Kingdom of France (1791–92)

Quick Facts: Who was Kingdom of France (1791–92)?

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Kingdom of France (1791–92)

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A brief constitutional monarchy marking the transition from absolute to republican France.

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Origins & Early Life

The Kingdom of France (the remnant of the preceding absolutist Kingdom of France) was a short-lived constitutional monarchy that existed from 3 September 1791 until 21 September 1792, when it was succeeded by the French First Republic. On 3 September 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. After the 10 August 1792 Storming of the Tuileries Palace, the Legislative Assembly on 11 August 1792 suspended the constitutional monarchy. The freshly elected National Convention abolished the monarchy on 21 September 1792, thus, ending 203 years of consecutive Bourbon rule over France. Since 1789, France underwent a revolution in its government and social orders.

Career & Major Achievements

A National Assembly declared itself into being and promulgated their intention to provide France with a fair and liberal constitution. Louis XVI was forced to move to Paris in October of that year as a result of the march on Versailles, and growing fear for the survival of his reign and the royal family lead in June of 1791 to the failed escape attempt known as the Flight to Varennes. The attempted flight severely damaged any positive public opinion for the monarchy. Leopold II, the Habsburg emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and brother of Marie Antoinette, the queen of France, in July sent out a diplomatic note asking for support of the other rulers of Europe to rally and demand the French royal family's freedom, and while the response of other powers was weak, it did cause the Holy Roman Empire and Prussia to engage in talks to settle their outstanding disputes. Leopold II in late August then together with Frederick William II of Prussia released the Declaration of Pillnitz.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The declaration stated that Prussia and Austria wished to restore Louis XVI to absolute power but would only attempt to do so with the assistance of the other European powers. Louis XVI was forced to submit to the Constitution of 1791 by the National Assembly in the aftermath of his Flight to Varennes. The Constitution of 1791, which established the Kingdom of the French, was revolutionary in its content. It abolished the nobility of France and declared all men to be equal before the law. Louis XVI had the ability to veto legislation that he did not approve of, as legislation still needed Royal Assent to come into force.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1789: 1789 Milestone — Since 1789, France underwent a revolution in its government and social orders.
2. 1791: 1791 Milestone — The Kingdom of France (the remnant of the preceding absolutist Kingdom of France) was a short-lived constitutional monarchy that existed from 3 September 1791 until 21 September 1792, when it was succeeded by the French First Republic.
3. 1792: 1792 Milestone — After the 10 August 1792 Storming of the Tuileries Palace, the Legislative Assembly on 11 August 1792 suspended the constitutional monarchy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Kingdom of France (1791–92)

True or False: “Did the Constitution of 1791 immediately abolish all forms of nobility in France?”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The Constitution of 1791 was revolutionary in its content and explicitly abolished the nobility of France.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Carl Czerny — Historical peer (Born in 1791) (1791): Austrian composer and pianist, renowned for his pedagogical works and connection to Beethoven and Liszt.
• Charles Babbage — Historical peer (Born in 1791) (1791): Pioneering polymath credited with originating the concept of the digital programmable computer.
• Alexander Ypsilantis — Historical peer (Born in 1792) (1792): Greek nationalist, prince, and leader of the Filiki Etaireia during the struggle for independence.
• Anastasio Aquino's Rebellion — Historical peer (Born in 1792) (1792): Indigenous leader whose rebellion challenged Central American authority during early 19th-century El Salvador.
• Arabanoo — Historical peer (Died in 1789) (1789): Eora man forcibly taken by British colonists, becoming a key figure in early interactions.
• Augustin-Louis Cauchy — Historical peer (Born in 1789) (1789): Pioneered real and complex analysis, fundamentally shaping modern mathematics.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kingdom of France (1791–92)