Timeline of the French Revolution
A chronological account of the major events that shaped the French Revolution, from its early stirrings to its tumultuous conclusion.
- Category
- Humanities & Culture
- Tag
- revolutions
- Events
- 16 events 1774–1804
- Added
1774: Accession of Louis XVI
Louis XVI ascends to the throne of France at the age of 20. He inherited a deeply divided country with a looming financial crisis.
Wikipedia1787: Aristocratic Revolt
The French nobility and clergy rebel against proposed taxation and the summoning of the Estates-General, which had not been convened since 1614. This conflict between the privileged classes and the monarchy is a precursor to the revolution.
britannica.com1788: The Organization of the Revolution Begins
Political clubs begin to form in France, including the Society of the Friends of the Constitution, also known as the Jacobin Club. These organizations played an important role in shaping the events of the French Revolution.
Wikipedia1788: Bankruptcy of the French Crown
France faced an economic crisis and Louis XVI called the Estates-General to try and solve the financial problems. The Estates-General met in 1789 and led to the outbreak of the revolution.
Wikipedia1789: Women's March on Versailles
Thousands of women from Paris marched to Versailles in protest against high food prices and demanded an audience with King Louis XVI. The march is seen as a key event in the French Revolution, as it forced the royal family to move from Versailles to Paris, bringing them under the control of the revolutionary government.
Wikipedia1789: Fall of the Bastille
The Bastille, a symbol of royal tyranny, is stormed by revolutionaries in Paris, marking the beginning of the French Revolution.
Wikipedia1789: Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
The French National Assembly adopts a revolutionary document that declares the rights of individuals and the limits of government power.
Wikipedia1791: Flight to Varennes
King Louis XVI and his family attempted to flee Paris and the revolutionary forces, but were recognized and apprehended in the town of Varennes. The failed escape damaged the king's reputation and strengthened the position of the revolutionaries.
Wikipedia1792: King Louis XVI is overthrown
The French National Convention votes to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic, and King Louis XVI is subsequently put on trial and executed.
Wikipedia1792: France declares war on Austria
France, now a republic, declares war on Austria, leading to a series of conflicts known as the French Revolutionary Wars.
Wikipedia1793: Reign of Terror
The Committee of Public Safety, led by Maximilien Robespierre, initiates a period of mass executions and political repression known as the Reign of Terror.
Wikipedia1793: Execution of Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette, the former queen of France and wife of King Louis XVI, is put on trial and executed by guillotine.
Wikipedia1794: Execution of Maximilien Robespierre
Maximilien Robespierre, the architect of the Reign of Terror, is arrested and executed by guillotine, marking the end of the most radical phase of the revolution.
Wikipedia1795: The Directory
A new government, known as the Directory, is established in France, replacing the Committee of Public Safety and marking a period of relative stability.
Wikipedia1799: Coup of 18 Brumaire
Napoleon Bonaparte staged a coup d'etat and overthrew the Directory, establishing himself as First Consul of France. The coup marked the end of the French Revolution and the beginning of the Napoleonic era.
Wikipedia1804: Napoleon declares himself emperor
Napoleon Bonaparte crowns himself emperor of France, establishing the First French Empire.
Wikipedia