Can someone give me a semi-detailed summary of French history from the end of the Ancien Regime to the beginning of Napoleon III's reign?
I know the Napoleon bits, but everything else is a little fuzzy
>>904403
Here's a very sloppy summary
- France is in a financial crisis due to debts and etc. Beyond this a number of other factors contribute to unrest and the coming Revolution.
- The Third Estate forms the National Assembly as a populist solution to the crisis France finds itself declaring itself a body of the people. An outpouring of support from across the country, the Parisian populace, and some of the clergy/nobility make it impossible to immediately crush the National Assembly.
- The King/Powers That Be attempts to politically maneuver to cut the National Assembly off and otherwise render it impotent, however this comes off as indicative of an impending violent crackdown to the people whether due to misunderstanding or otherwise.
- The people take the initiative and Storm the Bastille, the political power shifts to the National Assembly. Feudalism is abolished, the rights of man are declared, a constitution is drafted. France becomes a Constitutional Monarchy.
- The powers of Europe become incredibly frightened by this of course not the least because France is the foremost land power on the continent.
>>904446
- The National Assembly continues to solidify its hold on power as various actions by the nobility and King lead to popular support continually eroding from them the King attempting to flee the country being a big one.
- France invades the Austrian Netherlands after demanding the Austrians retreat from the border fearing a counter-revolutionary invasion. The Revolutionary Wars begin.
- Factions form in the National Assembly radicals on one side want to push the Revolution further, conservatives on the other say the Revolution has succeeded and the status quo is fine now. This and other factors lead to unrest continuing to grow as the legislative process fails to bring stability to the nation.
- Meanwhile the Revolutionary armies disintegrate on the field and German forces occupy a bit of France before declaring they intend to restore the French King to his full powers. The people take this as a sign the King is conspiring with foreign powers against his own people. Support for the king evaporates.
- Louis is executed. The radical wing of the Revolution gains a fever pitch of support and the Revolution turns to extreme measures which lead to the war turning slightly in the favor of the Revolution with minor gains made in Germany and Italy.
- The Jacobins under Robespierre take overall control of the country and unleash the Reign of Terror seeking to protect France from enemies within and without. Cue lots of minor revolts in France being crushed bloodily, cue war on every border of France seesawing back and forth but with France generally making gains such as conquering the Netherlands, cue lots of executions.
>>904472
- The excess of the Reign of Terror eventually lead to an undercurrent movement rising against Robespierre in the Thermidorian Reaction. The Jacobins are mostly arrested and their politically more conservative rivals throughout the Revolution the Girondists take power. A minor White Terror occurs against the Jacobins.
- A new constitution is drafted and the Directory is formed as the new revolutionary government. The Directory turns toward dictatorship and forgoes democracy in many cases.
- On the war front France suffers some defeats but ends up keeping its conquest of Belgium and puppet state in the Netherlands, conquering Switzerland, and a good chunk of Italy with Napoleon winning particular glory there. The defeat in Italy shocks Austria into a peace treaty which gives temporary reprise in the war. Britain is the only nation still at war with France.
- France is unsurprisingly still hemorrhaging money at this point given the internal nation is a mess and wartime expenses, the country essentially supports itself by extracting resources from the locales it conquered throughout the war. With the land war quiet for not Napoleon is sent on expedition to Egypt to both disrupt British connection to their Indian colonies and establish French trade.
>>904506
- Napoleon is doing his thing in Egypt and manages to avoid the British navy but becomes stranded as his army faces attrition.
- In Europe the War of the Second Coalition starts up as the powers come back to war after gaining their breath and various diplomatic talks break down. France suffers a number of defeats and many of the gains of the previous war are lost with France being driven out of Italy. Napoleon decides to abandon his army in Egypt and sneaks himself back to France.
- By this time the Directory having never really enjoyed popular support is incredibly dependent upon the military to maintain power and Napoleon emerges as the star in the people and military's eye. Various members of the Directory approach Napoleon on his return seeking to set up a coup to maintain power and get him on their side. Napoleon goes along but keeps all power for himself becoming First Consul of France.
- Napoleon takes control of the French armies and wins a victory in Italy which returns France to its previous gains. Peace is once again established.
- When war inevitably rejoins Napoleon proceeds to rock the face of Europe for a decent chunk of time leading to proclaiming himself Emperor, setting up numerous puppet states, and leading France to its Imperial height of power. Napoleon wins the War of the Third Coalition leaving France virtually master of the continent.
>>904526
- The growing preeminence of France and creation of the Confederation of the Rhine leads Prussia into the Fourth War of the Coalition against France with Russia supporting. Napoleon smashes Prussia and punishes it with large losses of territory and the freedom of Poland. An agreement is reached with Russia and the Continental System is established against Britain.
- Napoleon seeks to eliminate Britain's last continental partner in Portugal and sends an invasion army. A combination of clever military work on the part of the Brits/Portuguese and malcontent from the Spanish whom the French sort of lord over leads the Peninsular War becoming a manpower sink for Napoleon and his first real defeat on the continent since taking power.
- Austria emboldened by the French being distracted by Iberia rises up with another war and gets slapped down again. Napoleon becomes pretty pissed about this and seeks a harsh peace on Austria but eventually concedes to marrying an Austrian princess ostensibly winning Austrian friendship and so on.
- The Peninsular War drags on and continues to be the thorn in Napoleon's side but at this time he reaches his height of power.
- Russia beings to flout the Continental System and beings supporting Britain again. Napoleon raises the largest army known to date and embarks on an Invasion of Russia.
>>904541
- As we all know the Invasion of Russia goes terribly for Napoleon who manages to win on the field and burn Moscow but is drawn into Russia and torn apart by clever Russian tactics and attrition. Forced to retreat a huge portion of the army is lost and France's continental power is shattered.
- Emboldened by France's failure the Sixth Coalition rises up and the gang gets back together with Russia, Austria, Prussia, and the United Kingdom fighting a long war to drive France back to the heartland before eventually forcing Napoleon to abdicate and admit defeat. The Bourbons are restored to the monarchy and the Ancien Regime is proclaimed once more. Napoleon is exiled to Elba.
- Napoleon escapes exile after only a few months and returns to France while the Allies of the Coalition are busy in the Congress of Vienna trying to decide the post-Revolution makeup of Europe. The Hundred Days ensue and Napoleon captures France again ejecting the Bourbons. Napoleon makes moves towards a constitutional monarchy and hopes to maintain peace in Europe. The powers that be declare him an outlaw and war resumes.
- The Waterloo campaign occurs and Napoleon is defeated for the final time and the Bourbons once again resume the throne. Napoleon is exiled to St. Helena.
- The Congress of Vienna completes and the Concert of Europe is established under the Metternich System.
- France continues to be a hotbed of liberalism but is given a Constitutional Monarchy following Napoleon's ousting. Louis XVIII begins the execution of numerous figures from the Napoleonic regime including Marshal Ney becoming the Second White Terror. Overall though the King pushes for moderation and works to not upset the Republicanism factions in the country. France enjoys about a decade of relative peace and normalcy.
>>904583
- In typical French fashion Louis mucks up the peace by going and dying without any heirs. The crown passes to his brother Charles the X. In typical Charles fashion the new king is keen on reasserting his royal powers and restoring as much of the Ancien Regime as he can. Charles does numerous symbolically absolutist things which piss people off and turn the National Legislature against him.
- Charles decides to suspend the legislature and calls for new elections. These elections produce a new legislature which he also dislikes who he suspends the constitution and declares an emergency.
- The people quickly become incensed by this and the July Revolution ensues. Fighting and shooting breaks out in the city and the loyalist lose out as soldiers defect. Charles decides to abdicate and the crown is based over to the Orleans branch of the Bourbon family which has been traditionally regarded as a more liberal branch of the Royal Family.
- Louis Phillippe is declared King of the French instead of King of France signifying his subservience to the people. He is also known as the Citizen King.
- What ensues is a clusterfuck of politics that I never bothered to get into but Louis has nearly two decades long reign which can be essentially summarized as three parties constantly bickering, rioting, having minor revolutions, gaining power, losing power. Etc. The three sides are this,
Republicans, want to abolish the monarchy and in general be more liberal
Orleanists, support the king and want to be moderate but recognize most of the populace is in the other two sides
Legitimists, want to restore a bit of absolutism and put the main line of Bourbons back on the throne.
>>904557
Thanks mate. The French Revolution really is an amazing period.
>>904608
- With France basically divided into two halves that hate each other not much is accomplished and France stagnates. Britain emerges into its Golden Age. Austria gains prestige under Metternich as arbiter of the balance of Europe. Russia is praised as militarily invincible as defeating Napoleon. Prussia gains huge influence in the Post-HRE Germany.
- Overall people don't have much confidence in or love of the government.
- Enter Napoleon the III. Exiled from France following the Restoration he floats around various countries like Switzerland putting out political papers.
- Napoleon sneaks into the country during the July Revolution and meets with the new government which agrees he can stay if he doesn't make a scene.
- Word gets out that Napoleon is at the hotel and a scene is made mourning the Emperor. Napoleon is ordered to leave but gains a new understanding for how much public support Bonaparte still holds.
- Napoleon attempts a coup marching into France but fails when the initial garrison rises for him and is defeated by a loyalist force. He attempts another coup later and is imprisoned where he writes various political papers. He is eventually exiled to Britain again. Support for the Bonapartists steadily grows as France continues to stagnate.
- The Spring of Nations occurs as the aftermath of years of the French Revolution being successful mean Liberalism and national consciousness has been steadily increasing across Europe for decades. Revolutions spring up across Europe beginning once again in France.
>>904650
- The Republicans have been steadily radicalizing and demanding things like freedom of press and the expansion of the voting franchise. Revolt and revolution occurs and the second Republic is established as Louis Phillippe is forced to abdicate.
- Napoleon sees his chance and returns to France amid great fanfare. A good chunk of the population acclaims him but others in the new republican government view him with distrust. Nonetheless through some skill of his own and immense public support he is elected president of the new Republic.
- Napoleon reigns for four years as president steadily increasing his office's power at the cost of the legislature. He is helped by the fact the constitution of the new republic created a strong executive to begin with.
- Italian unification leads to the Pope's position in the Papal States being threatened. Napoleon in keeping with Frances tradition as foremost among Catholic nations declares he will provide troop support to the Pope if necessary. This is well received by the mostly Catholic French but quickly alienates support Napoleon had among the left.
>>904650
Well, being from the country itself, my vperspective ins't the same, since we are still arguing about the French Revolution...
>>904660
- The radical republicans attempt a coup. Napoleon rallies the army and swiftly crushes the coup. The legislature is left incredibly conservative as the radical arm is arrested and taken from power.
- Seeing their chance the Conservatives embark on a quest to shut out the left from power and propose laws to restrict who can vote. Napoleon vehemently opposes this law and begins making populist strides declaring his intention to protect universal male suffrage. The military stands behind him. Coincidentally Napoleon's term as President ends and he is constitutionally unable to seek reelection. Napoleon seeks to modify the Constitution to achieve reelection. His proposal just fails.
- Unable to maintain power legally, but wholly convinced he is supported by the people if not the legislature who disapproved his amendment Napoleon organizes a coup and declares the second Empire. The rest is history.
>>904663
Yeah as an American looking in from the outside there's a lot I don't know. You basically have this tradition of revolutions occurring non-stop. The student riots under De Gaulle, the recent strikes by the infrastructure workers being just the modern occurrence of that I guess. I can see how you can argue both for and against it.
>>904684
>You basically have this tradition of revolutions occurring non-stop
That's for sure, and the right to do that actually came under Napoleon III, and the whole 1789-1871 period is often titled in books as "Revolutions & counter-revolutions" (not only in France, but also Europe tho)
>>904684
OP here
Anon, you are a true hero. Thank you very much, I always struggled with this part of French history.
>>904755
No problem mate. It was fun to write and refresh myself on it.
>>904684
>tradition of revolutions
It died off with the Commune. 68 was an exception in almost 150 years now of relative (to the preceding period) popular apathy, and it avorted.
Also, you forgot to mention Adolphe Thiers and the socialist movement. They're quite important to the second republic period.
>>904847
To be honest I was getting a little tired at the end so I started getting really succinct, definitely recommended Wikipedia reading and I'm ashamed to admit I've forgotten a lot about Thiers outside of his leadership in the Third Republic.
You're right about the revolutions dying off but I think deep in their hearts the French are still the foremost people around the world who if the need arises will flock to the banner of some revolution or another. Their problems have been more external than internal since '68. That German population advantage is a bitch haha.
>>904446
Blue pilled
>>904403
Redpilled
-France is in a financial crisis
-The roy calls the General states
-The roy try to make income of 20 % for the nobility
-The nobility refuses
-They make an assembly with the bourgeoisy
-The assembly uses the crisis and push the plebs that just wanted bread to attack the Bastille
-Assembly pretend that the Roy is traitor that love austrian
-Tier etat become suspicious, do not trust the roy anymore
