Napoleon

The Bastille (1789)

A fortress in Paris that held political prisoners that disagreed with Louie. The Bastille is significant because of the “Storming of the Bastille” in 1789 that involved a group of revolutionaries who stormed the Bastille and released prisoners, while also obtaining weapons. 

Jacque Necker

A banker who served as a finance minister for Louis XVI. He would be let go by the King and this would help put the French Revolution in motion. (He published the finances to the public which resulted in him being let go.)

Estates General

The three groups of French Estates that would be assembled in 1789 to try and solve the financial conflict of the time. The clergy (First Estate), the nobility (Second Estate), and the commoners (Third Estate). This broke off when the Third Estate became the National Assembly, which would jump-start  the French Revolution.

The Declaration of the Rights of Man (1789)

A preamble created by the National Assembly, that lays out the “natural and unalienable rights” of people. These are freedom, ownership, security, and resistance to oppression.

Maximillian Robespierre

An instigator of the French Revolution, and was elected as the first deputy for the National Convention. He also strongly supported the idea of putting the king on trial. He led the Reign of Terror which executed people who were against the revolution and really set the revolution in motion.

Battle of Valmy (1792)

The first major victory of the army of France during the Revolutionary Wars that followed the French Revolution. It was Prussian and Austrian troops against the French. 

Jean-Paul Marat

A French journalist and politician during the French Revolution. He was against the monarchy and aristocracy. He was pro-execution for anyone against the revolution, which gained him a lot of enemies.

Siege of Toulon (1793)

A military action between the French Republicans and the Anglo-Spanish. This was the siege in which Napoleon had his troops settle themselves on top of the harbor do they could attack the Anglo-Spanish fleets. This is important because it was the first major military success Napoleon had that would make him start to stand out. This would establish Napoleons reputation, get him promoted, and give him a foundation for Napoleon to build power and recognition via militarily connections. 

Vendemiaire Uprising (1795)

A group of Parisians participating in an uprising against the Convention. Napoleon was ordered to put a stop to this uprising. This would be the final major uprising of the French Revolution. This is where Napoleon would use his “Whiff of grapeshot” which killed about 100 participants in the revolt.

Treaty of Campo Formio (1797)

A peace settlement between France and Austria. Signed in Campo Formio, hence the name. France would obtain Lombardy and Belgium, as well as push back German. borders as far as Rhine. France also gained Italy and parts of the Austrian Netherlands.

Battle of the Nile (1798)

A battle against the British (Admiral Nelson) and the French (Napoleon). The British went after the French up to Aboukir Bay and went on either side of them. This resulted in pretty much all of the French fleet being destroyed or captured, which stranded Napoleon and his army in Egypt.

Battle of Marengo (1800)

This was a battle between the French and the Austrians near Alessandria, Italy. Made Napoleon’s reputation as an invincible general more concrete.

Battle of Austerlitz (1805)

The first engagement of the Third Coalition (an alliance between the British, Russian, and Austrian armies). One of Napoleons most significant wins because he beat all of them.

Battle of Saratoga (1777)

This was the battle that turned things around for the American Revolutionary War, and made other nations realize that the Americans might have a chance at winning against the British. This is what led the French to sign a treaty with the United States against Britain. This led to the Americans gaining independence with the French’s help.

Eden Treaty (1786)

A treaty signed between the British and French that set up a system to reduce tariffs on goods from either country.

The Great Fear (1789)

A period of about 3 weeks where peasants would riot and panic over rumors that the King and privileged were planning to overthrow the Third Estate, as well as the stress of poverty and unemployment. This led to the National Assembly meeting and abolishing the feudal system (a system in which the poor payed tithes and taxes and the nobles and rich would do none of that)

Declaration of Pillnitz (1791)

This was a joint declaration from Holy Roman Emperor Leopold ll and King Frederick William ll of Prussia for the European powers to unite and restore he monarchy in France.

Levee en Masse (1793)

It means “mass levy” or “mass conscription”. It was a law passed by the national Convention that essentially said that all the people of France were required to help with the war in anyway that they could. It gave a sort of unity feeling to the French, making them feel like they’re fighting for their country and not a king. 

The Terror (1793-1794)

Mass executions and arrests of those suspected of opposing the revolutionary government. 

Pasquale Paoli

Was a Corsican patriot, and would come out of exile to Corsica to help militarily. He broke with the Jacobins later and aligned with Britain, as he wanted to separate Corsica from France, and tried to establish a brief Anglo-Corsican Kingdom under British protection, but failed, and was exiled again by Napoleon. 

Committee of Public Safety (1793)

Created by the National Convention with the intent to defend the nation against foreign and domestic enemies. Was a sort of emergency government during the Revolution so there was still somewhat order. Maximilian Robespierre played a big part in this, and was a main leader. Launched the Reign of Terror.

Louis-Alexandre Berthier

He was a French General and chief of staff to Napoleon. He helped Napoleon b behind the scenes with troops and was trusted by Napoleon completely. He participated in the war of Austerlitz.

Battle of the Pyramids (1798)

A battle between the French and 21,000 Egyptian Mameluke soldiers. It allowed the French to continue to occupy Cairo, and also ended the Mamluk’s dynasty in Egypt.

Coup of 18 Brumaire (1799)

It was the day that Napoleon overthrew the French Government and established himself as emperor/first consul. This ended the French Revolution.

Treaty of Amiens (1802-1803)

Marked the end of the French Revolutionary Wars. It was signed by the British, French, Spanish, and the Batavian Republic. It only lasted 14 months before Britain declared war on the French again.

Treaty of Pressburg (1805)

Signed by Napoleon and Holy Roman Emperor Francis ll. Confirmed Austrian loss of lands in Italy and Bavaria to France, and in Germany to Napoleon’s German allies. This was a consequence from the French to the Russians and Austrians because of the French’s win in the battle of Austerlitz.