French Revolution

Louis XIV becomes King at age 4.

Louis XV.

Louis XVI tried to institute reforms but cost of constant wars abroad prevented the measures from being effective.

By now Catholic Clergy the First Estate of the Kingdom. (150000).

The Monarchy was abolished and during a "Reign of Terror", the King and Queen (Marie Antoinette) were guillotined together with many aristocrats and "reactionaries".

The crippled reactionary publisher Jean-Paul Marat was assassinated in his bath if mineral salts on 13th July by Charlotte Corday, who was at once arrested and guillotined.

A moderate regime -the directory- took over but four years later was overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte, who had won fame in the war with Austria (1796 - 1797).

Napoleon made himself First Consul for life.

Napoleon established the First Empire with himself as Emperor.

Napoleon defeated at Waterloo.

Charles X succeeds Louis XVIII.

Louis - Philippe becomes King.

Monarchy replaced by the Second Republic.

The French armies defeated by Prussia and her allies.

(1914 - 1918) WWI