Bourbon Restoration in France

Quick Facts: Who was Bourbon Restoration in France?

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Bourbon Restoration in France

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Period of French history (1815-1830) where the Bourbon monarchy was restored to power.

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Origins & Early Life

The Bourbon Restoration was the period of French history during which the House of Bourbon returned to power after the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1814 and 1815. Exiled supporters of the monarchy returned to France, which had been profoundly changed by the French Revolution. Exhausted by the Napoleonic Wars, the kingdom experienced a period of internal and external peace, stable economic prosperity and the preliminaries of industrialisation. The July Revolution of 1830 effectively ended the restoration during the reign of Charles X, brother of the late King Louis XVI, leading to the July Monarchy and eventually the French Second Republic. Following the collapse of the Directory in the Coup of 18 Brumaire (9 November 1799), Napoleon Bonaparte became ruler of France as leader of the Consulate.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

By the Consulate's end with the creation of the First French Empire on 18 May 1804, Napoleon had consolidated his power into an authoritarian personal rule. After Napoleon spent the next ten years expanding his empire by successive military victories, a coalition of European powers defeated him in the War of the Sixth Coalition, ended the First Empire in 1814, and restored the monarchy to the brothers of Louis XVI. The first Bourbon Restoration lasted from 6 April 1814 to 20 March 1815, when Napoleon managed to escape from exile on the island of Elba and seized power once more. Following Napoleon's final defeat at Waterloo, he was exiled to Saint Helena for the rest of his life. On 8 July 1815 the kingdom was restored, existing until 2 August 1830, after the July Revolution.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

At the Congress of Vienna, the Bourbons were treated politely by the victorious monarchies, but had to give up most of the territorial gains made by Revolutionary and Napoleonic France after 1789. Unlike the absolutist Ancien Régime, the Restoration government was a constitutional monarchy, which limited the King's power. The new King, Louis XVIII, had been sober enough to realize during two decades in exile that France would not tolerate an attempt to resurrect the 18th century. He accepted the vast majority of reforms instituted from 1792 to 1814. Continuity was his basic policy.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1789: 1789 Milestone — At the Congress of Vienna, the Bourbons were treated politely by the victorious monarchies, but had to give up most of the territorial gains made by Revolutionary and Napoleonic France after 1789.
2. 1792: 1792 Milestone — He accepted the vast majority of reforms instituted from 1792 to 1814.
3. 1799: 1799 Milestone — Following the collapse of the Directory in the Coup of 18 Brumaire (9 November 1799), Napoleon Bonaparte became ruler of France as leader of the Consulate.
4. 1804: 1804 Milestone — By the Consulate's end with the creation of the First French Empire on 18 May 1804, Napoleon had consolidated his power into an authoritarian personal rule.
5. 1814: 1814 Milestone — The Bourbon Restoration was the period of French history during which the House of Bourbon returned to power after the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1814 and 1815.
6. 1815: 1815 Milestone — On 8 July 1815 the kingdom was restored, existing until 2 August 1830, after the July Revolution.
7. 1830: 1830 Milestone — The July Revolution of 1830 effectively ended the restoration during the reign of Charles X, brother of the late King Louis XVI, leading to the July Monarchy and eventually the French Second Republic.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Bourbon Restoration in France

True or False: “The Bourbon Restoration immediately reinstated all pre-Revolutionary feudal rights and seigneurial powers across France.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While the returning aristocracy recovered some land, they lost their old seigneurial rights over the peasantry, which was a permanent change.

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