French Revolution (1789-1799)

Last modified: 2005-03-19 by ivan sache
Keywords: revolution | tricolore | bonaparte | naval ensign | jack | law | red flag |
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• Chronological overview
• Design of the national flag
• Official adoption decree
• Naval ensign and jack (1790-1794)
• An unidentified French flag
• The red flag on the Champ-de-Mars, 1791
• Bonaparte au Pont d'Arcole, a deliberate flag error
• The Vienna flag riot (1798)
• Playing chess during the French Revolution

See also:

• France
• France: Historical flags
• France: Historical chronology since 1792
• France: Regimental flags during the Revolution

Chronological overview

• 1789: Meeting of the States General (Etats Généraux) and proclamation of the Constituent Assembly (Assemblée constituante).
• 1791: Election of the Legislative Assembly (Assemblée législative)
• 1792: Proclamation of the Republic and election of the National Convention (Convention nationale)
• 1795: The Directory (Directoire)
• 1799: Bonaparte's coup and proclamation of the Consulate (Consulat)

Design of the national flag

The Tricolore flag was created in 1790 but with the colours the reverse of what they are today, i.e. with red at the hoist, and revised in 1794 to the modern form. The 1790 flag existed only as part of th