Overview
France's history unites Celtic Gaul, Roman provincialization, Frankish kingship, Capetian centralization, Bourbon absolutism, the world-shaking Revolution of 1789, Napoleon's empire and modern republicanism.
Basic Information
History Timeline
- 58 – 50 BCEJulius Caesar conquers Gaul
- 481Clovis I founds the Frankish kingdom
- 800Charlemagne crowned Emperor of the Romans
- 987Hugh Capet founds the Capetian dynasty
- 1789French Revolution begins
- 1804 – 1815Napoleonic Empire
- 1958Fifth Republic under de Gaulle
Ancient Peoples
- Gauls
- Franks
- Burgundians
- Visigoths
Ancient Kingdoms
- Kingdom of the Franks
- Kingdom of Burgundy
Empires
- Carolingian Empire
- First French Empire
- French Colonial Empire
Religions
- Roman Catholicism
- Protestantism
- Judaism
- Islam
Culture
France is a cradle of Gothic cathedrals, Enlightenment philosophy, Impressionist painting and haute cuisine.
Language
French, a Romance language, was standardized by the Académie française in 1635.
Important Battles
- Battle of Tours732
Charles Martel halts Umayyad advance
- Battle of Agincourt1415
English victory in the Hundred Years' War
- Battle of Austerlitz1805
Napoleon's greatest triumph
- Battle of Verdun1916
Longest battle of WWI
Historical Figures
Founder of the Carolingian Empire
Peasant heroine of the Hundred Years' War
The Sun King
Emperor of the French
Archaeological Sites
- Lascaux Cave
- Carnac Stones
- Alesia
- Pont du Gard
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Mont-Saint-Michel
- Palace of Versailles
- Chartres Cathedral
- Paris Banks of the Seine
- Vézère Valley
Dynasties
- Merovingian
- Carolingian
- Capetian
- Valois
- Bourbon
- Bonaparte
Colonial Period
The French colonial empire spanned West and North Africa, Indochina, the Caribbean and Pacific; most colonies gained independence between 1945 and 1962.
Modern History
France is a nuclear power, founding member of the EU and a permanent member of the UN Security Council.