French First Republic
In the history of France, the First Republic (French: Première République), sometimes referred to in historiography as Revolutionary France, and officially the French Republic (French: République française), was founded on 21 September 1792 during the French Revolution. The First Republic lasted until the declaration of the First Empire on 18 May 1804 under Napoléon Bonaparte, although the form of the government changed several times.
French Republic | |
|---|---|
| 1792–1804 | |
| Motto: Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité ou la Mort ("Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, or Death") | |
| Anthem: Chant de guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin ("War Song for the Army of the Rhine") | |
 The French Republic in 1801, delineating departments | |
| Capital and largest city | Paris |
| Common languages | |
| Religion |
|
| Demonym(s) | French |
| Government |
|
| President of the National Convention | |
• 1792 | Jérôme Pétion de Villeneuve (first) |
• 1795 | Jean Joseph Victor Génissieu (last) |
| President of the Directory | |
• 1795–1799 | By rotation: 3 months duration |
| First Consul | |
• 1799–1804 | Napoleon I |
| Legislature | Parliament |
| Council of Ancients (1795–1799) | |
| |
| Historical era | |
| 21 September 1792 | |
| 10 March 1793 – 27 July 1794 | |
| 27 July 1794 | |
| 6 September 1795 | |
| 4 September 1797 | |
| 18 June 1799 | |
| 9 November 1799 | |
| 24 December 1799 | |
| 27 March 1802 | |
• Napoleonic Wars begin | 18 May 1803 |
• Napoleon proclaimed emperor | 18 May 1804 |
| Currency | livre (to 1794), franc, assignat |
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This period was characterized by the downfall and abolition of the French monarchy,[1] the establishment of the National Convention and the Reign of Terror, the Thermidorian Reaction and the founding of the Directory, and, finally, the creation of the Consulate and Napoleon's rise to power.