546. The French Revolution: The Monarchy Falls (Part 3)

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Mar 10, 2025

The podcast dives into the dramatic turning point of the French Revolution, focusing on the abolition of the monarchy and the chaotic atmosphere in Paris. As the National Convention convenes amidst fierce political rivalries, the stakes are high with Prussia closing in. The heated debates between the Girondins and Montagnards reveal the intense ideological struggles of the period. Listeners will encounter a blend of history and humor, with lively discussions about Louis XVI's trial and the far-reaching impacts of the revolution on national identity.

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ANECDOTE

Battle of Valmy

At Valmy, French forces, led by Dumouriez and Kellerman, faced the Prussians.
Despite being outnumbered, the French held their ground, bolstered by new, lightweight cannons and Kellerman's inspiring cry of "Vive la Nation!".

INSIGHT

Valmy's Significance

The Battle of Valmy, though not a decisive victory, was perceived as a major turning point for the French.
The Prussians' failure to dislodge them boosted French morale and was hailed as the dawn of a new era.

ANECDOTE

Goethe's Declaration

Goethe, present at Valmy, famously declared the battle the beginning of a new era.
A French soldier's letter echoed this sentiment, expressing newfound courage and revolutionary fervor.

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“From this place and from this day forth commences a new era in the world’s history, and you can all say you were present at its birth!”

By September 1792, the Prussians, under the leadership of the formidable Duke of Brunswick, were closing in on revolutionary Paris. There, the streets roiled with the clanging of church bells, thousands of volunteers, patriotic songs and slogans, and of course; the dead bodies of all those killed during the September Massacres. It was against this feverish backdrop that on the 20th, the new National Convention - the most democratic of the assemblies yet, with unlimited powers to remake the nation - met at the famous Riding School. And though it was riven by internal rivalries under the contentious three headed triumvirate of Danton, Marat and Robespierre, remake the nation it did. Voting to abolish the monarchy once and for all, the Convention declared the institution of a new world and a new beginning for France, with all state documents from that day forth bearing the immortal words, ‘Year One’. But, with their Prussian enemies baying at the gates, would revolutionary France survive to see more than one year? A great military reckoning was approaching, which would decide the fate of the new Republic and perhaps, universal liberty. As the armies of France and Prussia met for what would prove to be one of the most ideologically significant battles of all time, political tensions were mounting in Paris…

Join Dominic and Tom for this crucial, tremulous episode of the French Revolution. With Prussia closing in, bodies littering the streets, and the revolutionary leaders hungry for each other's blood, would the Revolution survive?

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Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom

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Producer: Theo Young-Smith

Assistant Producer: Tabby Syrett + Aaliyah Akude

Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor

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