French History

Aside from history, I am also quite fascinated with photography and filmmaking. Thus, I have delegated myself the task of knowing more about the person behind the invention of still color photography. I was a bit surprised to find out that there were actually two people to take credit for the said invention. Thus, I would like to introduce the Lumiere Brothers.

Auguste and Louis saw life in Twin Valley, Besançon, France. As adults, they worked for their father who owned a company that has photography as its service. Louis and Auguste worked as physicist and manager respectively. Incidentally, it was the former who made some developments in the art of still-photography processes. I am talking about the dry-plate process. Now, the said process actually paved the way for the development of moving images.

The creation of moving pictures were done by the Lumiere brothers when their father retired around 1892. They also created some sprocket holes for the film strap so that the film could be moved in the camera as well as the projector. The cinematographe was actually patented in 1895. Incidentally, it was on March 19, 1895 that the 1st footage using the said camera was recorded.

If you are moved by the "Hunchback of Notre-Dame" and "Les Mirables", better know the man behind this socially-acclaimed literary pieces. A sensitive social-activist, Victor Hugo is one of the best writers of 19th century. You may find his write-ups a good read, but now let me tell you the story of the man himself...

Victor Hugo was born in Besancon,France on February 26, 1802. With zeal, talent and soul for writing, he was also a dramatist and a poet. Mostly, his masterpieces incorporate significant social issues reflective of pervading scenarios of his time. He elaborates on the success and defeat of mankind and their struggles in politics, economy and the social strata of life.

He produced generous amount of work which includes poems, novels and proses. Hugo actually yields up to 20 pages of prose or 100 lines of verse every saintly morning. His cunning skills expressed an aloquent demostration of what he sees and feels that's why he's also found to be very effective in rousing witty remarks and queries that of curious, inquisitve minds. Although he's laid to rest in the Pantheon after he died on May 23, 1885, his 83-year meaningful journey will always be remembered through his soulful stories.

Personally, I admire most of his passion in romance. I even like the way that he puts in reality to fabricated characters and masters the art of drama. I look up to him as the "Hopeless Romantic" hoping that he would have lived until today.

France has a long line of monarchs. The rich history of Frankish government has come down to us in fairytales and legends. However, one thing is sure about the royalties: there is an account of their kingdoms. Although their descendants could not be retraced, and no one knows if their bloodlines have completely perished, the stories of their kingdoms still linger in history.

On October 6, 1773, a king named Louis-Philippe was born. He ascended to the thrown on 1830. He ruled for eighteen years. His nobility has been sharpened by the various battles he fought and won. Louis-Philippe became a duke at the tender age of sixteen. He participated in wars and by the end of 1790 he became a colonel, thus commanded an Army. At age eighteen, as lieutenant-general, he led a victorious battalion in Jemappes.

He married Maria Amelia, a princess and daughter to Ferdinand IV, king of Palermo, in 1807. He had eight equally noble sons and daughters. Though his family has always been his priority, he managed to deal with his responsibility without leaving them behind. His power and ardor in protecting the kingdom did not interfere with his personal life.

I have always been fascinated by world history and peoples of France. The monumental events that took place in France truly left a deep mark in our world history. It is unbelievable that its power has extended to neighboring countries and contributed a lot in helping developing nations strengthen their political powers.

One of the most famous names, yet seldom mentioned, is Cardinal Richelieu. A native of Paris, he was baptized Armand Jean du Plessis. The boy, then, being exceptionally ingenious, was compelled to study theology piously. Not long after, he was officially appointed as Bishop at age thirty-seven. Since then, Armand was known as Richelieu, the name he adapted from the estate of his ancestry. Even before his appointment, Richelieu has already exhibited a great and unbeatable talent in political analysis. His principles and reasoning can overturn any other politicians during his time. Impressed by his capabilities, the government gladly welcomed him as the Prime Minister.

Although a man of faith, he considered to be true that the monarch is the principal promoter of societal order and peace. His conviction about politics gave the Roman Catholic Church a minimal practical participation in politics. Richelieu supposed that the government is the principal thing and that the church is tasked to help in the promotion of the policies. But, his resistance was threatened by a group of Protestants who threatened the kingdom of France and disabled Richelieu to continue functioning as Minister. However, being a man of strong convictions, and left with no other choice, he was forced to use his powers in fighting the enemies of the government and formed a new set of officials. During his time, France has become the most powerful nation in Europe. His inclination to arts contributed to the flourishing of the visual and literary arts of France. He ruled for a short period of time, but he died leaving France a very strong government and rich humanity.

War of religion is everywhere, this is because of the fact that people have different beliefs and sometimes they cannot avoid arguing on which religion is perfect. There are people who are claiming that their religion is the best because it ensures that they will be saved when the so-called "end" will come. Today this is the nature of religious wars. Not so intense compared to what they experienced in the ancient times.

France has wonderful tourist attractions but behind this is a dark past because it experienced tragic war of religions or Huguenot war. This stemmed with the desire of the Protestants to acquire freedom to establish their religion. They also claimed for equal rights of power. They believed that their leaders during those times were siding with the Catholics.

The conflict started three civil wars which resulted to the killings of many Huguenots. The war only ended when Francis of Alencon sided with the Huguenots. When the Edict of Beaulieu was ratified, the freedom to worship any religion was granted to the whole of France excluding Paris. Protestantism was established and the religious wars were concluded when the Edict of Nantes was ratified.

Marie Josephe Rose Tascher de la Pagerie was born on June 23, 1763, in Martinique. She carried the name de Beauharnais when she married to Alexandre Vicomte de Beauharnais in 1779, an army officer of France. But, in 1794 he was killed by guillotine in Reign of Terror. Alexandre Vicomte gave Josephine three children.

When she became a widow, she engaged in several affairs with well-known political personalities of that period, until she encountered the famous General Napoleon Bonaparte. He proposed a marriage in 1796. Josephine was recognized and crowned as an Empress of France by Napoleon Bonaparte in Notre-Dame, but greatly opposed by his family, particularly his mother.

When Napoleon was not able to give a child to Josephine, they both agreed to divorce, so Napoleon could marry again and have a child to follow him. They divorced on January 10, 1810 under the Napoleonic Code. After the separation, Josephine transferred and lived at Chateau de Malmaison. In 1814, Josephine died and buried at the St. Pierre and St. Paul church, Rueil. Hortense de Beauharnais is buried near her tomb.

Forty-three years have passed since the Friendship Treaty between France and the German republic. The two European Union nations have been fighting each other for almost a thousand years, until an agreement was made in 1963 in Paris between the two cooperating countries that put an end to their conflict. Both nations' government made a very strong pact that resulted in a powerful bonding of each country's culture.

The economic stability and the high social status of the two cooperating countries became the basis for the high recognition regarded to them by other European nations and neighboring countries as well. The peoples have been closely connected through student exchange programs and city relations, German-French companionship, meetings in the professional circle, sports and education, and intermarriages. Today, Germany and France are the world leaders in technology, science, and arts. The treaty, truly, is a shared destiny which has developed over the years and which has turned out to be very necessary within the framework of European construction. Both countries agree completely to harmonize their positions as closely as possible to find a peaceful solution to any political crisis. The dream of having a friendly relationship between the two countries has been achieved at last.

The Enlightenment period or the Age of Reason began in the 18th century when European philosophers advocated rationality, liberalism reforms and fight the traditional monastic supremacy, superstition and tyranny as a major character of the middle ages.

One major vehicle of the spread of enlightenment in France is the emergence of French philosophers who published the "Encyclopedie." The Encyclopedie was compilation of books and articles which advocated freedom, liberty, individual right and demanded reforms in the religion and government through the use of reason. Among these French philosophers are Baron de Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Voltaire, Denis Dedirot, and Jean Le Rond d'Alembert. The most famous of these philosophers were Volataire and Rousseau.

Art also flourished during this period Louie, the XV, the patron of art became the icon of elegance and beauty .The taste for beautiful and elegant objects and of romance and music also infiltrated the ranks of the dominant bourgeoisie which was one of the causes of the lower class revolution. Numerous cafe and salon opened as the people believed that "Eat, drink and be happy, for tomorrow you will die." People of the Enlightenment value freedom and reason during this period.

A certain 'Merovingian', a business man, was included in the cast of the film Matrix Revolutions, but what lies beneath the name? A dynasty of Frankish kings, the Merovingians were the descendants of Merovech, chief of the tribe of Salian, one of the ancient peoples of France. Eventually, they became the founder of France whose capital, Paris, is renowned for its famous Eiffel tower that leaves an unforgettable experience to anyone who pay a trip to Europe.

Merovingians were ancient 6th-8th century kings of France. Their ancestry, according to a myth, began with Merovech who was said to have had two fathers, a mortal and a Quinotaur, mythical beast. They also claim to be descended from Troy, Israel (the tribe of Benjamin) and Arcadia. Old European maps also revealed evidences of the existence of the Merovingian tribe.

These long-haired monarchs possess magical powers attributed to their hair, which was never cut. As kings they followed the Frankish custom in dividing the patrimony, thus they are kings by right of birth. But, the real authority is executed by elected mayors, who also reside in the palace, thus corrupting the reigning monarch's power to the extent that they take away the absolute and inherent power from the king.

When Clovis I, Merovech's grandson, died in 551, his kingdom was divided into various kingdoms - Austrasia, Neustria, and Burgundy. Amongst Frank monarchs, Dagobert I was the last active ruler whose descendants were the rois fainéants or idle kings. Unfortunately, in 751 Pepin the short, a mayor of the palace during those times, overthrew Childeric III, the last Merovingian king.

Perhaps one of the most recognized figures in French History is Joan of Arc. She is also one of the most famous female historical personalities in World History. Joan of Arc, or Jeanne d’Arc, is a national heroine in France and is one of the saints in the Roman Catholic Church. It seems that even after 500 years has passed since her death, she stills captivates the hearts of many. Hollywood has made numerous films about her life story. Several shows, books, songs, and stories also made reference to her name. Some of the world’s influential writers like Shakespeare, Voltaire and Mark Twain have used Joan of Arc in their works, one way or the other. She is seen as a woman of great power.

According to history, Joan of Arc’s involvement in the Hundred Years’ War came after a dialogue with King Charles VII. She is said to have received visions from God telling her to reclaim her homeland from the English. She gained approval from her peers as well as the public when she led successful campaigns. Unfortunately, she also earned enemies. She was charged with heresy, and after an unjust trial, she was burned at the stake at the tender age of nineteen.

France is a very rich country. It is brimming with wonderful culture, great people, and a magnificent legacy. It is no wonder why lots of people can't help but be fascinated and drawn to France.

Renaissance France saw the reign of Francois I. This mighty ruler is someone to be reckoned with. He is talented in the arts, letters, war, and sports. He enjoyed the works of Rabelais, Cellini, and Da Vinci. He even invited the said Italian artists to France so that his court can enjoy the presence of the three renowned artists.

Let us move forward to the reign of Napoleon. He can ever forget the historic feat that the great Napoleon Bonaparte gave to France? The said monarch ruled France between 1800 and 1870. During Napoleon's reign, Paris began to be modernized. It was also then that France began its industrial transformation.

Next is Belle Epoque. It is considered as the era before the occurrence of the First World War. French politics during this time was very chaotic. Despite the political rifts, several inventions have been made or discovered. Take for example the invention of electricity or the discovery of some vaccines to fight off diseases. Lastly, 1895 gave birth to cinemas.

The French Revolution was the result of the many problems that France faced during the middle ages. Historians are still unable to pin-point the exact reason for the ten year revolution. However, there have been historical evidences found that may have caused this event. During the 1700’s, France had a very bad economic system which resulted to burden its citizen with an inequitable system of taxation. Also during this time, resentment, as it seems, ruled the hearts of the people. Peasants and the bourgeoisie both resented Manorialism in France. The citizens also detested the religious intolerance and royal absolutism. Nobles enjoy various privileges and dominated France during this time, this of course was frowned upon by the less fortunate but ambitious French citizens. The Enlightenment Age also played a big role in the culmination of the French Revolution.

The social system in France made it certain that the nobles and the clergies above all the rest of the French citizen, even though some “regular” citizen had more wealth and reputation than the nobles. Bearing such titles, these noblemen had tax exemptions, and were placed above the law. The French Revolution was a battle for equality and the elimination of oppression by the upper class to the lower class.

France was originated from the word "Francia", which means "The Land of Franks" in Medieval Latin. The Land of Franks or Frankland originally consisted of the whole France as we know of today and some parts of Germany. It was divided into two parts, Western France which was called "Francia Occidentalis" and Eastern France as "Francia Orientalis".

The rulers of the Eastern side of France wanted to unite the whole of France and used the name "Holy Roman Empire" but the Western side opposed and kept its original name. They have not come into any united decision about their land until the Battle of Bouvines came and ended the struggle for a united Frankish Empire.

Since the name "Francia Orientalis" disappeared, what was left was the name "Francia Occidentalis". "Francia Occidentalis" was shortened to "Francia" which the word "France" came from.

Marie Antoinette was born in Austria to the Emperor and Empress of the Holy Roman Empire and was married to France's Louis XVI. The couple became crown King and Queen of France in 1774. Marie Antoinette is infamous for her extravagance. But these excesses were not proven. It has been said that her royal counterparts were jealous of her power and beauty that they spread these rumors about her, hoping to incite hate from the masses.

Marie Antoinette's reign was full of political and social instability. The royal family was forced to move in a palace inside Paris . They were 'palace-prisoned'. She sought the help of her brother, the Emperor of Austria. The royal family tried to escape but failed.

When Prussia and Austria declared war against France , the people accused Marie Antoinette of being a spy. The royal family, including King Louis XVI, was accused of treason. The King was found guilty and was guillotined. Months after, Marie Antoinette was also guillotined. There were no real evidence found to prove the accusations.

Napoleon Bonaparte is by far the most known French historical figure. He is famous for conquering almost all of Europe. He created the French empire and sat as its emperor. Legend and history intertwine with Napoleon’s greatness. Coming from an average family, he rose to military ranks by his ability to lead and his extraordinary skill in military tactics. In the lands he has conquered, he created laws, abolished feudalism, supported education, arts and science. He created a central government by assigning administrators to look after different regions in France. Up to now, Code Napoleon or Code Civil is still the basis of the French Civil Law. He is also infamous for the Waterloo battle which he lost. This resulted in him being put into exile in St. Helena where he eventually died due to stomach cancer, or some say, arsenic-poisoning.