Kingdom of the French (1791–1792)
Encyclopedia
The Kingdom of France officially known as the Kingdom of the French , was a short-lived constitutional monarchy
that governed France from 3 September 1791 to 21 September 1792. De jure, the Kingdom of the French officially ended in 1814, after the restoration
and when Louis XVIII became the De facto ruler of the Kingdom of France. Louis XVI (previously "King of France") ruled as the King of the French from the state's creation until its demise. From 1792, Louis XVII, son of Louis XVI, ruled as De jure and titular King of the French until 1795. The Kingdom of the French was France's first constitutional monarchy. Before that, France
was an absolute monarchy
. The Legislative Assembly
suspended the monarchy on 11 August, the day after the Storming of the Tuileries Palace. The Legislative Assembly put the fate of the monarchy into the hands of the National Constituent Assembly
(elected by universal male suffrage). The freshly elected National Constituent Assembly abolished the monarchy on 21 September 1792, ending 203 years of consecutive Bourbon
rule over France. The House of Bourbon would not rule France De facto again until 1814, when Louis XVIII, brother of Louis XVI and uncle of Louis XVII, would regain power in the restoration of the monarchy
.
in its government and social orders. In June 1789, a National Assembly
declared itself into being, and promulgated their intention to provide France with a fair and liberal constitution. Louis XVI moved to Paris in October of that year. Louis XVI grew to detest Paris, and organised an escape plot in 1791. The escape plot, known as the Flight to Varennes
, ultimately failed to materialise. It destroyed any positive public opinion for the monarchy. Louis XVI's brothers-in-exile in Coblenz rallied for an invasion of France. Austria
and Prussia
responded to the royal brothers' cries and released the Declaration of Pillnitz
in August. The declaration stated that Prussia and Austria wish to restore Louis XVI to absolute power, but would only attempt to do so with the assistance of the other European powers.
by the National Assembly
in September of that year, in the aftermath of his Flight to Varennes to the Austrian Netherlands. The Constitution of 1791, which established the Kingdom of the French, was revolutionary in its content. It abolished the nobility
of France, created all men equal before the law, and took the ability to ratify legislation away from the King, and gave it to France’s new legislature the Legislative Assembly
. Louis XVI had the ability to veto legislation that he did not approve of, as the legislation still needed Royal Assent
to come into force.
, Commander of the Austrian & Prussian joint military) brought about the Storming of the Tuileries on 10 August 1792. The manifesto explicitly threatened the people of Paris with dire repercussions if they in any way harmed Louis XVI or his family. This infuriated the Parisians and the aforementioned event occurred as a result. The Legislative Assembly was inundated with requests for the monarchy's demise. The President of the National Assembly responded by suspending the monarchy on 11 August pending the outcome of elections for another assembly. The newly elected National Convention, elected under universal male suffrage, abolished the monarchy on 21 September 1792. The convention proclaimed a republic in the monarchy's place.
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
that governed France from 3 September 1791 to 21 September 1792. De jure, the Kingdom of the French officially ended in 1814, after the restoration
Bourbon Restoration
The Bourbon Restoration is the name given to the period following the successive events of the French Revolution , the end of the First Republic , and then the forcible end of the First French Empire under Napoleon – when a coalition of European powers restored by arms the monarchy to the...
and when Louis XVIII became the De facto ruler of the Kingdom of France. Louis XVI (previously "King of France") ruled as the King of the French from the state's creation until its demise. From 1792, Louis XVII, son of Louis XVI, ruled as De jure and titular King of the French until 1795. The Kingdom of the French was France's first constitutional monarchy. Before that, France
Early Modern France
Kingdom of France is the early modern period of French history from the end of the 15th century to the end of the 18th century...
was an absolute monarchy
Absolute monarchy
Absolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government in which the monarch exercises ultimate governing authority as head of state and head of government, his or her power not being limited by a constitution or by the law. An absolute monarch thus wields unrestricted political power over the...
. The Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly (France)
During the French Revolution, the Legislative Assembly was the legislature of France from 1 October 1791 to September 1792. It provided the focus of political debate and revolutionary law-making between the periods of the National Constituent Assembly and of the National Convention.The Legislative...
suspended the monarchy on 11 August, the day after the Storming of the Tuileries Palace. The Legislative Assembly put the fate of the monarchy into the hands of the National Constituent Assembly
National Constituent Assembly
The National Constituent Assembly was formed from the National Assembly on 9 July 1789, during the first stages of the French Revolution. It dissolved on 30 September 1791 and was succeeded by the Legislative Assembly.-Background:...
(elected by universal male suffrage). The freshly elected National Constituent Assembly abolished the monarchy on 21 September 1792, ending 203 years of consecutive Bourbon
House of Bourbon
The House of Bourbon is a European royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty . Bourbon kings first ruled Navarre and France in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Bourbon dynasty also held thrones in Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Parma...
rule over France. The House of Bourbon would not rule France De facto again until 1814, when Louis XVIII, brother of Louis XVI and uncle of Louis XVII, would regain power in the restoration of the monarchy
Bourbon Restoration
The Bourbon Restoration is the name given to the period following the successive events of the French Revolution , the end of the First Republic , and then the forcible end of the First French Empire under Napoleon – when a coalition of European powers restored by arms the monarchy to the...
.
Background
In the years before, France had been undergoing a RevolutionFrench Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
in its government and social orders. In June 1789, a National Assembly
National Assembly (French Revolution)
During the French Revolution, the National Assembly , which existed from June 17 to July 9, 1789, was a transitional body between the Estates-General and the National Constituent Assembly.-Background:...
declared itself into being, and promulgated their intention to provide France with a fair and liberal constitution. Louis XVI moved to Paris in October of that year. Louis XVI grew to detest Paris, and organised an escape plot in 1791. The escape plot, known as the Flight to Varennes
Flight to Varennes
The Flight to Varennes was a significant episode in the French Revolution during which King Louis XVI of France, his wife Marie Antoinette, and their immediate family attempted unsuccessfully to escape from Paris in order to initiate a counter-revolution...
, ultimately failed to materialise. It destroyed any positive public opinion for the monarchy. Louis XVI's brothers-in-exile in Coblenz rallied for an invasion of France. Austria
Archduchy of Austria
The Archduchy of Austria , one of the most important states within the Holy Roman Empire, was the nucleus of the Habsburg Monarchy and the predecessor of the Austrian Empire...
and Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
responded to the royal brothers' cries and released the Declaration of Pillnitz
Declaration of Pillnitz
The Declaration of Pillnitz was a statement issued on 27 August 1791 at Pillnitz Castle near Dresden by the Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II and Frederick William II of Prussia...
in August. The declaration stated that Prussia and Austria wish to restore Louis XVI to absolute power, but would only attempt to do so with the assistance of the other European powers.
Constitution
Louis XVI was forced to adopt the Constitution of 1791French Constitution of 1791
The short-lived French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution of France. One of the basic precepts of the revolution was adopting constitutionality and establishing popular sovereignty, following the steps of the United States of America...
by the National Assembly
National Assembly
National Assembly is either a legislature, or the lower house of a bicameral legislature in some countries. The best known National Assembly, and the first legislature to be known by this title, was that established during the French Revolution in 1789, known as the Assemblée nationale...
in September of that year, in the aftermath of his Flight to Varennes to the Austrian Netherlands. The Constitution of 1791, which established the Kingdom of the French, was revolutionary in its content. It abolished the nobility
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
of France, created all men equal before the law, and took the ability to ratify legislation away from the King, and gave it to France’s new legislature the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly (France)
During the French Revolution, the Legislative Assembly was the legislature of France from 1 October 1791 to September 1792. It provided the focus of political debate and revolutionary law-making between the periods of the National Constituent Assembly and of the National Convention.The Legislative...
. Louis XVI had the ability to veto legislation that he did not approve of, as the legislation still needed Royal Assent
Royal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
to come into force.
Demise
Louis XVI reluctantly declared war on Austria on 20 April 1792, bowing to the assembly's wishes. Prussia allied with Austria, and therefore France was at war with Prussia as well. The Brunswick Manifesto of August 1792 (issued by the Charles William Ferdinand, Duke of BrunswickCharles William Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick
Charles William Ferdinand , Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, was a sovereign prince of the Holy Roman Empire, and a professional soldier who served as a Generalfeldmarschall of the Kingdom of Prussia...
, Commander of the Austrian & Prussian joint military) brought about the Storming of the Tuileries on 10 August 1792. The manifesto explicitly threatened the people of Paris with dire repercussions if they in any way harmed Louis XVI or his family. This infuriated the Parisians and the aforementioned event occurred as a result. The Legislative Assembly was inundated with requests for the monarchy's demise. The President of the National Assembly responded by suspending the monarchy on 11 August pending the outcome of elections for another assembly. The newly elected National Convention, elected under universal male suffrage, abolished the monarchy on 21 September 1792. The convention proclaimed a republic in the monarchy's place.