Pardon My French
Reputedly, these were among the final words of King Louis XV upon his deathbed, "Apres moi, le deluge!" and they translate to mean this...
What is "After me, the storm (flood)!"?
Priests, Bishops and members of the Roman Catholic clergy belonged to this Estate.
What was the First Estate?
On June 20, 1789 the members of the Third Estate and some reform-minded members of the First and Second Estate arrived to Versailles only to discover they had been locked out. They instead convened in nearby indoor handball court where they declared themselves The National Constituent Assembly and swore this pledge to remain until a new constitution for France had been drafted.
What was "The Tennis Court Oath"?
This event occurred on July 14, 1789 when rumors spread throughout Paris that King Louis XVI was assembling troops to quell the food riots and uprisings. In response the Paris mob stormed the fortress prison in the center of the city, capturing munitions and gunpowder, and liberating the few political prisoners held there. It is considered the start of the French Revolution.
What was "The Storming of the Bastille"?
This minor officer in the French army was actually a native of the island of Corsica. His ambition and skills as a commander quickly elevated him to the commander-in-chief of the French Army by October 1795.
Who was Napoleon Bonaparte?
This was the radical newspaper published by Jean-Paul Marat known as "L' Ami du Peuple" which translates to mean
What is "The Friend of the People"?
The traditional French nobility belonged to this Estate.
What was the Second Estate?
This faction within the National Assembly were the more moderate group who advocated for a Constitutional Monarchy similar to that of Great Britain.
Who were the "Girondins"?
This invention was developed by a physician and was considered the most efficient and humane method of execution available at the time. It would be used to execute thousands of French citizens suspected of disloyalty during "the Reign of Terror," and was nicknamed "The National Razor."
What was the guillotine?
In November 1795, this small governing body replaced the National Convention and ruled ineffectively from 1795 - 1799.
What was "The Directory"?
These were the women of Paris who marched to Versailles Palace in October 1789 complaining about the food shortages and demanding that King Louis XVI return with them to Paris. They were known as "Les Poissardes" which means...
What is "The Fish Women"?
Members of the bourgeoisie merchant class, landed gentry, small farmers, skilled craftsmen and artisans, shop keepers, and the working peasant class all belonged to this Estate.
What was the Third Estate?
This faction within the National Assembly were more radical and wanted to abolish the French monarchy and establish a French Republic. They actually began as a debating club in Parisian universities.
Who were the "Jacobins"?
This letter was sent n June 1792 by an Austrian commander to the people of Paris demanding that King Louis XVI be restored to the throne and obeyed, and threatening an invasion by the Austro-Prussian army if the warning was not heeded. Copies were re-printed and circulated throughout France, and the letter intended as a threat backfired when instead it resulted in outrage by the French citizenry.
What was the "Brunswick Manifesto"?
In November 1799, Napoleon and Abbe Sieyes hold a secret meeting and carry out this plot to take control.
What was a "coup d'etat" and overthrow of The Directory?
This was the slogan of The French Revolution, and it translates to mean, "Liberty! Equality! Brotherhood!" How was it expressed in French?
What is "Liberte! Egalite! Fraternite!"?
This representative body of the Three Estates was called into convention at Versailles by King Louis XVI for the first time in 175 years in May 1789.
What was L'Etats Generale (The Estates General)?
Nicknamed "The Incorruptible," this lawyer and powerful orator was the leader of the more radical element in the National Assembly and became the voice of the French Revolution.
Who was Maximillien Robespierre?
This "revolutionary commune" of working class peasants took control of the city government of Paris in August 1792, but because they refused to wear the traditional knee-breeches of the aristocracy, preferring to wear their long working class pants, they became known by this nickname.
Who were the "sans culottes" (without pants)?
On December 2, 1804 with Pope Pius VII in attendance at Notre Dame Cathedral, Napoleon is coronated and crowns himself with this title.
What was "Emperor of France, Napoleon I"?
This song was sung by the French National Guard as they marched from Marseilles to Paris to defend the capital against the prospect of an Austrian invasion. It eventually became the French National Anthem.
What is "Les Marseillaise"?
Although the First and Second Estates combined made up only about 3% of the population of France, each of the Estates had leveraged representation in the voting of The Estates General. Additionally, they both shared this traditional privilege.
What is "Exemption from Taxation"?
This document was completed, officially adopted and signed on August 26, 1789. It would later become the Preamble to the French Constitution of 1791.
What was "The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen"?
These events occurred in quick succession in January 1793, and officially put an end to the French monarchy.
What were the trial and conviction of King Louis XVI for treason, and his execution at the guillotine.
This failed invasion from the spring of 1812 until the end of winter 1813 led to the loss of Napoleon's army from 600,000 soldiers to as few as 10,000 by the end of the campaign.
What was Napoleon's invasion of Russia?