Simone Lawson
The French Constitutional Monarchy was a short-lived period during the French Revolution from 1791 to 1792, when King Louis XVI, who had ascended the throne in 1774, retained his title but enjoyed only a fraction of the power he had held as an absolute monarch. The constitutional monarchy came about due to the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime and was ended by the August 10 Insurrection in 1792.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 21 September 1792 |
| Duration | 1 year |
| Events Leading Up To It | Food shortages, economic crisis, foreign powers' involvement in the French Revolutionary Wars, the involvement of radical Jacobins, and the imprisonment of King Louis XVI and Queen Mary-Antoinette |
| Causes | The Legislative Assembly voted to abolish the monarchy and establish the First Republic |
| Constitution | The French Constitution of 1791, which turned the country into a constitutional monarchy and lasted less than a year |
| Voting Population | 4.5 million Frenchmen, which was considered liberal for the time |
| Impact | The end of the thousand-year-old French monarchy and the establishment of the First Republic |
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What You'll Learn
The French Revolution and the fall of the monarchy
The French Revolution, which took place between 1789 and 1799, led to the fall of the monarchy and the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. The Revolution was not a single event but a series of developments that unfolded over this period.
In the late 18th century, France was facing bankruptcy due to its involvement in the American Revolution and King Louis XVI's extravagant spending. This led to a people's revolt against the inequalities of French society, the corruption of royal officials, and widespread economic hardship. The long-drawn-out wars of the eighteenth century had resulted in the French government spending much more than its annual revenue, and funds were drying up.
The Estates-General, France's equivalent to the British Parliament, was split into three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and the rest of France, or the Third Estate. The Third Estate represented the common people and formed their own National Assembly to campaign for constitutional reform, directly challenging the King's authority. The middle class and some members of the clergy and nobility joined them, taking the Tennis Court Oath to agree not to separate until they had given France a constitution.
In July 1790, the National Assembly passed a measure that made the clergy elective, requiring them to swear allegiance to the new, revolutionary government. This nullified royal and papal powers of clerical appointment and turned church land into "national property" to be sold off. This was seen by many Catholics, including the King, as unnecessarily politicizing their religion.
In 1791, the First Constitution was written, stating that there would be one Assembly and that the King would only have a suspensive veto. However, the King had attempted to flee, and many protested that he should no longer be the King of the new constitutional monarchy. Despite this, the First Constitution was signed on 3 September 1791, and the National Assembly gave way to the Legislative Assembly, which would share power with the King.
However, the King's reputation continued to sink, and in August 1792, he was deposed, with the monarchy abolished in September and the First Republic established. The King was put on trial for treason and executed in January 1793, bringing an end to the thousand-year-old French monarchy. The Queen, Marie Antoinette, was also executed, and their son's death in 1795 eliminated the most direct heir to the throne.
The period after the King's execution was marked by infighting within the National Convention, with the radical Montagnards taking power and the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. This marked the end of the French Revolution and the start of the Napoleonic era, with Napoleon proclaiming himself Emperor in 1799.
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The Constitution of 1791
The French Constitution of 1791, also known as the Constitution française du 3 septembre 1791, was the first written constitution in France. It was formulated after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. The National Assembly, which was both a legislature and a constitutional convention, was tasked with drafting the constitution as its primary objective. The Assembly's belief in a sovereign nation and equal representation was reflected in the constitutional separation of powers.
The constitution stated that the National Assembly would be the legislative body, with the king and royal ministers forming the executive branch, and the judiciary remaining independent of the other two branches. The previous feudal geographic divisions were abolished, and the French territory was reorganised into several administrative units or departments (Départements). The Assembly aimed to prevent self-interested rule by allowing the king a suspensive veto to balance the interests of the people, although this weakened the king's executive authority.
The main controversies during the drafting process centred on the level of power to be granted to the king and the structure of the legislature. The Constitutional Committee initially proposed a bicameral legislature and an absolute veto for the king, but these motions were defeated. Instead, it was decided that there would be a unicameral legislature and that the king would have a suspensive veto, which could be overridden by three consecutive legislatures.
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The National Assembly
The French constitutional monarchy ended on September 21, 1792, when the Legislative Assembly voted to abolish the monarchy and establish the First Republic. This came after King Louis XVI approved a new constitution in 1791 that stripped him of much of his power.
The Legislative Assembly, which included members of the Third Estate, the clergy, and a small number of nobles, was a significant departure from the traditional Estates-General, which was composed of the clergy, nobility, and the Third Estate. The National Assembly's role in drafting and implementing the First Constitution marked a shift towards a more democratic and representative form of government in France, even though the King retained some powers.
In summary, the National Assembly played a pivotal role in the political and social reforms that ultimately contributed to the end of the French constitutional monarchy. Their actions, including the measures regarding the clergy and the creation of the First Constitution, laid the groundwork for the Legislative Assembly's eventual vote to abolish the monarchy and establish the First Republic.
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The Legislative Assembly
The émigrés, or those who fled France after the Revolution turned violent, were a major focus of the Legislative Assembly. The Assembly established a three-class hierarchy of émigrés, with punishments corresponding to each class. The first class was composed of royalty and other high-ranking individuals. The second class was made up of officials, soldiers, and other members of society with some influence. The third class was made up of average citizens who left France but had little to no direct influence over emigration proceedings. The Assembly decreed that third-class émigrés were to be treated with "sympathy and understanding", while the other classes were to be financially and socially punished.
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The role of King Louis XVI
King Louis XVI ascended the throne in 1774, inheriting a financial crisis that would persist throughout his reign. In 1789, food shortages and economic crises led to the outbreak of the French Revolution. Louis XVI's reign was marked by attempts to reform the French government in accordance with Enlightenment ideas, including efforts to increase tolerance toward non-Catholics and abolish the death penalty for deserters. However, the French nobility reacted to these proposed reforms with hostility and successfully opposed their implementation.
Louis XVI's reign was also characterised by his struggle to maintain power in the face of growing revolutionary sentiment. In 1789, he convened the Estates-General, the representatives of the clergy, nobility, and commoners, in an effort to address his budget crisis. However, this move unintentionally sparked the French Revolution. Despite his reluctance, he was forced to endorse the National Assembly's "destruction" of the feudal regime and its Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
Louis XVI's indecision and surrender to reactionary influences at court contributed to the failure to establish a limited constitutional monarchy in France. He attempted to flee Paris in 1791 but was captured at Varennes and brought back to the capital. This incident further damaged his credibility as a constitutional monarch. He was also unable to remedy the economic situation, as his offers to melt crown silver were seen as out of touch with the reality of the country's financial woes.
Ultimately, Louis XVI was unable to adapt to the changing political landscape and resisted popular demands, leading to his downfall. He was found guilty of treason and condemned to death by guillotine in January 1793. His execution marked the end of the French monarchy, with the Legislative Assembly voting to abolish the monarchy and establish the First Republic.
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Frequently asked questions
The French constitutional monarchy was a period during the French Revolution, from 1791 to 1792, when King Louis XVI only had a fraction of the power he previously held as an absolute monarch.
The French constitutional monarchy ended in September 1792, when the Legislative Assembly voted to abolish the monarchy and establish the First Republic.
The French Revolution, which began in 1789, led to the end of the French constitutional monarchy. The revolution was sparked by food shortages, economic crises, and financial problems inherited from the previous monarch.
After the monarchy was abolished, King Louis XVI and his wife, Mary-Antoinette, were put on trial for treason. In January 1793, they were convicted and executed.
After the French Revolution, France became a Republic. However, following a referendum, a new constitution was adopted in January 1852, and the Second French Empire was proclaimed in November 1852. This lasted until September 1870, when Napoléon III was captured during the Franco-Prussian War, and the Republic was restored.
