Liberty Equality, Fraternity: Exploring the French Revolution

Browse Timeline

The 382 timeline entries listed below chronicle the key events of the Revolution as well as those leading up to and emerging out it. You can search for particular events by keyword or topic on the search page.

There are 382 matching records. Displaying matches 1 through 30.

• June 15, 1215. Magna Carta.
  
  
• 1628. Petition of Right.
  
  
• 1685. The Black Code.
  
  
• 1689. Bill of Rights.
  
  
• 1690. John Locke, "Of Political or Civil Society."
  
  
• 1713. Promulgation of Papal Bull Unigenitus regarding Jansenism.
  
  
• 1715. Death of Louis XIV and ascension of Louis XV.
  
  
• 1748. Montesquieu, The Spirit of the Laws.
  
  
• 1754. Beginning of the Refusal of Sacraments Controversy (to 1756).
  
  
• 1756. Seven Years War (ending 1763).
  
  
• January 5, 1757. Damiens attempts to assassinate Louis XV.
  
  
• 1762. Publication of Rousseau’s Emile and Social Contract.
  
  
• 1764. Beginning of La Chalotais Affair (ends in 1766).
  
  
• 1764. Expulsion of Jesuits.
  
  
• August 15, 1769. Birth of Napoleon Bonaparte.
  
  
• May 7, 1770. Marriage of dauphin (future Louis XVI) to the Archduchess Marie Antoinette.
  
  
• 1771. Remodeling of parlements by Maupeou.
  
  
• February 23, 1771. Legal system reorganized by Chancellor Maupeou. Parlement of Paris is split up and magistrates are appointed by the government.
  
  
• May 10, 1774. Death of Louis XV.
  
  
• May 10, 1774. Louis XVI becomes king.
  
  
• August 24, 1774. Dismissal of Maupeou and Terray. Restoration of parlements.
  
  
• August 25, 1774. Turgot’s ministry as Controller–General of France begins. Continues to May 1776.
  
  
• June 11, 1775. Coronation of Louis XVI.
  
  
• July 4, 1776. U.S. Declaration of Independence.
  
  
• 1778. Franco–American alliance. France declares war on Great Britain. Death of Voltaire and Rousseau.
  
  
• 1785. Affair of the Diamond Necklace.
  
  
• August 20, 1786. Calonne presents reform proposals to Louis XVI.
  
  
• February 22, 1787. The First Assembly of Notables. Raising taxes is discussed and rejected.
  
  
• April, 1787. Etienne Charles de Loménie de Brienne replaces Calonne as Controller–General of Finances.
  
  
• May 25, 1787. Assembly of Notables dissolved.