French Revolution & Napoleon (Grey History)

New assembly, new problems. As the Legislative Assembly gathers in Paris in October 1791, a new generation of revolutionaries is forced to confront a multitude of threats. The solutions embraced by the deputies were both dramatically controversial. The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an ad-free feed, a community...

With the democrats on the run, the newly established Feuillant Club had an opportunity to revise the constitution and cement its power. King Louis XVI accepts the Constitution of 1791, but historians and contemporaries alike criticise the document for possessing countless flaws. The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! Wi...

King fled. Captured Instead. Trouble Ahead. With the nation shocked by the King's attempted escape, public debate erupted over the future of both the monarch and the monarchy. Unfortunately for the revolutionary left, these divisive debates resulted in bloodshed and repression. Who should be blamed for the Champ de Mars Massacre, and how successful was the Tricolour Terror it unleashed? The Grey H...

When will season one end? What will be the topic of season two? How can you access Grey History's new bonus content, including Episode Extras, Stand Alone Episodes and Mini-Series? This is the update that answers it all (sort of). The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an ad-free feed, a community discord, a readin...

The King escapes Paris in the famous Flight to Varennes. As the revolution was devoured by the left and the right, what was the true catalyst for Louis' decision to flee? What prevented the daring escape from succeeding? Maps of the Flight to Varennes: www.greyhistory.com/maps-of-the-flight-to-varennes/ Support the Show & Access Bonus Content: https://www.patreon.com/greyhistory Send your question...

As religious divisions threaten the peace, the Assembly makes an enemy of France's warrior class. Mirabeau, seeking to save the revolution from its increasing radicalism, enters into secret dealings with the court. Were his actions justified? The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an ad-free feed, a community disco...

The Catholic Church becomes the revolution's most tenacious and ferocious foe. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy forces the nation to choose between revolution and religion. Was this conflict inevitable, or did the revolutionaries simply make a terrible mistake? The decisions of the revolutionaries would impact France for centuries, and impact the course of both the revolution and the age of Na...

A popular, revolutionary sentiment sweeps across the nation. To express support for this new nationalism, the French people created a whole host of new ceremonies and customs. But do these traditions truly represent national unity? Additional Resources Check out illustrations of liberty trees, federations, and Phrygian caps! You'll find references to the symbols and events throughout Napoleonic hi...

The National Assembly was being challenged by a variety of revolutionary actors both inside and outside of Paris. Attempting to command greater authority, the Assembly introduced sweeping administrative and judicial reforms. These reforms acted as the bedrock for further initiatives by Napoleon during the Napoleonic Empire, and continue to shape France today. The Grey History Community Help keep G...

Division and disunity grip the Assembly. As factions, societies, and clubs begin to dominate the political landscape, the Assembly finds itself embroiled in divisive debates concerning universal male suffrage and martial law. This episode explores the many political associations of the early Revolution, including the famous Jacobins. The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Ev...

A great revolt consumes Paris. Hungry, fearful, and outraged by events at Versailles, tens of thousands of Parisians marched on the court. The subsequent October Days altered the course of the French Revolution. These events remain the source of great controversy, with historians failing to agree on the causes of the March of the Market Women in October 1789. The Grey History Community Help keep G...

The Great Fear was followed by great achievements. In an effort to tame the peasant uprisings, the deputies attacked feudalism as well. The rights of man were declared to consolidate the revolution, and the role of the King in society became a central debate. The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an ad-free feed,...

France slides into anarchy. Fear and paranoia drive the populace to take up arms, and a municipal revolution occurs. When the forces of counter-revolution fail to take their revenge on the people, the peasants take theirs instead. The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an ad-free feed, a community discord, a readin...

The Bastille is stormed! Paris created a new municipal government, and the revolution was secured by popular action. But, what was the symbolism of the Bastille both before and after its fall? The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an ad-free feed, a community discord, a reading club, and tonnes of exclusive bonus...

Necker is dismissed and Paris runs wild. As a counter-revolutionary coup is commenced by the King, chaos erupts in the capital. This episode examines how the effects of hunger, freedom of the press, and rumoured conspiracy impacted Paris’ willingness to revolt. It also explores the actions undertaken by various social classes within the city to protect themselves against numerous enemies (counter-...

The Estates-General transformed itself into the National Assembly. In an iconic scene, the famous Tennis Court Oath changes the course of the revolution. So too does the King Louis' response. The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an ad-free feed, a community discord, a reading club, and tonnes of exclusive bonus c...

While the Estates General gathered at Versailles, new problems emerged. Already facing unprecedented challenges, the French government had to grapple with an age-old foe. Starvation. Scarcity of food resulted in bloody consequences, including theRéveillon riots of April 1789. The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With...

King Louis XVI announced the summoning of the Estates-General, but that did little to contain the kingdom's growing unrest. The Paris Parlement was ridiculed by the public for attempting to ensure the nobility dominated the body, while Necker struggled to grapple with the violent situation he faced as he determined how the Estates-General should be constituted. Finally, the French listed their gri...

As the political situation in Paris and the countryside deteriorated rapidly, armed revolts became a serious threat, radical bodies emerged, and the demands for Necker's reinstatement and the summoning of the Estates-General continued to haunt the government. The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an ad-free feed,...

Brienne tackled the Parlements in order to avoid bankruptcy, but the ancient courts were no strangers to obstructing the King's will. Unfortunately for the French monarchy, the Parlements also rejected a potential solution to the impending crisis. What was Louis XVI to do? The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an...

France faced bankruptcy. In an effort to avoid the Parlements and an Estates-General, Calonne convened an Assembly of Notables in February 1787 to try to legitimise drastic measures intended to save the state's finances. Unfortunately for Calonne, the Assembly of Notables quickly evolved into an Assembly of Rebels. Things did not go to plan. The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on the...

Multiple scandalous events occurred between the American Revolution and the bankruptcy it helped to create. The absence of Necker allowed conservative nobles to conduct a power grab within society, while Enlightenment ideas continued to spread throughout France as the privileged classes abused their prerogatives. Perhaps most importantly for the royal family, the Queen was embroiled in the Diamond...

Should France participate in the American Revolutionary War? The French cabinet was divided on the issue. The new King's decision had a tremendous impact on French society and laid the building blocks for the French Revolution of 1789. As the revolutionary war waged in the Americas, the popular minister Jacques Necker made powerful enemies at home. The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History...

Explore the legacies of Louis XVI's forebears. The policies of the Sun King, Louis XIV, and his disappointing successor Louis XV, laid some of the key foundation stones of the French Revolution of 1789. From troublesome nobles to tremendous amounts of debt, their legacies shaped much of European history, including the age of Napoleon as well. The Grey History Community Help keep Grey History on th...

Having maintained the medieval divisions of feudalism, French society was littered with social and economic grievances. This episode explores the social hierarchy of the Old Regime France prior to the French Revolution. The divisions and tensions both between and within the Three Estates were critical to determining the fate of French history. In fact, they not only define the revolution but the r...