Monarchs of Modern France

The monarchs of modern France from King Charles II to Emperor Napoleon III. The Kingdom of France had a troubled early history with divisions, invasions and the costly 100 Years War with England. However, the Kingdom of France emerged to become the dominant power on the continent reaching its peak of power and glory during the reign of the "Grand Monarch" King Louis XIV. Continued conflicts with England did not go well for France and she went broke financing the American revolutionaries against England. The ancien regime ended with the regicide of King Louis XVI during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution. Rising from the ashes was Napoleon Bonaparte who made himself "Emperor of the French" and he dominated Europe before his final defeat at Waterloo. The monarchy was restored under Louis XVIII but ended as it had been with Charles X. The "Citizen-King" Louis-Philippe tried to blend the monarchy and the revolution but was unsuccessful. The last monarch to reign over France was Napoleon's nephew Louis who was elected President of France, then President-for-life and finally Emperor as Napoleon III. His Second French Empire went down in defeat in 1870 at the hands of Prussia and her German allies, Napoleon was overthrown and France has had republican governments ever since.

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Education

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• France
• Bourbon
• Bonaparte
• Capet
• Monarchy
• Royalty