Declaration of the Rights of Man (26th August 1789)

 

 

 

Among all the violence and chaos throughout France during the Revolution the National Assembly was hard at work making sure all men were equal and fairly treated. On August 26th 1789 they made that happen. while this was only the first of three constitutions they felt relieved to finally have a document stating their freedom. By making this document official the French people ‘set in stone’ that King Louis XVI no longer had control over his Absolute Monarchy.

The Declaration of the Rights of Man was very significant in the Revolution because it finally transformed France from a Monarchy to a Republic which is one of the causes of the Revolution. Also after changing regimes France inspired other countries to cause an uproar after them. This lead to multiple countries changing regimes in the following years. While the men had rights the women were still left with nothing. Thus leading to the March to Versailles and later the Declaration of the Rights of Women written by Olympe de Gouges.  After the signing of both these governments France was actually a Republic and free to make their own laws free of King or Queen rule.

Storming of the Bastille (14th July 1789)

 

 

 

In the year of 1789 the French Revolution was at its climax with riots growing and the guillotine being used nearly every 6 minutes of every day. While the power of the French government was failing the commoners took a stand and invaded the French prison known as Bastille.  The prison was one of the most feared castles in all of France many people were tortured and many more killed.  By the end of the Storming the mob had attained over 2,500 muskets and many pounds of gunpowder. After freeing all those inside the commoners tore down the Bastille by hand and brick by brick.

The Storming of the Bastille was not so much a battle but instead a symbolic movement. The Bastille had been a symbol of absolute Monarchy for so long due to what went on inside the castle walls. With the Bastille still standing it left the people feeling oppressed and without what they valued most, life, equality and brotherhood.  While there were only 7 prisoners inside the prison at the time of the storming the people merely wanted to knock down the castle and show that the kings power was no longer in effect over them.

March on Versailles ( 5th October 1789)

 

 

 

The Womens March on Versailles is simply looked at as one of the most stand out points of the French Revolution. While women were rioting in a nearby town over the raised prices of bread they decided to make a quick turn to the Kings palace. Soon after arriving the women forced their way into his home and hunted for him and his family. After trapping them in single room the king caved into their demands by returning to Paris. By doing this King Louis XVI gave up his power to rule.

The women of Paris thought that if the King would return to Paris with them he could see how poorly everyone lived. Bread was 90% of everyone in Frances daily diet with prices skyrocketing they were upset taking their anger out on the king. The women also wanted to show their unhappiness about the unfair rights of women. (this was due to the Declaration of the Rights of Man being signed days before) Women were still being looked upon as a lower class even though they made up a greater percentage of the workforce than men did. The women got their wish with the King retiring his power and returning to France and eventually being executed.

Execution of King Louis XVI (21st January 1793)

 

 

 

 

Following the arrest of the King Louis XVI and his family in the invasion of Tuileries he was tried for high treason. This was due to his continuous mistreating of his people and unfair ruling. Many people attribute all of Louis’s flaws as a standout point of him being a bad leader who didn’t know how to rule. While this could be true his power was still diminished after his many chances to rule and especially after his attempted escape to Austria during the Flight to Varennes.

Louis XVI was captured after his home was invaded. He was held captive for many weeks and finally killed via Guillotine. King Louis XVI’s execution marked one way more way the people could feel free and continued to move forward with their revolution. While being inprisioned Louis saw his government fall from a Monarchy to the  National Convention, taking the place of the National Assembly only now effective throughout France entirely. Following all of this Louis was finally killed, while he did not want to die he realized that in order for France to succeed he had to die he accepted his death humbly. The French people were finally free from oppression.

Execution of Robespierre ( 28th July 1794)

 

 

 

 

Following a crazy 4 years of terror the violence seemed to end with the Execution of Robespierre, the man who started all the violence. Robespierre was seen as the man who was always sending people to the feared Guillotine. Robespierre was a member of the Jacobin party who were seen as rebels in France he led the charge of violence and terror throughout the land. The people of France felt that in order for peace to be restored those who were causing and leading the act of violence had to be eliminated.

France was on the verge of total elimination with riots, executions and separations of government the people needed to start a revolt to show their case. With the Tennis Court Oath, and the forming of the National Assembly the only thing left was to rid those who were still against a new fair government. That is exactly what the people of France did on July, 28th 1794 when they beheaded Robespierre. Robespierre was against the death penalty early in his life but then changed his views throughout the years leading up to the revolution. His death was a bit ironic as well, Robespierre was always ordering executions via guillotine as a cause of this when his time to die came he was beheaded by the head cutter. He was also the last to die by his own way in all of the Revolution.

Tennis Court Oath (20th June 1789)

 

 

 

 

The Tennis Court Oath proved to be a huge turning point in the French Revolution. The 3rd Estate had enough of being mistreated and decided to form their own government where they passed their own laws and carried out normal duties of a government. Louis XVI had to resolve this issue somehow. He eventually passed a small form of constitution.

The Tennis Court Oath showed the first time anyone showed a stand against King Louis XVI’s rule and laws. While giving confidence that the violence would end soon, the Oath also sparked riots all across France showing everyones displeasure with Louis’s rule. The Tennis Court Oath was also similar to the United States Declaration of Independence by that it showed the peoples will to keep a fair government and not be ruled by an unjust leader and also sit in an unfair parliament.

Calling of The Estates General (5th July 1788)

 

 

 

 

 

The Estates General was called by Louis XVI on July 5th 1788. He called this meeting between the three social classes consisting of Nobles, Clergy making up the top 3% and peasants making up the last 97%. Louis called the Estates General to try and fix the French economy which was in a state of chaos. Necker, Louis XVI financial’s minister convinced him to call the meeting after he saw the uproar being caused by the 3rd class peasants. The meetings lasted several weeks and were finally concluded when the 3rd class had enough and started their own government the “National Assembly”.

The calling of the Estates General had a very significant role in the French Revolution. This is due to it being the first meeting between the three classes since in over 100 years. The first Estates general was called in 1614. Also the Estates General was the cause of the 3rd estate forming the National Assembly after being locked out of Parliament by Louis. The peasants (3rd estate) were locked out because they were causing an uproar over being mistreated they had only vote in parliament versus the two of the higher classes. After being locked out the 3rd estate went to a handball court and created the “Tennis Court Oath”. This was also significant because it was the first act of defiance shown against Louis XVI, causing more anger between all three social classes.

Forming of The National Assembly ( 17th June 1789)

 

 

 

 

The forming of The National Assembly occurred on June 17th 1789 on an empty handball court. The National Assembly was made up of the entire 3rd Estate after they were locked out of Parliament. Upon meeting for the Estates General Louis XVI decided to do voting by estate, which means each estate gets 1 vote per class. Since both higher classes agreed with the way things were going at that moment, the 3rd estate realized that they were drawing the short straw in their voting. Thus leading them to be locked out and leave.

Already in a financial crisis the splitting of parliament didn’t help Louis case at all. This only divided Frances government more adding more fuel to the fire that was the revolution. Upon leaving they created the “Tennis Court Oath” which said they would not stop meeting until they had a fair constitution. The 3rd Estate felt largely ignored during the Estates General which led them to be locked out causing them to become more angry because they felt they represented the true France with all the work they did other than the other classes.

Sources

“St. Peter’s Basilica.” , Rome. Van Ermengen, n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2014. <http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/sanpietro.htm&gt;

“Renaissance Art.” Www.britannica.com. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/497788/Renaissance-art&gt;.

“Booking Site Borghese Gallery Tiziano Vecellio – Sacred and Profane Love.” Booking Site Borghese Gallery Tiziano Vecellio – Sacred and Profane Love. Posizionamento Siti Web, 05 Dec. 2012. Web. 04 Mar. 2014. <http://www.galleriaborghese.it/borghese/en/eamor.htm&gt;.

Sacred and Profane Love- Titian

 

Background Information-Sacred and Profane love- “Sacred and Profane Love” is an oil painting done by Titian in 1514. It depicts the moment Niccolò Aurelio was married to his young widow wife, Laura Bagarotto. It was also commissioned by Niccolò Aurelio a member of the Venetian Council of Ten. It is said to picture his wife sitting beside cupid and being assisted by Venus.

 

Interpretation of Sacred and Profane Love- There are many interpretations of this masterpiece. Some of these include, the two women in the picture are both Niccolò Aurelio’s wife just in different forms for example the woman in white is the character of satisfied love while the one in nude is ingenious love. Also the woman in white represents purity while the nude woman represents no-purity or evil. It is also interpreted that the woman in white is Aphrodite Pandemos while the nude is Aphrodite Urnania two polar opposites of each other.