The French Revolution began in the summer of 1789, when a financial crisis, food shortages and anger at the privileges of the nobility and clergy led the Third Estate to proclaim itself a National Assembly. The storming of the Bastille on 14 July became its symbol. In August the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen proclaimed equality before the law. The monarchy was abolished in 1792, King Louis XVI was executed in 1793, and during the Reign of Terror, led by Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety, thousands were guillotined. France fought wars against the European monarchies throughout the period. The revolution ended when Napoleon Bonaparte seized power in the coup of 18 Brumaire. It spread ideas of citizenship and national sovereignty across Europe.
Before and after
- 1789Lavoisier publishes his Elementary Treatise on Chemistry
- 16 March 1789Birth of Georg Simon Ohm
- 28 April 1789Mutiny on the Bounty
- 20 June 1789Tennis Court Oath
- from 14 July 1789 to 9 November 1799French Revolution
- 21 August 1789Birth of Augustin-Louis Cauchy
- 28 August 1789Discovery of Enceladus
- from 15 September 1789 to 8 October 1789Siege of Belgrade
- 17 September 1789Discovery of Mimas
More in Wars, politics & history
- from 24 June 1812 to 14 December 1812French invasion of Russia
- from 1821 to 1829Greek War of Independence
- from 24 April 1846 to 2 February 1848Mexican-American War
- from 18 August 1866 to 10 May 1871Unification of Germany
- from 24 April 1877 to 3 March 1878Tenth Russo-Turkish War
- 27 August 1896Anglo-Zanzibar War
The era
This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 18th century.