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The French Revolution

The ancien régime French kingdom ended in a period of violent revolution (1789–1799). The monarchy was swept away and privileges enjoyed by the nobility and clergy removed. Monasteries and religious institutions were closed. In place of the monarchy a secular republic was established. The revolutionary mantra of ‘liberté, égalité, fraternité‘ is still the motto of modern-day France. Chaos followed the revolution and a reign of terror resulted in an estimated 40,000 deaths, including King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette. A coup in 1799 led to military leader Napoleon Bonaparte taking control.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Despite ruling France for only 16 years, Napoleon (1769–1821) had a greater influence on the political and legal structures of Europe than any other person. He made peace with the Catholic church and allowed many exiled aristocrats to return, although with limited powers. In 1804 he declared himself Emperor of France and started on a series of military campaigns that saw the French gain control of much of western and central Europe. Perhaps the longest lasting of the Napoleonic reforms was the ‘Code Napoléon’, a civil legal code that was adopted throughout the conquered territories and remains today at the heart of the European legal system. When he was defeated in 1815, by the combined forces of Britain and Prussia, he was replaced as head of state by a restoration of the monarchy under Louis XVIII, brother of Louis XVI.