Search results for: french revolution

Stories about the French Revolution frequently begin with the fall of the Bastille because it was a pivotal moment that happened on 14 July 1789 when revolutionaries stormed the prison that had once been a fortress. For many of them, the Bastille was a symbol of Louis XVI’s tyranny and monarchical despotism and therefore important…

Suppose you see a severed head dripping blood on a pike. What do you feel? Revulsion? Terror? Severed heads were often a common image associated with the French Revolution. Why were they so prevalent and how prevalent were they?

During the French Revolution, between 5 September 1793 and 28 July 1794 (a period known as The Terror), it has been estimated that at least 40,000 people were executed, including Maximilien Robespierre, a French lawyer and politician, and one of the best known and most influential figures associated with the French Revolution. Official records however…

Reine Audu, a heroine of the French Revolution, was born Louise-Renée Leduc. She became a French fruit seller in Paris and first gained recognition in October of 1789, when she and others led the Women’s March on Versailles resulting in Royal Family being taken to the Tuileries Palace in Paris. At the time, the marching…

All sorts of events were associated with dogs during the French Revolution and many stories exist because the revolution was a chaotic time not just for people but also for the dogs. Sometimes dogs suffered danger and sometimes they were the danger. Dogs also helped to maintain prisoner morale, functioned as messengers, and sometimes served…

The Cult of Reason (Culte de la Raison) was the first state sponsored atheistic religion. Bringing this civic religion to fruition was the Festival of Reason (Fête de la Raison), a celebration that would launch a dechristianization movement. The Cult of Reason had been created to replace Roman Catholicism because there was great unhappiness over…

Among the places of the French Revolution was the Place Louis XV (later called the Place de la Concorde). It was located between the Palais des Tuileries and the Champs Élysées. The square, which was originally a spot where market-gardeners grew cabbage and lettuce, was established and named in honor of King Louis XV. Ange-Jacques…

The French Revolution was a tumultuous ten-year period from 1789 to 1799 that had far-reaching social and political affects. During this time, there were many social and political groups at odds because of conflicting wants and needs. Exacerbating the situation was financial issues, frequent famines, and Enlightenment ideals. Because of the upheaval many deaths occurred:…

The Palais-Royal was original known as the Palais-Cardinal. It was the personal residence of Armand Jean du Plessis, known as Cardinal Richelieu. Designs were made by his architect — Jacques Lemercier — in 1629 and construction began in 1633. It took six years of hammering and pounding to complete and was not finished until 1639.…