French Republican Calendar

The French Republican Calendar or French Revolutionary Calendar is a calendar proposed during the French Revolution, and used by the French government for about twelve years from late 1793.

Related Topics:
Calendar - French Revolution - 1793

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It was designed by the politician and agronomist Charles Gilbert Romme, although it is usually attributed to Fabre d'Églantine, who invented the names of the months. The calendar was adopted by the Jacobin-controlled National Convention on 24 October 1793.

Related Topics:
Agronomist - Charles Gilbert Romme - Fabre d'Églantine - Jacobin - National Convention - 24 October - 1793

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Years appear in writing as Roman numerals (usually), counted from the beginning of the 'Republican Era', 22 September 1792 (the day the French First Republic was proclaimed, one day after the Convention abolished the monarchy). As a result, the calendar is based on a date one year before it was actually adopted. The first day of each year included the autumnal equinox. There were twelve months, each divided into three ten-day weeks called décades. The five or six extra days needed to approximate the tropical year were placed after the months at the end of each year. Each day was divided into ten hours, each hour into 100 decimal minutes and each decimal minute had 100 decimal seconds. Clocks were manufactured to display decimal time, but it did not catch on and was officially abandoned in 1795, although some cities continued to use decimal time as late as 1801.

Related Topics:
Roman numerals - 22 September - 1792 - French First Republic - Autumnal equinox - Month - Tropical year - Day - Hour - Minute - Second - Clock - Decimal time - 1795 - 1801

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A period of four years ending on a leap day was to be called a "Franciade".

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Sunday or the Sabbath was reintroduced by the Concordat of 1801, effective Easter Sunday, 18 April 1802.

Related Topics:
Sunday - Sabbath - Concordat of 1801 - Easter - 18 April - 1802

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Napoléon finally abolished the calendar effective 1 January 1806 (the day after 10 nivôse an XIV), a little over twelve years after its introduction. However, it was used again during the brief Paris Commune in 1871 (year LXXIX).

Related Topics:
1 January - 1806 - Paris Commune - 1871

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Many conversion tables and programs exist, largely created by genealogists. Some enthusiasts in France still use the calendar, more out of historical re-enactment than practicality.

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Some legal texts that were adopted when the Republican Calendar was official are still in force in France and have kept their original dates for citation purposes.

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