Bourbon Dynasty, Restored

Following the ousting of Napoleon I of France in 1814, the Allies restored the Bourbon Dynasty to the French throne. The ensuing period is called the Restauration, following French usage, and is characterized by a sharp conservative reaction and the re-establishment of the Roman Catholic Church as a power in French politics.

Charles X, 1824 – 1830

During his brother's reign the comte d'Artois headed the ultra-royalist opposition, which took power after the traumatic assassination of the duc du Berry, with the ministry of the comte de Villèle, who continued as chief minister after Charles became king. Emotionally, Charles never really recovered from his son's murder.

Related Topics:
Ultra-royalist - Comte de Villèle

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The Villèle cabinet resigned in 1827 under pressure from the liberal press. Villèle's successor, the vicomte de Martignac, tried to steer a middle course, but in 1829 Charles appointed Prince Jules Armand de Polignac (Louise de Polastron's nephew), an ultra-reactionary, as chief minister. Polignac initiated French colonization in Algeria. His dissolution of the chamber of deputies, his July Ordinances, which set up rigid control of the press, and his restriction of suffrage resulted in the July Revolution of 1830. The major cause of his downfall, however, was that, while he managed to keep the support of the aristocracy, the Catholic Church and even much of the peasantry, he was deeply unpopular with industrial workers and the bourgeoisie.

Related Topics:
1827 - Vicomte de Martignac - 1829 - Jules Armand de Polignac - Algeria - July Ordinances - Suffrage - July Revolution

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Charles abdicated in favor of his grandson, the Comte de Chambord, and left for England. However, the liberal, bourgeois-controlled Chamber of Deputies refused to confirm the Comte de Chambord as Henri V. In a vote largely boycotted by conservative deputies, the body declared the French throne vacant, and elevated Louis-Philippe, duc d'Orleans, to power.

Related Topics:
Comte de Chambord - Louis-Philippe - Orleans

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