Revolution 101: When The French Get Really Mad (1789)

It all started with the anger of the public. Anger grew larger and the folk hunted aristocrats like prey. Blood flowed like wine from the streets of Paris. Anger evolved into violence, and violence brought revolution with it. When the French get really mad, a revolution was born that changed the course of world history: The French Revolution.

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In our previous article, we discussed American Revolution which led to the French Revolution. In a summary, the colonies of America and their colonist, the United Kingdom had a conflict.  Not only the economic issues were a prior reason for the revolution, but also sociological and political. 

As a result, Americans began a war of independence against the United Kingdom. France was the biggest supporter of civilians in this war. However XVI. Louis’s support was not sincere, his main aim was to weaken his rival and enemy, England. He saw this conflict as a benefit for France, declared war at the weakest moment of England. He won this war, but he was completely unaware of what would happen in the future. 

The Americans declared their independence and founded a new country called the United States of America in 1776. This declaration was regarded as the cornerstone of the Age of Revolutions.

King of Debts: XVI. Louis 

A portrait of XVI. Louis, the King of France  (photo credit: listelist.com)

As a feudal tradition, aristocrats have many privileges. The people under the rule of the nobility are obliged to obey their orders. The penalty for defying orders is exile or execution.

XVI. Louis’ grandfather XV. Louis was firmly rooted in feudal traditions. His character was too weak to be king. King was under the influence of the statesmen around him, and could not decide for himself. He was also known for his devotion to women due to he was always with his favorite mistress, Madame Pompadour.

In fact, Louis XVI, who ascended the throne 15 years after his grandfather’s death, had no one to take as a role model in ruling the country. For this reason, he was under the influence of statesmen, either. Her marriage to the Austrian princess Marie Antoinette was also not going well. The turmoil in his personal life influenced his political decisions and was mostly driven by his emotions.

Far from trying to keep up with the changing world, France was firmly committed to traditional methods. However, the greatest philosophers of the Enlightenment Age, such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, were French. Tensions between the intelligentsia and the obsolete country administration were beginning to escalate. However, when these tensions spread to the public, everything would change.

King Louis XVI’s obsession with England, prevented him from realizing the problems in his own country. He had spent a large amount of money on the American Revolution and the wars with England. Despite this, agricultural production in his country came to a standstill, and trade was interrupted. The people were completely miserable.

Les Miserables*

As England did,  XVI. Louis increased the taxes as a remedy for debts. The people of France, already suffering from poverty and hunger for decades, reacted tremendously to this decision.

However, not only the people but also the national assembly thought that the King “exceeded his limits” with this decision. As a result of the American Revolution, they began to think that the Kingdom or the aristocracy could be “defeated”.

Many of them who opposed the King, met at a Tennis Court in the immediate vicinity of the assembly. This meeting would later mark history as the Tennis Court Oath. They declared that the period of obedience was over. 

Tennis Court Oath, 20 June 1789 (photo credit: DeAgostini/Getty Images)

The miserable Parisians who encouraged by this act of the Assembly met in the prison of Bastille. They were tired of hunger, debauchery, injustice, the privileges of the Aristocracy, and the arbitrary spending of the Crown.

“No Sir, It’s a Revolution!”

The administrators of the Bastille Prison were worried about the gathered Parisians. They demanded more soldiers as support, then they fired on the people to suppress the crowd. But the Parisians were so angry that the bullets could not stop them. The conflict then grew and continued as the Storming of Bastille Prison. 

The Storming of Bastille Prison, 14 July 1789 (photo credit: bildarchiv preussicher kulturbesitz)

During this turmoil between the military force and folk,  what was the king doing? 

It is rumored that the king was sleeping while the Bastille was on fire. In the morning, the Duke of La Rochefoucauld was assigned to inform the king. Louis XVI, newly awakened from his sleep. After receiving information about the last night he asked, “Is this a riot, again?” But the Duke’s answer would mark history: “No, sir, it’s a revolution.”

Revolution 101: When The French Get Really Mad (1789 – 1793)

When the conflicts got out of control, it was too late for everything. Parisians became more encouraged after the Storming of the Bastille Prison and leaned on the palace’s door. The larger the crowd, the more difficult it was to control.

They raided not only the palace but also the mansions of the aristocrats. The peasants, who were once hunted by the nobility, now became hunters. At the same time, the foundation of secularism was laid here. The clergy, who was corrupt and advocated the aristocracy, was also a symbol of inequality. They couldn’t run away from the revolutionaries, too.

The Parisians were fighting with every weapon they could reach. All Paris had turned into a bloodbath in a matter of days. The king and his family tried to escape at the last minute, but they were caught. For the aristocrats outside the palace, it was too late – because they were already dead.

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity!

(photo credit: flickr)

After the royal family’s arrest, an important issue arose for revolutionaries. Should the king and his family be left alive or executed? 

Thus the revolutionaries were divided into two groups as Girondins and Mountains. Girondins who sit on the right side of the parliament wanted the king alive. Mountains who sit left side of the parliament wanted execution. (Rightist and leftist concepts were born from here.) 

The King, Queen, and all their children were executed by guillotine one after another. 

This radical decision was a turning point that greatly influenced the French revolution. The Revolution, which succeeded with the slogans Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, would leave its place to a Radical despotism after this incident.

After all these blood, tear, poor, hunger, and pain; the Republic of France was found by the French revolutionaries. 

And the Age of the Republicans begin.

*It is a reference for one of the best novels of Victor Hugo, The Miserables. We recommend you read this novel to get detailed information about the French Revolution.

REFERENCES

https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-Europe/The-age-of-revolution

https://www.history.com/topics/france/french-revolution