The French Revolution (1789-93) is one of the greatest landmarks in the history of mankind. It ushered in a new era of liberty, equality and fraternity. The revolution started on 14 July, 1789 in France with the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris. It was a peoples’ revolution that started during the reign of King Louis XVI. It had its roots in the deep resentment of the masses over the rising prices as well as the brutal oppression and exploitation by the aristocrats and the ruling classes.
King Louis XVI in 1789 tried to solve his financial problems by calling a meeting of the Estates General, the French parliament. When this almost forgotten body met on 5 May 1789 for the first time in 175 years, the third estate (representatives of people) defied the nobles and clergy and declared them as the National Assembly. On 20 June 1789 they took an oath not to disperse until they had given France a constitution which would defend the middle class and peasants against the feudal aristocracy.
The King then decided to break up the Assembly. As the troops were called in, the rumours spread that leading members of the Assembly would soon be arrested. This enraged the people, who began to gather in thousands. They were soon joined by the guards. They surrounded the Bastille, a state prison, on 14 July 1789. After a four hour siege, they broke open the doors, freeing all the prisoners. The fall of the Bastille symbolized the fall of autocracy. This day is still a national holiday in France. Radical leaders like Danton, Robespierre and Marat directed the revolution.
After 14 July 1789, Louis XVI was only the nominal ruler without any powers. The National Assembly began to enact laws. Two years after the fall of the Bastille, the National Assembly issued the ‘Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen’, proclaiming liberty, equality and fraternity which later became the motto of all the freedom loving people of the world. Then came the flight and recapture of the royal family and the declaration of a republic in September 1792.
Four months after, the king, queen and many nobles were tried and beheaded. This was followed by a declaration of war against Britain, Holland, Spain and Hungary. Then, a radical group, the Jacobeans headed by Robespierre came to power. Fearing that the revolution was in danger, the group began a bloody ‘Reign of Terror’. In 14 months, some 17,000 people were tried and executed. During the ‘Reign of Terror’ some prominent leaders of the revolution were also executed by Robespierre who himself was later accused and guillotined in 1794. The violence subsided later and a new constitution was drawn up. But the army became increasingly powerful and this led to the rise of Napoleon. On 9 November, 1799 Napoleon Bonaparte seized power and after sometime declared himself the Emperor. The revolution was over, leaving Europe and the world a lasting legacy of violence in the cause of liberty and equality.
