Fronde

:For the French feminist newspaper, see La Fronde.

The First Fronde (1648?1649)

In May 1648 a tax levied on judicial officers of the Parlement of Paris was met by that body, not merely with a refusal to pay, but with a condemnation of earlier financial edicts, and even with a demand for the acceptance of a scheme of constitutional reforms framed by a committee of the parlement. This charter was somewhat influenced by contemporary events in England. But there is no real likeness between the two revolutions, the French parlement being no more representative of the people than the Inns of Court were in England.

Related Topics:
1648 - Parlement - England - Inns of Court

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The military record of the first Fronde (the Fronde Parlementaire) is almost blank. In August 1648, strengthened by the news of the Prince of Condé's victory at Lens, Mazarin suddenly arrested the leaders of the parliament, whereupon Paris broke into insurrection and barricaded the streets. The court, having no army at its immediate disposal, had to release the prisoners and to promise reforms, and fled from Paris on the night of October 22. But the signing of the peace of Westphalia set free Condé's army, and by January 1649 it was besieging Paris. The peace of Rueil was signed in March, after little blood had been shed. The Parisians, though still and always anti-cardinalist, refused to ask for Spanish aid, as proposed by their princely and noble adherents, and having no prospect of military success without such aid, submitted and received concessions.

Related Topics:
Prince of Condé - Victory at Lens - October 22 - Peace of Westphalia - 1649 - Peace of Rueil

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~