French Revolution Vocabulary

Concert of Europe

The Concert of Europe was a diplomatic system established after the Napoleonic Wars, in which major European powers cooperated to maintain peace and stability on the continent.

Old Regime

The Political and Social system that existed in France before the French Revolution

estate

In the context of the Old Regime, France was divided into three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and the common people. This division played a significant role in the social hierarchy and taxation.

Louis XVI

the King of France during the late 18th century and the early years of the French Revolution. His reign saw economic crises and political turmoil, ultimately leading to his execution during the Revolution.

Estates-General:

a representative assembly in pre-revolutionary France, consisting of representatives from each of the three estates. It was convened by the king to address fiscal issues and grievances.

National Asssembly

Formed by representatives of the Third Estate (commoners) in 1789, it marked the beginning of the French Revolution. They asserted their authority and sought to create a new constitution.

Tennis Court Oath

a pivotal event where members of the National Assembly pledged not to disband until a new constitution was established, demonstrating their commitment to political change.

Great Fear

was a period of rural unrest and panic during the early stages of the French Revolution, marked by widespread peasant uprisings, fearing retribution from the nobility.

Legislative Assembly

the governing body in France from 1791 to 1792. It replaced the National Assembly and played a key role in the early phase of the Revolution.

Émigré

were French nobles and clergy who fled France during the Revolution to escape the upheaval and preserve their privileges.

Jacobin

members of a political club that played a significant role in the radical phase of the French Revolution. They advocated for a republican government and played a key role in the Reign of Terror.

Guillotine

a device used for executions during the French Revolution. It became a symbol of the Reign of Terror, where thousands of individuals, including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, were executed.

Maximilien Robespierre

a prominent Jacobin leader and a key figure in the Reign of Terror. He advocated for radical measures to protect the Revolution and played a central role in the Committee of Public Safety.

Reign of Terror

a period during the French Revolution characterized by extreme political repression and mass executions. It aimed to eliminate perceived enemies of the Revolution.

Napoleon Bonaparte

was a French military general who rose to power during the French Revolution and became Emperor of the French. He is known for his military campaigns and the Napoleonic Code.

Coup d'État:

a sudden and often violent overthrow of a government, typically carried out by a small group or individual, often with the aim of seizing power.

Plebiscite

a direct vote by the people of a nation to approve or reject a specific proposal or decision, often used by Napoleon to legitimize his rule.

Lycée

secondary schools established by Napoleon in France, focusing on providing a standardized and secular education.

Concordat

an agreement between Napoleon and the Vatican in 1801, which reestablished relations between the French government and the Catholic Church, recognizing Catholicism as the majority religion in France.

Napoleonic Code

also known as the Civil Code of 1804, was a comprehensive legal code introduced by Napoleon. It influenced legal systems in many countries and emphasized equality before the law and property rights.

Battle of Trafalgar

a naval battle in 1805 where the British Royal Navy, under Admiral Nelson, defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets. It prevented Napoleon from invading Britain and secured British naval supremacy.

Blockade

Napoleon's Continental System was an attempt to economically isolate Britain by implementing a blockade, which restricted British trade with European countries under French influence.

Continental System

Napoleon's economic policy aimed at isolating and weakening Britain by forbidding trade with the British Isles and promoting self-sufficiency within his European allies.

Guerrilla

A warfare involves small, irregular military units that use hit-and-run tactics, often employed by Spanish resistance fighters during the Peninsular War against Napoleon's forces.

Peninsular War

a conflict in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) from 1808 to 1814, in which Spanish and Portuguese forces, aided by British troops, fought against the French occupation led by Napoleon.

Scorched-Earth Policy

involves destroying or removing resources and infrastructure to impede the enemy's advance, which was notably used by Russian forces against Napoleon's invading army.

Waterloo

The Battle of Waterloo, in 1815, was the decisive battle in which Napoleon was defeated by a British-led coalition, leading to his exile and the end of the Napoleonic era.

Hundred Days

refer to the period in 1815 when Napoleon returned from exile on the island of Elba and briefly resumed power in France before his final defeat at Waterloo.

Congress of Vienna

a diplomatic gathering in 1814-1815 that aimed to restore stability and redraw the map of Europe after the Napoleonic Wars.

Klemens von Metternich

an Austrian statesman and a key figure at the Congress of Vienna. He advocated for conservative principles and the restoration of monarchies.

Balance of Power

a diplomatic principle aimed at preventing any one nation or group of nations from becoming too dominant in international affairs, often discussed and implemented at the Congress of Vienna.

Legitimacy

referred to the restoration of traditional monarchies and rulers who had been deposed during the Napoleonic era.

Holy Alliance

a coalition of European monarchs formed after the Congress of Vienna, with the goal of maintaining Christian principles and monarchical order in Europe.