Figure 1.--We see this image on countless internet sites using it as eye candy for a rasnge of topics. None of the sites actuslly desctribe what is happening here. The painting depicts a scene outsude the Hôtel de Ville--the Paris city hall. It has nothing to do with the 1789 Revolution. We are not sure, but think it depicts the July Revolution of 1830 in which the people of Paris forced King Charles from the phone. Unlike his brother, Charles was determined to reserect the Ancien Regime. We are not sure who the artist is. Hopefully our French readers will let us know. A motr famous painting was done by Delacroix.

The French people rose up again. Charles X with the Restoration did not understand how France had changed. He was determined to bring back the Ancien Regime. Charles promulgated restrictive ordinances (July 26) that clearly violated the spirit of the Charter of 1814. Protests and demonstrations broke out and not just in Paris. Three days of street fighting occured in Paris (July 27–29). Charles could see that he had miscalculated and lost contol, but was determined to still save the mnarcy. He abdicated (August 2), but wanted 10-year-old grandson, Henri, Duke of Bordeaux to replace him. Charles appointed Louis Philippe 'Lieutenant général du royaume', and tasked him with seeing that his grandson succeed him and work with elected Chamber of Deputies to achieve this. And at first Louis Philippe acted as Henri's regent. Louis-Philippe decided, however, to use the opportunity to proclaim himself 'king of the French' (August 9). Note he did not proclaimm himself King of France, but king of the French people. This was the title that Louis XVI had adopted in the early phase of the Revolituion (1791). This essentially linked the monarchy to the people rather than a territory. Louis Philippe's bold ursurptation was possible because the Deputies in the Chamber were aware of Louis-Philippe's liberal orientation and his resulting popularity with the populace. They Chamber proclaimed Louis Philippe as the new French king, displacing the senior branch of the House of Bourbon. Louis Philippe was sworn in as King Louis Philippe I. 【"Louis-Philippe"】 Under Louis-Philippe, the upper middle class (bourgeoisie) finally achuieved political and social ascendancy over the increasingly discredited aristocracy. The revolution established the July Monarchy (1830–48). Charles and his family, including Duke of Bordeaux went into exile across the Channel in Britain, the normal refuge for French exiles. The Duke of Bordeaux adopted the title of Comte de Chambord. He would become the pretender to the throne recognized by the Légitimists. Louis Phillipe would be the only member of the Bourbon Orleans line to actually reign as King of France. The Revolution against Charles firmly established Louis Phillipe as a constitutional monarch. Louis Philippe unlike Charles understood this. The event was remembered by Delacroix in his painting Liberty leading the people. Honore Daumier, the famed political cartooniost, liked to draw Louis, the Bourguoise Monarch, as a large pear in a top hat. The King understandably was furious about it.

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Created: 7:04 AM 12/22/2023
Last updated: 3:24 AM 1/16/2024