Timeline of French Revolutions 1789-1870

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Who Would Be King of France Today?

CREDITS:
Chart: Matt Baker
Script/Narration: Matt Baker
Editing: Jack Rackam
Intro animation: Syawish Rehman

[UsefulCharts]

Be sure to check out the full Project Revolution Playlist:

[奇歐尼]

French people：Do you wanna be king？
Henri： *Well yes, but actually no*

[bobprunty]

Fun fact: Henri became both the legitimist and orleanist candidate and almost became king. The only reason why this happened was because he didnt want to have the tricolor flag.

[iammrbeat]

What a turbulent time in French history. Great way to break it down.

[HikmaHistory]

Love the breakdown, made it super easy to follow!

[mr]

Excellent synopsis! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I would add: 3 revolutions but also 7 coups-d’états.
1st Republic:
- Coup 1: Jacobins seize power (those behind Danton and Robespierre) and declare a republic. Many historians regard this as the true revolution and what happened in 1789 to be just a reform from absolute to constitutional monarchy.
- Coup 2: 1793, Thermidorians overthrow Robespierre and bring in a bourgeois authoritarian republic (the Directory)
- Coup 3: 1799, 18th Brumaire, Bonaparte seizes power and brings in his Consulate, which morphs into the Empire in 1804.
2nd Republic: Louis-Philippe overthrown in February.
- Coup 4: June 18, the Assembly overthrows Lamartine’s democratic government and installs an authoritarian republic.
- Coup 5: December 1851, President Louis Bonaparte overthrows himself and brings in another “consulate” which like his uncle’s becomes an Empire a year later.
3rd Republic, 4 September 1870:
The Paris Commune of 1871 was a revolt like that of the 1792 coup and the 1832 revolt. But by then the 3rd republic gradually became more and more democratic over the years, so that by 1940 it was the right that was rumbling for revolt.
- Coup 6: 1940, marshal Pétain overthrows the 3rd Republic and installs the quasi-fascist French state with Nazi support.
4th Republic:
- Coup 7: 1958, general DeGaulle does a bloodless quasi-pseudo coup to bring in the 5th Republic, which was probably a good thing... Not all coups are bad.

[professorlove]

Fun fact if you want to carry the story forward (perhaps in another video): Napoleon I's brother Jérôme Bonaparte was the father of Jérôme Napoléon Bonaparte, whose son Charles Joseph Bonaparte graduated from Harvard College in 1871 and became US Secretary of the Navy, US Attorney General, and the founder of the FBI.

[stephendeslandes]

Excellent video Matt. Such a confusing time in French history and you have laid it out succinctly and clearly. Hope you do more timeline style videos and charts in the future

[rklong]

I've needed a clear explanation for years. High School World History glossed over most of these complications. Also thank you for including the Les Miserables reference. I watched the Masterpiece Theater version, and they put dates on all the segments. This chart puts them in better context. This made me think of the last two seasons of Victoria. Louis Phillippe shows up twice. Who can say if the dialog is correct, but were the dates correct?

[jeremieherard]

I learned more about my own country's history in this video than in school. Thanks man !

[HoH]

Liang Qichao, one of China's most prominent reform proponents before the Qing dynasty collapsed, considered the "medicine of liberty" to "cure for the corruption and degeneration of China". He shied away from a violent approach such as the French revolution, stating that the sacrifices of 1789-1793 were rewarded only in 1870, with the rewards barely measuring up to the expectations. I think this video makes all too clear that he was right: France struggled with its political system for decades after its initial revolution. Great video, thoroughly enjoyed the timeline!

[luizsa]

You guys just made my Saturday with your revolution videos.Thank you all!

[OldLady-umkt]

Wish you had been my history teacher. (long before you was even born lol) I use to fall asleep listening to teachers but you make history interesting and easy to follow along with your wonderful charts. I find myself watching your videos rather than watching Netflix. So thank you for making these videos. Have a great week. Hugs!

[deerdrickprancer]

thers barely anyone explainin 19th century french history in english. I really appreciate u making this. answered alot of my question

[andresmacgaul]

Fantastic! Thank you -- very clear and concise.

[ThisisBarris]

Great overall view of France's revolutions Matt! It was a pleasure collaborating with you and Ancient Accounts on this subject.


Little story: While generally believed to be untrue by historians today, there were a lot of rumors spread by Napoleon's III enemies that he wasn't the legitimate child of Napoleon I's brother and in fact, the child of another man since his parents' marriage was rather tumultuous. Some of these staunch opponents were Victor Hugo and Noël Madier de Montjau, which is the guy I use as my character, who happens to be one of my ancestors!


So yeah, that's about the only relevance my family has with French history.

[marto]

The cooperations between channels is great.

[lolwat]

As always thank you for your awesome videos, Sir 😄

[cathyesteve]

Napoleon the second was not second after his father's death, but (unofficially, aged 4 y/o) a couple of hours (days?) after his father's abdication in 1815.
Great video, l never quite noticed the back and forth political struggles all over the 19th century from this very straightforward and synthesised perspective! (I'm French though, who loves history). Always something to learn 👍

[riddlie]

Tricolors drool, white flags rule!


-Henri, probably