A Brief history of July Revolution 1830
One of the most crucial incidents in the history of France is July Revolution. It is also called Révolution de Juillet in French. This significant historical revolution led to the foundation for Louis-Philippe to sit on the throne of France in 1830. It happened in the days of July 1830 when Charles X published restrictive ordinances defying the spirit of the Charter of 1814. This charter provided many liberties that the people won during the French Revolution.
What is July Revolution?
July Revolution, also known as the Second French Revolution, happened due to the political unrest among the people impeded by Charles X. This was one of the major revolutions that happened after the French Revolution of 1789. It is also called ‘Three Glorious Days’.
The publication done by Charles X that directly defied the Charter of 1814 where the natives enjoyed a lot of freedom in different cases was the prime reason to spark a revolution again in July 1830. Charles X was a French Bourbon monarch who was overthrown due to his derogatory remarks and changes in governance. Louis Philippe, his cousin, took over the throne and ruled for 18 years. He also suffered the same fate when he was overthrown in 1848. The July Revolution of 1830 paved the way to dethrone Charles X and earmarked the historical path of shifting one constitutional monarchy to another one called the July Monarchy.
The Causes of Revolution of 1830
The defeat and surrender of Napoleon Bonaparte in May 1814 resulted in utter disarray in France and the rest of continental Europe. The Congress of Vienna was bound to redraw the map of Europe. The decisions were made by the controlling powers of Austria, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Prussia.
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When King Louis XVIII died without leaving an heir, the throne was taken by Charles X. He was 66 years old and was more reactive. Within eight months of his reign, people started to witness unrest due to his unruly publications and measures. The causes of July Revolution are concluded into two main points.
Anyone will be given the death penalty if found abusing the Eucharist as per the Anti-Sacrilege Act.
The payment of indemnities had been mandated regarding the properties that were confiscated during the First Empire of Napoleon and the French Revolution 1789.
The king also altered the clauses of the Charter of 1814. The decrees are also called July Ordinances. The liberty of the press was suspended and the Chamber of Deputies was dissolved. He also excluded the middle-class commercial segment from participating in future elections.
All these decrees were published in the newspaper on Monday 26th July and the revolution began on Tuesday 27th July 1830.
The Three Glorious Days of July Revolution
27th July 1830
Now that we know the causes of Revolution of 1830, we can understand how the public felt unrest due to the unwise decision made by Charles X, the monarch. The crowds started to accumulate and become larger in volume as the day passed by.
The commanders belonging to the Garde Royale and First Military Division of Paris were ordered to ready their troops and guns. Military patrols were deployed to maintain order in the streets and to stop the public from stealing guns from the shops.
The fight began during the twilight at 7:00 PM. The Parisians become quite aggressive as they wielded stones, flowerpots, roof tiles, etc. All these things began to rain upon the deployed soldiers. 21 civilians were killed as the soldiers openly fired on them.
28th July 1830
Gunshots and shouts of the frantic mobs can be heard across the city. All kinds of business activities were stalled and crowds were rushing down the streets. The gorging sounds of gunfire and cannons were heard all day long. Politicians and ministers thought that the riot would soon end when the ammunition of the common people would end. Guards did not have enough provisions to hold their positions as the crowd became bigger and more violent.
A petition was signed and requested Marmont to stop this madness from the side of the royal army. Marmont said that the common people need to lay down their arms first. Eventually, Charles X received a note stating that the riot had taken the shape of a revolution and necessary measures for pacification had become the need of the hour.
29th July 1830
The 3rd day of the July Revolution of 1830 continued on 28th July. It earmarked the continuation of the revolution where the common people were dying. Poets and authors wrote that not a single prince, minister, or royal figure appeared in support of the common. Guards were also fighting without food and were trying to survive by maintaining the dignity of their uniforms. Eventually, politicians entered to prepare a provisional government. The occurrence of riots and unrest reduced in the upcoming days.
Effects of July Revolution
On 2nd August, Charles X and Dauphin, his son, left for Britain. He thought that the Duke of Bordeaux, his grandson, would take the throne but the politicians of the provisional government chose Louise Philippe, the House of Orleans as the rightful king.
This revolution inspired an uprising in Southern Provinces of the UK of the Netherlands and Brussels leading to the formation of the kingdom of Belgium. It also influenced the unsuccessful uprising of Poland and Italy.
FAQs on July revolution of 1830
1. What was the July Revolution of 1830 in simple terms?
The July Revolution was a three-day uprising in France in July 1830 against the autocratic rule of King Charles X. The people of Paris revolted, leading to the overthrow of Charles X and the establishment of a more liberal constitutional monarchy under his cousin, Louis-Philippe.
2. What were the main causes that led to the July Revolution?
The revolution was triggered by several factors, but the main cause was King Charles X's attempt to restore absolute monarchy. The key reasons include:
- The signing of the July Ordinances, which suspended the liberty of the press and dissolved the newly elected Chamber of Deputies.
- Growing dissatisfaction among the liberal middle class (bourgeoisie) who felt their rights were being taken away.
- Widespread economic hardship and discontent among the working class in Paris.
3. What was the most important consequence of the July Revolution?
The most important consequence was the end of the Bourbon Restoration in France. It replaced the autocratic rule of Charles X with a more moderate constitutional monarchy, known as the July Monarchy, with Louis-Philippe as the 'Citizen King'. This event demonstrated that the people could successfully challenge an unpopular monarch.
4. How did the July Revolution in France affect other countries in Europe?
The July Revolution created a ripple effect across Europe, inspiring other nationalist and liberal uprisings. It directly sparked the Belgian Revolution, which led to Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. It also encouraged similar, though less successful, revolts in Poland, Italy, and Germany, spreading the ideals of liberalism and nationalism.
5. What is the difference between the French Revolution of 1789 and the July Revolution of 1830?
The main difference lies in their scale and outcome. The French Revolution of 1789 was a radical, decade-long upheaval that completely overthrew the monarchy and the old social order, establishing a republic. In contrast, the July Revolution of 1830 was a much shorter, less violent event that simply replaced one king with another, leading to a constitutional monarchy rather than a republic.
6. Who were the key figures involved in the July Revolution?
The two central figures were King Charles X, whose repressive policies caused the revolution, and Louis-Philippe, the Duke of Orléans, who was chosen to become the new king. Influential liberal politicians like Adolphe Thiers also played a significant role in mobilising opposition and managing the transition of power.
7. Is the musical 'Les Misérables' about the July Revolution of 1830?
No, this is a common misconception. While set in the same period, the major uprising depicted in 'Les Misérables' is the June Rebellion of 1832. This was a separate, unsuccessful anti-monarchist insurrection that happened two years after the July Revolution had already placed Louis-Philippe on the throne.
8. Why is the July Revolution also called the 'Three Glorious Days'?
It is called the 'Three Glorious Days' (or 'Trois Glorieuses' in French) because the main conflict and uprising in Paris took place over three consecutive days, from 27th to 29th July 1830. This short and intense period was enough to force King Charles X to abdicate and flee the country, making the revolution a swift success.
