Simone Lawson
King Louis XVIII, born in 1755, was the king of France from 1814 to 1824. He was the brother of King Louis XVI, who was overthrown and executed during the French Revolution (1789-1799). On May 2, 1814, Louis XVIII promised a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament, religious tolerance, and constitutional rights for all citizens. The resulting Charte Constitutionnelle was adopted on June 4, 1814, marking France's first experiment in parliamentary government since the Revolution. However, his reign was interrupted by Napoleon's return from Elba in 1815, forcing him to flee to Ghent. Louis XVIII's rule was characterized by conflicts between reactionary Ultra-royalists seeking to restore the absolute monarchy and liberals aiming to strengthen constitutional monarchy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| King Louis XVIII's rule | 1814 to 1824 |
| Type of rule | Constitutional monarchy |
| Promise | A constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament, religious tolerance, and constitutional rights for all citizens |
| Implementation | Charte Constitutionnelle, adopted on June 4, 1814 |
| Rule interrupted by | The return of Napoleon from Elba |
| King Louis XVIII's escape | Fled to Ghent |
| Return to power | July 8, after Waterloo |
| Nature of the parliament | Largely advisory, with the right to vote on laws and approve the budget |
| Influence | Influenced by his favourite, Élie Decazes, who became prime minister in 1819 |
| Opposition | Opposed the extremism of the ultras, who were determined to wipe out the Revolution |
| Rule interrupted by | Spring 1815, the “Hundred Days”, when Napoleon returned |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Louis XVIII's constitutional monarchy
Louis XVIII was the king of France from 1814 to 1824, except for a brief period in 1815 when Napoleon attempted to reclaim his empire. Louis XVIII's reign was marked by the restoration of the monarchy and the reversal of the results of the French Revolution.
On May 2, 1814, Louis XVIII officially promised a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament, religious tolerance, and constitutional rights for all citizens. The resulting Charte Constitutionnelle was adopted on June 4, 1814. Louis XVIII's constitutional experiments were briefly interrupted by Napoleon's return from Elba in 1815. After Napoleon was defeated, Louis XVIII returned to power and his reign saw France's first experiment in parliamentary government since the Revolution. The King was invested with executive powers and had "legislative initiative", while a largely advisory parliament voted on laws and approved the budget.
Louis XVIII's reign was marked by conflicts between reactionary Ultra-royalists, who wanted to restore the pre-1789 system of absolute monarchy, and liberals, who wanted to strengthen constitutional monarchy. The Ultras were determined to wipe out every vestige of the Revolution, but the King, influenced by his favourite, Élie Decazes, opposed their extremism.
Louis XVIII's predecessor, Louis XVI, had also briefly ruled as a constitutional monarch. On September 3, 1791, the National Constituent Assembly forced King Louis XVI to accept the French Constitution of 1791, thus turning the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy. However, this constitutional monarchy was short-lived, as it was suspended on August 11, 1792, after the Storming of the Tuileries Palace, and abolished on September 21, 1792, bringing an end to 203 years of consecutive Bourbon rule over France.
The Evolution of Britain's Constitutional Monarchy
You may want to see also
The French Revolution
On July 14, 1789, popular demonstrations culminated in the storming of the Bastille, forcing the king to accept the authority of the newly proclaimed National Assembly and endorse the destruction of the feudal regime and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. Despite this, Louis XVI privately believed that the revolution would burn itself out and resisted the National Assembly's demands, attempting an escape to Austria in June 1791. This failed escape attempt severely damaged the monarchy's reputation and led to the forcible transfer of the royal family from Versailles to the Tuileries Palace in Paris. On August 10, 1792, the Tuileries Palace was stormed, and the Legislative Assembly suspended the constitutional monarchy. The monarchy was officially abolished on September 21, 1792, and the First French Republic was proclaimed. Louis XVI was found guilty of treason and executed by guillotine on January 21, 1793, along with his wife, Marie-Antoinette, and their son, Louis XVII, who died in prison.
Louis XVI's brother, the Comte de Provence, proclaimed himself Louis XVIII and sought the support of other monarchs in the fight against the Revolution. From 1795 to 1814, Louis XVIII wandered throughout Europe, promoting the royalist cause. After Napoleon's defeats in 1813, Louis issued a manifesto promising to recognise some of the results of the Revolution in a restored Bourbon regime. On May 2, 1814, Louis XVIII officially promised a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament, religious tolerance, and constitutional rights for all citizens. However, his constitutional experiments were cut short by Napoleon's return from Elba. Louis XVIII's reign from 1814 to 1824 saw France's first experiment in parliamentary government since the Revolution, with the king invested with executive powers and a largely advisory parliament.
Constitutional Monarchies: Can They Exist Without an Economy?
You may want to see also
The National Assembly
The Third Estate felt that the voting power in the Estates-General was unfair as they represented 98% of the people but could still be outvoted by the other two estates. When the king refused to give them more power, the Third Estate created its own group, the National Assembly. The Assembly passed the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in August 1789, which directly challenged the authority of King Louis XVI. The issuing of this declaration helped spark the first major violent act of the French Revolution—the storming of the Bastille.
On 3 September 1791, the National Constituent Assembly forced King Louis XVI to accept the French Constitution of 1791, turning the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy. However, the Legislative Assembly suspended the constitutional monarchy on 11 August 1792, and the monarchy was abolished on 21 September 1792, ending 203 years of consecutive Bourbon rule over France.
Belgium's Constitutional Monarchy: Pre or Post Napoleon?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The abolishment of the monarchy
The abolishment of monarchy has been a long-standing debate, with many countries transitioning from monarchies to republics. The motivations for abolition include egalitarianism and anti-class views, eliminating rival systems, opposition to undemocratic and hereditary institutions, perception of monarchy as anachronistic or outdated, and opposition to a particular monarch or dynasty.
The abolishment of monarchy is not a new concept, and it has occurred in various countries throughout history. One notable example is the French Revolution, which began in 1789 and led to the abolishment of the monarchy in 1792. The National Constituent Assembly forced King Louis XVI to accept the French Constitution of 1791, turning the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy. However, the monarchy was short-lived, as the Legislative Assembly suspended it in 1792 after the Storming of the Tuileries Palace. The National Convention, elected under universal male suffrage, officially abolished the monarchy on September 21, 1792, ending 203 years of consecutive Bourbon rule in France.
Another example of monarchy abolishment is the English Civil War, which resulted in the Parliament of England overthrowing the monarchy and initiating a period of the English republic. This transition demonstrates that abolishing the monarchy is not an unprecedented or overly complex process, as some might assume.
In modern times, several countries have also made the transition from monarchy to republic. For instance, Barbados recently switched from a monarchy to a republic in 2021, and Tahiti's monarchy was abolished when the country became a French colony in 1880. Additionally, China's monarchy ended in 1912 with the Xinhai Revolution, and Brazil's monarchy was abolished in 1889 following a republican military coup.
The process of abolishing a monarchy typically involves a combination of political and legal steps. It often starts with a referendum, in which the people vote to abolish the monarchy. Once the referendum passes, the parliament or legislative body passes an act or resolution to formally abolish the monarchy and transfer power to an elected head of state. This process can vary depending on the specific country and its constitutional framework.
The idea of abolishing the monarchy is not without opposition, and there are several arguments in favour of retaining this form of government. Some argue that constitutional monarchies can safeguard democratic values and provide stability, while others suggest that monarchies promote social cohesion, national unity, and a sense of tradition and continuity.
Monarchs in Constitutional Monarchy: Elected or Not?
You may want to see also
The Bourbon Restoration
Louis XVIII, who had been king by title since 1795, officially returned to the throne in 1814 with the support of Napoleon's former foreign minister, Talleyrand. On 2 May, Louis promised a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament, religious tolerance, and constitutional rights for all citizens. The resulting Charte Constitutionnelle was adopted on 4 June 1814. However, Louis' constitutional experiments were interrupted by Napoleon's return from Elba. After Marshal Michel Ney defected to Napoleon on 17 March 1815, Louis fled to Ghent. He returned on 8 July, after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo.
During the Bourbon Restoration, France experienced internal and external peace, stable economic prosperity, and the preliminaries of industrialisation. The period was marked by a conservative reaction, with the re-establishment of the Catholic Church as a major power in French politics. The political establishment remained stable until the reign of Charles X, Louis' brother, who succeeded him in 1824. Reactionary policies under Charles revived the opposition liberals and moderates, leading to the July Revolution, Charles' abdication, and the end of the Bourbon Restoration in 1830.
The Monarchy: Limited Power, Constitutional Change
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, King Louis XVIII ruled in a constitutional monarchy.
A constitutional monarchy is a system of government in which a country is ruled by a monarch, whose powers are limited by a constitution.
King Louis XVIII ruled as a constitutional monarch from 1814 to 1824, with a brief interruption in 1815 when Napoleon returned from Elba.
King Louis XVIII's constitutional monarchy was characterized by a bicameral parliament, religious toleration, and constitutional rights for all citizens. The king was invested with executive powers and had legislative initiative, while the parliament was largely advisory, voting on laws and approving the budget.
King Louis XVIII's constitutional monarchy came to an end with the popular uprisings of the July Revolution of 1830.
