French History

 

 

 

Antiquity (-3000 to 496)

 

 

            During the Antiquity, the French territory is occupied by Celts people called Galls. Between -58 and -50, Julius Caesar conquered Gaul during War of Galls. Despite some victories (Gergovia in -52), Vercingetorix is beaten by Roman armies in Alesia, in 52 before JC.

            This date is the beginning of a period in the course of witch Gaul is occupied by Romans. Towns are enlarged and a lot of roads are built. The trade increases. Galls are easy integrated in the Roman population and in the Senate.

            But during the V° century, the Roman Empire falls and is dislocated by barbarians invasions. A lot of foreign peoples attack the rich territory of Gaul. Among these people, Francs make one’s marks and beat Huns in the battle of Châlons. Then, they occupied a majority of the Gall territory. The language of this people mixes with Latin and Gall to make Ancient French.

 

 

 

Middle Ages (496 to 1488)

 

         After the dislocation of Roman Empire, the Francs have the control of a large kingdom. Their king, Clovis 1^st, is baptized by Rémi de Reims in 496: he is converted to Christianity, the religion of the country. Then this, all the kings of France will be Catholic. Historians considerate Clovis as the first king of France and as the founder of the dynasty of Merovingian. In this dynasty, when the king died, his sons divide up the kingdom. This law weakened France and the power of kings. In the family, brothers kill one another to have a largest territory. So, the dynasty was ended in 751.

            In this year, the son of Charles Martel (who beat Muslims in Poitiers in 732), Pépin le Bref was elected king. Elections take place after a decision of the pope to replace Merovingian’s kings. Pépin found Carolingian’s dynasty. His son, Charlemagne, conquered a large part of actually Germany and Italy. On December 25^th 800, he is crowned emperor of Occident by the pope. Charlemagne dies in 1814.

            His grandsons, Charles II, Lothaire and Louis II, divided the Empire in three. Charles II got the occidental part, Lothaire the median and Louis II the oriental. The occidental part is the future France and the oriental the Germany.

            During the IX° and the X° century, France was menaced by Vikings. To stop the invasion, Charles III gives them a part of his kingdom: Normandy. But the king’s power is weakened and a lot of lords are most powerful. In 987, Hughes Capet is elected king. This marks the end of the Carolingian’s dynasty and the beginning of the Capetian’s.

            At this age, the king was less powerful than the lords: he only has the control of territory around Paris, the capital. So the firsts Capetians try to enlarged their territories with weddings and battles. In the XIII°, Philippe II (called Philippe-August) conquered Normandy, Maine, Anjou and Touraine by beating the English king John Lackland. He builds walls around Paris and the Louvre.

            His grandson, Louis IX, signs peace with English and reinforce the royal authority. He takes part in the crusades in 1248 and 1270. During this last crusade, he dies of the pest. During his reign, medieval France is at the apogee of its glory and power. After his death, the pope canonizes him in 1297. Then, Louis IX is called Saint Louis.

            Philippe IV Le Bel (1285-1314) is the last great direct Capetian. During his reign, the State hasn’t enough money so he must confiscate possessions of the Jews and the Knights Templar. When he died, his sons got the power but they fast died without sons. It’s the end of Capetian’s direct dynasty.

            Philippe de Valois, the nephew of Philippe IV, is elected king in 1328. During this period, France is in an economical crisis and knows a terrible epidemic, the Black Pest. This epidemic kills around the half of the European population.

            In 1337 begins Hundred Years’ War. During 116 years, France and England fight. The cause is the territory of Guyenne and the succession of Philippe IV, the king of England being a grandson of him. At the beginning of the war, English win a lot of battles and conquered a big part of French Kingdom. But in 1428, Jeanne of Arc convinces Charles VII to be sacred king and to expulse English out of France. Jeanne will be burnt by English in 1431 but Charles VII beats English and conquered all the territories they had in France, expect Calais.

            The Middles Age takes end with the desperation of Duchy of Burgundy and Duchy of Britain, in 1488.

 

Modern Era (1488 to 1789)   

           

              From the end of XV° century to the half of the XVI°, France is at war against Italian’s kingdoms about Naples and Milan. These wars are unnecessary because Italians keep their possessions.

            During his reign, François I (1494-1547) tries to stop the progression of Charles V of Hapsburg, emperor of Germany and Austria and king of Spain. A long war between France and Spain begins in 1521 with French defeat. France loose territories but recovers its after. The war will stop in 1559, under the reign of Henri II, the heritor of François I.

            This period is marked by the Renaissance. The Italians ideas and arts come in France and in all Europe. Humanism is created; artists try to imitate antic models and the modern science is born. Renaissance lead to Reformation. Protestantism expends in Europe and in France.

            Reigns of Henri II’s sons, François II (1556-1560), Charles IX (1560-1574) and Henri III (1574-1589) are marked by Wars of Religion: the royal and catholic authority confronts Protestants, considerate as heretics. They are persecuted and massacred, like for exemple while St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in 1572. After the death of Henri III, like he hasn’t sons, the power passes to the Bourbons, a branch of the royal family.

            Henri IV becomes king but he is protestant so he must be converted to Catholicism. In 1598, he signs Edict of Nantes that end Wars of Religion. During his reign, royal authority is reinforced and when he’s assassinated by Ravaillac in 1610, the kingdom is united.

            In this period, monarchy becomes absolute: the king is all-powerful, decides alone and his power comes from God.

            His son Louis XIII has only 9 years old when his father dies so his mother assures the Regency until 1617. With his main minister, the cardinal of Richelieu, he engages France in Thirty Years War against Habsburg dynasty. He increases centralisation of power and puts down revolts against his authority.

            When he dies, in 1643, his son Louis XIV is a four years old boy. His mother and the cardinal Mazarin assure the Regency. Mazarin follows the war against Habsburgs and wins it. The Treaty of Munster (1648) marks the end of 30 Years War and accords Alsace to France.

            At his death, in 1661, Louis XIV decides to reign personnally. He increases his powerful, forbids his councillors to decide without him and the parliaments to vote edicts. To increase the power of nobility, he “domesticates” it in his fabulous château, in Versailles by organizing sumptuous parties. He expends and unites the territory by conquering Dunkerque, Lille, Douai and faraway territories like Quebec and Martinique. Louis XIV is called the Sun King because he comparatives himself to the Sun. When he dies in 1715, at the age of 77, all his sons and grandsons are died and his great-grandson is only 5 so a council of Regency has the power.

            Louis XV reigns personally from 1723 to 1774. During his reign, Corsica is given by the kingdom of Genes. This period is marked by 7 Years War. By loosing it, France looses Canada and its possessions in India, given up to England.

            Military poor, his reign is culturally rich. The XVII° century is named Age of Enlightenment. Philosophers like Voltaire and Diderot express themselves. Science progresses and begins to beat religion. Encyclopaedia is written by Diderot and D’Alembert.

            Louis XVI becomes king in 1774. In this period, the kingdom knows a big crisis: after years of war, the national debt is huge and taxes can’t erase it. The kingdom isn’t united: units of measures, laws and taxes are different according to the region. These differences hinder development of the country.

            Monarchy has failed, the Revolution begins.

 

French Revolution (1789 to 1794)

         In 1789, to stop economical crisis, Louis XVI convenes States-General on May 1^st. In two months, Third Estate representatives succeed to put end to the absolute monarchy. On July 14^th, Parisians, exasperated by crisis,

attack Bastille and take it. It’s the origin of national fete and the tricolour flag. On August 4^th, deputies vote abolition of nobility’s privileges. This date marks the end of the Ancient Regime and the beginning of a new era. On August 26^th,   Declaration of the Rights of

Man and of the Citizen is

written. A constitutionally monarchy is born.

But this monarchy fails and Louis XVI is executed on January 21^st 1793. This execution leads to

protestations of European monarchies. Revolts break out in the west of the territory where royalists live. Republic is attacked everywhere. Radical revolutionaries are elected in Assembly and declare Reign of Terror: all people suspected to be royalist are killed. The leader of this, Robespierre, will be executed too. Finally, in 1794, enemy monarchies are beaten and Republic is preserved.

Consulate and First Empire ( 1794 to 1815) 

After the Revolution, a Republic called Directoire is created. But this is a non-democratic one and people want to change. In 1799, a general named Napoleon Bonaparte makes a coup d’état and establishes Consulate. This regime will be change in am Empire in 1804, where Napoleon is all-powerful. He is crowned Emperor of French on December 2^nd 1804.

            During First Empire, Napoleon doesn’t stop to expend his territory by declaring war against all European countries. He beats third coalition in Austerlitz (12/02/1805), Prussia in Iena and Auerstedt. In 1812, he leads Russian Campaign with his army, the Grande Armée. But he fails and is defeated by Russia. He must sound the retreat and the majority of his soldier died.

            The, he is defeated by English and Prussians at Waterloo (1815) and must abdicate.He will be exiled to St Helene and die there.

Restoration and July Monarchy (1815 to 1848)

            After the fall of First Empire, Bourbons take the power again. A constitutional monarchy is established and Louis XIII becomes king. But he dies in 1824 and his brother Charles X succeeds him. Charles X wants to restore the Ancient Regime and erase Revolution’s changes. He is sacred in Reims in 1825 and in 1830, he wants to remove censure, dissolve Assembly and reserve vote right to big terrains owners.

            People don’t agree these reforms and revolt on July 27^th-30^th 1830: there is July Revolution. Louis-Philippe

is chose as new king. Under his reign, France begins to be industrially. But the vote isn’t universal and poor people can’t choose represents. In 1848, after the interdiction of a meeting of liberals, a revolt breaks out in Paris. Louis Philippe abdicates on February 23^rd 1848 and the Second Republic is proclaimed.

Second Republic ( 1848 to 1852)

            The nephew of Napoleon 1^st, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte is elected president of Republic by universal vote.

Laws are voted to abolish slavery and France conquered Senegal.

Second Empire (1852 to 1870)

            In 1852, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte make a coup d’état and establish Second Empire. After a plebiscite, he is named emperor as the name of Napoleon III. He erases politic liberty and written liberty. His opposites are purchased. He changes Republic into totalitarian regime. After 1860, the regime liberalizes and a new plebiscite welcomes these democratic changes.

            This period is this of Industrial Revolution: railroads are built everywhere in France, industry develops and production increase. Paris is transformed by Haussmann.

            But this Empire is defeated in some weeks by Prussians in 1870. On August 6^th alsace is conquered and Napoleon III capitulates in Sedan on September 2^nd. When they know this, Parisians declare Third Republic.

 

Third Republic (1870 to 1940)

            Third Republic is proclaimed after the fall of Second Empire. This democratic Republic will know the two World Wars.

            In 1898, Dreyffus affair is a political scandal and a big judiciary failure. A Jude captain of the army is accused of spying. Without proofs, he is condemned to be exiled and he is degraded. But true is discovered in 1906. The accusation comes from he’s Jude.

World War I (1914 to 1918)

            In 1914, France, United Kingdom and Russia declare war to Germany. Fast, German armies conquered east of France. Millions of people are mobilized to fight the enemy. Front line no moves during months. In 1916, Germen attack Verdin but French led by marshal Pétain keep their positions. After six months and around 500000 dead, France wins the battle. In 1918, after four years of war, France, United Kingdom and United States beat Germany and Prussia. In this war, around 1.4 millions French are died, and millions other are wounded.

France in the 30s

            In 1931, France is reached by the economical crisis come from USA. Unemployment increases and industrial production weakens. Anti-Semitism increases. To fight it, all socialist parties gather to create Popular Front. In 1936, they win legislative elections against radicals and set up social reforms of 40h week and holydays. So, France saves democracy.

World War II (1939 to 1945)

            When Germany attacks Poland in 1939, France and England decide to declare war against Hitler. In 1940, French army is defeated by Germen and must sign armistice. The territory is separated in two: at North, the occupied zone and at South, the free zone governed by Philippe Petain. He establishes a totalitarian regime allied to Germany: Etat Français. But Charles de Gaulle, a general, decides to fight and flees to England. He calls French to fight against Germany and to create Résistance.

            In 1944, Allied troops disembark in Normandy and liberate France. When Germany is defeated and WWII takes end, France establishes Fourth Republic.                

Fourth Republic (1946 to 1958)

            This Republic, created in 1946, is marked by the beginning of decolonization. In 1954, a war breaks out in Vietnam, a French colony. French must quit this region after a long war. On November 1^st 1954, some Algerian

nationalist launch War of Algeria. The government is broken up: some ministers think kill all rebels and others prefer a moderate riposte.

            Republic fails to remove order in Algeria and asks to the General de Gaulle to take power.

Fifth Republic (1958 to ?)

            De Gaulle accepts and takes end to Algerian War by proposing to Algerians to decide of their future. They choose independence. In December 1958, he is elected first President of Fifth Republic. He is reelected in 1965, beaten François Mitterrand. But manifestations in May 1968 weaken his popularity and he has to demission in 1969, after the echoic of a referendum. Georges Pompidou is elected in1969. His mandate is marked by the petrol crisis in 1973. Pompidou dies in 1974.

            Valery Giscard d’Estaing becomes President after his death. During his mandate, France knows a economical crisis taken end to the Trente Glorieuses. He is beaten in the election of 1981 by Francois Mitterrand. Mitterrand is the fourth President of Fifth Republic. He is reelected in 1988. He abolishes death sentence. His mandate takes end with the elction of Jacques Chirac in 1995.

            Jacques Chirac chooses Lionel Jospin as Prime minister during his first mandate. In 2002, he was reelected against the extremist candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen with 82% of votes. He decides not participation of France in war in Iraq.

            In 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy is elected against Ségolène Royale. He is the actually President of French Republic.