The Restoration

The Restored Bourbons

• Character of Louis XVIII – what kind of man was he? Good choice as King?

• The ‘100 Days’• What problems do you think he will

face?• What solutions can you offer him?

Louis XVIII

• 59 years old, fat & walked with difficulty

• Dull and uninspiring but not without intelligence

• Had been in exile for many years

• Appalled by the Revolution

Support for Louis?

• Talleyrand worked hard to persuade Allies to restore Louis

• “wanted for what he stood for rather than for what he really was”

• Seen as the rightful king of France

What problems will he face?• Royalist dreams: Return of privileges and wealth: Not necessarily a return to pre-1789: Revenge for suffering in the

Revolution: Wished for an end to warfare and

economic dislocation

What problems will he face?

• Republican fears: Return of landowners might lead to

loss of land and freedoms: Restoration of Church?: Loss of status and political power• Threats from Bonapartists• War damaged France?

Early problems

• Louis, the Army & the civil service• The 100 Days• 2nd Treaty of Paris• The Ultras & the White Terror• ‘La Chambre Introuvable’

What impact did the 100 Days have?

Demonstrated fragility of

Louis’ support2nd Treaty of

Paris

Severely damagedpolicy of

reconciliationThe White Terror

2nd Treaty of Paris

1st Treaty of Paris very

lenient & seenas honourable

settlement

By 2nd TreatyFrance had topay indemnity& suffer armyof occupation

Would this makelife easier or

more difficult for the newKing & hisregime?

The Ultras

Extreme RoyalistsSupported Divine

Right

White Terror followed2nd Restoration

‘La Chambre Introuvable”:chance for counter-

Revolution?

Successes 1815-1820

• Issued Charter – showed intentions • Chamber dissolved & franchise altered• More moderate assembly elected• Growing confidence in regime• Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle great

success• Ultras thwarted

1820-1824

• Murder of Duc de Berri huge blow• Richlieu recalled to government• Start of Ultra revival• Beginnings of Charbonnier movement• Ultras beginning to join the government• 4 sergeants of La Rochelle• 1823 Intervention in Spain• Death of Louis XVIII

Was Louis a good choice as King?• Made good attempt at reconciliation• “No great blunders had been made by

Louis, but the slide away from moderate policies and towards extreme Royalism had already begun before Charles X officially became king.”

Accession of Charles X

Dynasty seemed very secure

• Support from both Chambers

• Birth of new heir• Young 67• But not all was

well!

Charles & pays legal

• Deeply distrusted by majority• PL = 100k allowed to vote• Only 15k of richest could be MP• Main concern was maintenance of

power & position• Would challenge any return to

despotism

Attitude towardsreligion

Compensationfor

emigres

Treatment of the Press

Attitude towardsParliament

Political Parties

Constitutionalists UltrasLiberals

Charles & ParliamentStrong position in 1824? Polarisation of politics – loss of

middle ground

Villele unpopular – Charles facing opposition from L & R

Charles calls fresh elections 1827

Growing supportfor opposition

Jules de Polignac

Charlespointsnewchief

minister

Charles X: Final Days

• 1830 elections to be ‘managed’• Four Ordinances seen as direct

challenge to the Charter• No action taken to prevent any

possible action by opposition• ‘3 Glorious Days’ saw abdication in

1830