France Timeline and History Highlights
France Timeline Highlights
B.C.
600 – The colony of Massalia is founded by the ancient Greeks. It later became the city of Marseille, the oldest city in France.
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400 – Celtic tribes begin to settle in the area.
122 – South-eastern France (called Provence) is occupied by the Roman Republic.
52 – Julius Caesar conquers Gaul (most of present-day France). CE
260 – The Gallic Empire is founded by Postumus. It fell into the hands of the Roman Empire in 274.
300 – Franks begin to settle the area.
400s – Other tribes invade and occupy various regions such as the Visigoths, Vandals and Burgundians.
476 – Fall of the Western Roman Empire.
509 – Clovis I becomes the first king of the Franks, uniting all the Frankish tribes under one rule.
732 – The Franks defeat the Arabs at the Battle of Tours.
768 – Charlemagne becomes King of the Franks. He greatly expands the Frankish kingdom.
800 – Charlemagne is crowned Holy Roman Emperor. He implemented reforms such as the first public schools and currency standards.
843 – The Frankish kingdom is divided by the sons of Charlemagne, forming the territories that would later become the Kingdoms of France and Germany.
1066 – William, Duke of Normandy, conquers England.
1163 – Construction of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris begins. Completion he was due in 1345.
1337 – The Hundred Years’ War with England begins.
1348 – Plague spreads across France, killing most of the population.
1415 – The British defeat the French at the Battle of Agincourt.
1429 – Peasant Joan of Arc leads the French to victory over the English at the Siege of Orléans.
1431 – The British burn Joan of Arc to death.
1453 – The Hundred Years War ends with France defeating England at the Battle of Castillon.
1500s – A period of peace and prosperity for France.
1608 – French explorer Samuel de Champlain establishes Quebec City in the New World.
1618 – Start of the Thirty Years’ War.
1643 – Louis XIV becomes King of France. He ruled for 72 years and became known as Louis the Great and the Sun King.
1756 – Beginning of the Seven Years’ War. This war ended in his 1763 with France losing to New France against England.
1778 – France enters the American War of Independence, helping the colonies achieve independence from Great Britain.
1789 – The French Revolution begins with the storming of the Bastille.
1792 – The Louvre Museum is established.
1793 – King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are executed by guillotine.
1799 – Napoleon seizes power and overthrows the French Governorate.
1804 – Napoleon is crowned Emperor of France.
1811 – The French Empire under Napoleon takes over most of Europe.
1815 – Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo and exiled.
1830 – The July Revolution takes place.
1871 – The Paris Commune is proclaimed.
1874 – The Impressionist artist holds the first independent art exhibition in Paris.
1889 – The Eiffel Tower is built in Paris for the World’s Fair.
1900 – The second modern Summer Olympics are held in Paris, France.
1907 – France signs the Triple Entente, an alliance with Russia and Great Britain.
1914 – World War I begins. France is invaded by Germany.
1916 – The Battle of the Somme is fought against Germany.
1919 – World War I ends with the Treaty of Versailles.
1939 – World War II begins.
1940 – Germany invades France.
1944 – Allied forces invade Normandy and push back German forces.
1945 – Germany surrenders, ending World War II in Europe.
1959 – Charles de Gaulle is elected President of France.
1981 – François Mitterrand is elected president.
1992 – France signs the Maastricht Treaty establishing the European Union.
1998 – France wins the Soccer World Cup.
France History Highlights
The lands that make up the country of France today were settled thousands of years ago. 600 BC Part of the Greek Empire settled in southern France and founded what is now called Marseille, the oldest city in France. At the same time, Celtic Gauls were gaining importance in other parts of France. The Gauls plundered in 390 BC. city of rome. The Romans then conquered Gaul and the region became a productive part of the Roman Empire by his 4th century. eiffel tower
In the 4th century, the Franks, from whom France is named, began to rule. In 768, Charlemagne united the Franks and began expanding his kingdom. He was declared Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire by the Pope and is today considered the founder of the French and German monarchies. The French monarchy will remain a European powerhouse for the next 1000 years.
The French Revolution of 1792 proclaimed the French Republic. However, this did not last long, and Napoleon seized power and became emperor. He then conquered most of Europe. Napoleon was defeated and the Third Republic was proclaimed in 1870.
France was badly damaged in both World War I and World War II. During World War II, France was defeated and occupied by German forces. After four years of German rule, the Allies liberated Germany in 1944. Charles de Gaulle issued a new constitution and established the Fourth Republic.