The period of restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in France lasted from 1814 to 1830. Then the power in the country returned to the representatives of the Bourbon dynasty. It began on April 6, 1814, the day Napoleon abdicated from power. It ended with the July Revolution in 1830
Two periods
In the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, historians distinguish two stages:
- I stage - from the beginning of April 1814 to the end of February 1815. It lasted until Napoleon returned from exile. He immediately set about mustering troops to regain the French throne.
- II stage - from the end of June 1815 to the last days of July 1830. From 01.03. until June 22, 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte was on the French throne, whose last reign is called the "Hundred Days". His power ended with the defeat at Waterloo on 1815-22-06
Next, the reasons that led to the events in question will be considered.
Background for the restoration of the Bourbons in France
They are related to the following factors:
- The weakness of Napoleon Bonaparte's regime.
- Defeat in the war with Russia in 1812
- The defeat of the French army in 1813 near Leipzig.
- Inability to counter the offensive of the anti-Napoleonic coalition.
- The economic exhaustion of the country, the devastation of the treasury.
- Social contradictions that tore France apart.
- Political crisis.
- The capture of Paris by the allied coalition that opposed Napoleon.
- The Allied demand for a return to power in Bourbon France.
As you can see, the restoration was facilitated by the prerequisites of an external and internal nature. Life in the camp required urgent change.
First stage
Charles-Maurice Talleyrand during the restoration of the Bourbons played an important role. At that time he was head of the French Senate. Under his influence, the senators voted to remove Bonaparte from power. They decided to restore the monarchy in the country and declare France a kingdom.
Louis XVIII was on the throne, this is the brother of Louis XVI, the power of the first was limited by the constitution. The Charter, adopted in 1814, was at the same time a peace treaty with the allies, and established the terms of the new monarch's rule. The country was able to retain almost all of its possessions, and the allies withdrew troops from it. Among the most important points of the Charter were the following:
- Establishment of a limited monarchy.
- Establishment of a bicameral parliament. The upper house was appointed by the king, while the lower house was subject to election.
- Providingvoting rights for men over forty who paid a tax of 1,000 francs.
However, Louis XVIII's initial reign was short. Napoleon escaped from the island of Elba, and, having reached France, captured Paris. He gathered loyal supporters and again launched a military campaign against the coalition. The Battle of Waterloo put an end to this adventure, and the Bourbons were again in power, the second period in the restoration of the Bourbons began.
Second stage
Returning to the throne, Louis announced that he was not going to repress Bonaparte's supporters, but he did not keep his promise. In particular, numerous courts and tribunals were created. In 1815-16. a huge number of people were sentenced to death.
The activities of the New Chamber of Deputies, elected in 1815, did not suit the king, and he dissolved it in the fall of 1816. Louis was afraid of new revolutionary uprisings and a coup d'état. The next chamber was represented by the adherents of limited monarchy, who were called doctrinaires.
It included financiers, industrialists and large landowners. It was headed by the philosopher R. Kollar, who opposed democratic rule. The chamber operated until 1820. After the assassination of the crown prince, the Duke of Berry, Louis turned to radical action.
Secret organizations
At this stage of the restoration of the Bourbons, reactionary laws were adopted and implemented that restricted freedoms, includingseals persecuted for sacrilege. The rule of extreme ultra-royalists was established. Scattered secret organizations began to appear in the country. Their activities were aimed at the destruction of the monarchy. There were attempts to organize mass uprisings, but the conspirators were exposed, they were subjected to public execution. Louis XVIII died of natural causes in 1824.
Under Charles X
The next king during the restoration of the Bourbons was Charles X, brother of Louis. He was considered cruel and short-sighted. He did not recognize dissent and criticism. Among the laws he adopted are the following:
- Introduction of the death pen alty for criminal acts against religion and the church.
- Return of land to emigrants who fled from Napoleon, or compensation for their loss.
During the restoration of the Bourbons in France, the development of capitalism was observed. One of the manifestations of this process were:
- Moving large masses of the peasantry to the city to work in enterprises.
- Increase in the number of workers at times.
- Formation of a layer of technical intelligentsia.
In 1826, the country experienced an industrial crisis. In subsequent years, with the inaction of the authorities in the economy, finance, and agriculture, depressive phenomena were observed. The discontent of the poorest population intensified, revolutionary ideas began to spread again. Workers began to unite and organize skirmishes.
The revolution broke out on July 26, 1830, starting in the capital withriots. Upon learning of this, the king went on the run. On August 2, 1830, he abdicated and the restoration of the Bourbons was completed.
Charles sent a letter to Louis Philippe of Orleans, where he transferred power to the Duke of Bordeaux, his grandson. Until he reaches the age of majority, Louis Philippe was to be regent. However, the latter, at the suggestion of the provisional government, accepted the crown, becoming the "king-citizen", or "king-bourgeois". In fact, power has passed into the hands of the bourgeoisie.
