed in
their thousands.

1795: The Directory takes power

A new regime – the Directory – takes power in France in 1795. The internal
political situation remains unstable, but is silenced by the army, now led by a
young general Napoleon Bonaparte. There follows a period of successes in
war: what is now Belgium is annexed, the Dutch Republic surrenders and
peace is made with the Prussians and Spanish.

Napoleon Bonaparte
What events led Napoleon to become one of history's greatest military leaders?

Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte was one of the most successful generals of the French
revolutionary armies. He was emperor of France from 1804-14, and in 1815.
Napoleon Bonaparte (1768-1821) is regarded as one of history’s greatest
military leaders. Born on 15 August 1769, Napoleon was educated at military
school in France. He then joined the army where, following the outbreak of the
French Revolution, he rapidly rose through the ranks.

Taking power
By 1796 he was commander of the French army and, in an attempt to disrupt
British trade routes with India, he conquered Ottoman-ruled Egypt in 1798,
despite the fact the British destroyed the fleet from which he had just landed his
forces, in the action called the Battle of the Nile. 
Returning to France a heroic leader in 1799, Napoleon became the country’s
‘first consul’, going on to become Emperor in 1804.
9 November 1799: Napoleonic era begins
The Directory’s four years in power are a failure, with them ceding much power to the
military to maintain order. On 9 November 1799, Bonaparte stages a coup d’état,
abolishing the Directory and appointing himself France’s ‘first consul’. This marks
the end of the French Revolution and the start of the Napoleonic era.
In 1800, at the Battle of Marengo, Napoleon defeated the Austrians, thus
establishing France’s power over continental Europe. His sole opponent was
Britain.

Peace of Amiens
The Peace of Amiens was signed in 1802, marking the end of the French
Revolutionary War. Britain, isolated from her allies, agreed to return territorial
conquests to France, Spain and Holland. But by May 1803 the treaty had
collapsed because Britain refused to evacuate Malta and Napoleon failed to
guarantee Dutch independence. Britain again declared war on France, later
followed by Austria and Russia.

British invasion
Napoleon planned an ambitious scheme to invade England in 1804. Part of the plan
involved distracting the British Navy by encouraging them to chase the French fleet,
thus clearing the Channel for invasion.
The British got wind of the plan and attacked. Although not a decisive victory,
the British forced the Franco-Spanish fleet to retreat away from the Channel and
Napoleon abandoned his invasion plans.

The British went on to successfully attack the Franco-Spanish fleet in 1805. By

then, however, Napoleon was re-focusing his efforts on attacking Austro-
Russian forces. He went on to defeat the Prussians in 1806 and the Russians in
1807. This earned him greatly expanded territories and a stranglehold over most
of Europe.
Napoleon defeated
Determined to destroy Britain, he imposed the ‘Continental Blockade’ in order
to stop British European trade. Britain retaliated by preventing any trade
entering Europe by sea.

After 1808, there was popular resistance to the French occupation of Portugal
and Spain. British forces under the Duke of Wellington began to make headway
on the Iberian peninsula. Napoleon overstretched his Empire with the 1812
Russian campaign, losing over 500,000 men. Defeated in 1813, he abdicated in
1814 and was exiled to Elba.

In February 1815, Napoleon escaped from Elba for a final 'Hundred Days' of
power. He took over the government in Paris on 20 March and prepared for war
once more. His renewed attempt to dominate Europe failed, however, and he
finally surrendered to the British after the French defeat at Waterloo on 18 June
1815.

This time he was exiled 5000 miles from Europe, on the island of St Helena,
where he lived until his death on 5 May 1821. An autopsy was carried out on 6
May; a preliminary cast for a death mask was taken on 7 May; and on 9 May the
Emperor was buried, in the presence of French and English witnesses.