Le Nouveau Regime

Unable to celebrate his actual birthday – and more confident of the Royalists’ victory over Bonaparte – King Louis XVII opted to celebrate his birthday publicly on 14 July 1815. 25 years earlier, Republicans celebrated on this day to commemorate the Revolution; now, l’anniversaire du Roi would become an annual tradition. Over the century, the annual tradition of celebrating the king’s birthday would include a thanksgiving service at Notre Dame and, beginning in 1893, a military parade down the renovated Champs-Elysees. Celebrating his thirtieth birthday four months later, Louis looked a bit more relaxed. Cheered on from his carriage, with Marie Ludovica and their three eldest children, Louis looked dignified and confident as onlookers cheered him on. Or, perhaps, it was the rather large escort of soldiers to protect him against any assassination attempt. Those present included the King’s sister, Marie-Thérèse.

As the eldest daughter of the late Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Marie-Thérèse Charlotte was accorded the customary title of Madame Royale. She was with her brother when they learned of their parents’ death in 1793; tearing up, Thérèse was second after her uncle to kiss the hand of Louis XVII. Growing up, Madame Royale became religious, reserved and stoic. She would have been suited for a convent if not the intervention of Provence. He initially offered Thérèse's hand to Artois’s son, the duke of Angouleme. But the duke’s father refused; she instead married Archduke Joseph, the seventh son of her maternal uncle Leopold II, in 1799. The marriage was a happy one despite any children.

Marie-Thérèse wrote to her brother upon the restoration of the Bourbon throne in 1814. A year later, she was aghast to hear of Napoleon’s attempt to restore his power. “What they have done to them [Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette], God willing, will not happen to you.” The Archduke Joseph raised the first regiment from the Ludovica Academy and joined Austrian forces at the Battle of Lyon, while Madame Royale herself was escorted to Belgium to await news from the battlefront. Following the events on 18 June, Thérèse was escorted to the French capital where she embraced her brother for the first time in nearly two decades. Despite physical signs of ailment, Thérèse was present to see Napoleon brought before the King.

Despite her declining health, Thérèse remained dignified in the last weeks of her life. Very thin and 'ghostly' white, she nevertheless smiled and waved to the public who cheered her brother on at his (official) birthday. This would be one of her last public occasions. With permission, Marie-Thérèse retired to Fontainebleau where she died there on 19 August 1815. Mourned in France and Hungary, the 36-year-old was interred with her parents at Saint-Denis Basilica.
 
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On the King’s Birthday 1837, the public rejoiced at seeing their 52-year-old King Louis XVII in an open carriage. Weeks later, many came out on the streets to see the king again – this time, in a casket. Suffering from heart failure, Louis died peacefully surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren at Fontainebleau Palace on 22 July 1837. The funeral procession began the following day from Fontainebleau to Paris, with an overnight stay at Versailles. The birthplace of the late king, several reports told of phantom cries and apparitions of Marie Antoinette beside her son’s body while in state. On 26 July, the state funeral took place at the Basilica of Saint Denis. The body was interred next to his parents who were re-interred following the Restoration.
 
Interesting timeline. One wonders what happened between 1815 and 1837 to make Louis loved enough by the French.

The royal seizure of the Bastille day was a great PR move. But is interesting to see how Napoleon's last pawn made so Royal France adopted universal suffrage - and without census limit - in 1815 already! The fruits of the revolution didn't go wasted TTL...
 
On the King’s Birthday 1837, the public rejoiced at seeing their 52-year-old King Louis XVII in an open carriage. Weeks later, many came out on the streets to see the king again – this time, in a casket. Suffering from heart failure, Louis died peacefully surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren at Fontainebleau Palace on 22 July 1837. The funeral procession began the following day from Fontainebleau to Paris, with an overnight stay at Versailles. The birthplace of the late king, several reports told of phantom cries and apparitions of Marie Antoinette beside her son’s body while in state. On 26 July, the state funeral took place at the Basilica of Saint Denis. The body was interred next to his parents who were re-interred following the Restoration.

Is it over? Aw:'(... It was just getting good
Wonder why Antoinette was rising from her grave and haunting Versailles only when her son's body lay there, rather than previously.

But I agree with RyuDrago, it would be curious to see how the Stuttering King, or Roi Ludovica, at least have navigated their way through the politics of post-Napoléonic France? No White Terror? No purging of Napoléonic officials etc?
 
IT IS NOT OVER! lol I have been busy the past month with photoshoots and so on. But do not fret!

I debated with myself as to why negate the (Second) White Terror of 1815. The King was not an ultra-royalist like his uncle IRL, nor was there an overthrow of the government. The actions of that year should be treated more as a civil war, such as the Fronde de nobles or the English Civil War of the 17th century.
 
The ‘Events of 1815’ opened fresh wounds between ultra-Royalists and Bonapartists, monarchists and republicans; Louis XVII tried to steer a middle path. A year after the removal of Napoleon, the King sent troops into Lyon to smooth over tensions as lynch mobs formed against rebels. Disbanding the Bonapartist army and purging the administration of Napoleon’s supporters, Louis was kept abreast of the trials of more than 6,000 individuals charged with treason. “No more bloodshed,” he wrote to his ministers. “Let these men face a trial…But none will be executed while I remain on the throne.” His actions were seen as weakness by some – including his wife – while others thought his actions a sign of reconciliation. Influenced by the great statesman de Talleyrand, the King took a step further and established a committee to create a new constitution. Meeting in 1817, the committee’s thirteen-year tenure resulted in the Great Charter of 1830 (affectionately known by historians as Magna Carta Franciae) – giving birth to the French constitutional monarchy.


Eight years later, the Charter was demonstrated in the Coronation of Louis XVIII. Even the English ambassador, Lord Granville, noted the Coronation “was the culmination of centuries of tradition with the events of the Revolution.” After the Sacre or anointing was performed, Prime Minister de Broglie, along with the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, approached the throne. Before it, Broglie commanded the monarch to swear to “uphold the rights and liberties of Man, respect the judiciary and courts of law, protect and defend the French domains at all costs, and to execute all acts and instruments of the French Parliament.” As Louis XVIII, the new king readily signed the contract between Crown and Nation.


The 28-year-old Louis Ferdinand Stanislaus Xavier was his father’s antithesis. Strikingly tall, thin, with chestnut hair and brown eyes, Louis was a confident, handsome monarch; he was nicknamed ‘Hawkeye’ after his almond-shaped, piercing eyes. Known for his carousing, Louis was nevertheless guided in the affairs of State and Court by his domineering mother. His wife Louise of Orleans – shy, reserved, and renowned for her beauty – provided him personal comfort despite rumors of illegitimate children. Meanwhile, his father-in-law the Duc d'Orleans rallied support among royalists and liberals in the upper house of Parlement. On the verge of being named Prime Minister shortly after his accession, Louis was convinced by Talleyrand – who kept a comfortable, yet powerful, seat in the Chamber of Peers – to keep Broglie on as chief minister.
 
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Louis XVIII's foreign policy was, for the most part, a continuation of the policies from the previous reign. Following the toppling of the monarchical regime of Henri Christophe, the mulatoo Jean-Pierre Boyer reunited the other half of the island in 1822. Negotiations began shortly after between France and (United) Haiti for indemnities of former landowners. Finally, in 1825, Haiti agreed to pay 130 million francs in damages in turn for France's recognition of the island-nation. Beginning in the 1830s, the Paternalistes dominated Franco-Haitian relations. Taking a fatherly approach, the Crown actively recruited Jesuits, educators, and merchants to stay in Haiti in order to 'civilize' the freed blacks. Talleyrand, an arbiter of the paternalistes, quipped "It is for the betterment of the Haytians to learn, trade, and breathe...all that is France." Believing this policy would bring Haitian elites to identify themselves as French – and, through it, bring the rest of the country into the French fold – the policy would be carried throughout much of the French territories in Asia and, more pronounced, in Africa.

This was in far contrast to Franco-Algerian relations of the same period. When Hussein Dey, the Ottoman regent of Algiers, struck the French Consul with his fly whisk in April 1827, the Government struck back by preparing for an invasion of Algeria three years later. While some accuse the King of using the war as an opportunity for the public to look away from the plight of food and wage crises, it was one of the few moments when "Bourbons and Bonapartes fought side-by-side." Between 1830-34, the Algerian Invasion was not only to establish a colonial territory but, more correctly, to extend France itself. Beginning with Bertrand Clausel, later governor general of French Algiers, many private investment took place in land, industry and, later railway. This would prompt the successive governments in Paris to follow suit. Meanwhile, many Algerian Muslims were moved into ghettos or pushed out of coastal cities and towns, with the indigenous population falling dramatically from disease and famine.
 
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Domestic Policy under Louis XVIII

Though the Great Charter of 1830 significantly limited the king's power, the "willingness of the Monarchy" to give up its sacrosanct powers was extraordinary. Such 'sacrifice' made the late Louis XVII even more endeared to his people. Moreover, in a nation ethnically, linguistically, and religiously diverse, the Monarchy was the one symbol of unity among the French peoples.

Despite the 'Self-Made Man' held up as a model, the majority of the population remained in the countryside. Under the initiative of the Talleyrand and Broglie ministries, secular education was expanded for the populace; schools of engineering were established in Paris and Strasbourg. Pierre Perier, Minister of Finance (1831-36) promoted a laissez-faire economy policy which further bolstered the economy, while encouraging private and public investment in industrial modernization which prompted urbanization growth. Despite an indemnity of 300 million francs to the Allies during the Events of 1815, the debt did not entirely damage the economy. (The Government relied on the Haitian reparations to offset the debt.) While the regions of Alsace and Lorraine became one of the highest-concentrated areas of industrial growth by the end of the decade, Paris remained the residence of the top 5% who controlled nearly 80% of the national wealth. Nevertheless, the Great Charter increased the electoral franchise to approximately 150,000.

Situated at the Palais de Tuileries, the Court remained the fixture of Paris's social and political scene. For the first time, wealthy bourgeois mingled with titled nobles. Attending a royal event was not only a sign of success but an opportunity to rise in the political realm.
 
Despite Louis XVII's distaste for Napoleon – not to mention the Queen Dowager's abhorrence – Louis XVIII developed a respect for the former emperor. Perhaps it was Napoelon's quip in the throne room in 1815 which left a lasting impact on the future king. Louis XVIII ordered Bonaparte's remains to be transferred from St. Helena to a new tomb in the Les Invalides. The Government announced the former emperor would be given a state funeral “with all the honors of royalty” on 15 December 1840. Dignitaries and ambassadors, former generals, and members of the Bourbon and Bonaparte dynasties were in attendance. The Queen was too ill to attend and the royal princelings too young. The service included the playing of Chant du Départ, the anthem of the First French Empire, conducted by the recently-appointed Composer Royal, Frederick Francois Chopin. The momentous occasion nevertheless had its detractors.

The Events of 1815, the resulting constitution fifteen years later, and the economic policies of the later reign of Louis XVII secured popularity among the French populace. However, it did not win the entire nation over. In the late-1820s, anti-monarchists took form, vehemently opposed to the regime. Not only did they believe the 1792 Revolution failed but, moreover, betrayed by the Republicans who ‘conceded’ in 1830. Peaceful demonstrations were usually their mark, however, the group became slightly more militant over the years. A small demonstration during the 1837 King’s Birthday was noted by Le Figaro as “a small disturbance by le sans bourbons [without Bourbons],” the name the political movement would adopt. A year later, a disturbance in Lyon was suppressed; a demonstration in Paris in 1838 became violent when an effigy of the Louis XVIII hanging was paraded down the Champs-Élysées. The king retorted “let them have the effigy…for my body shall never be on parade!”

Leaving the service, King Louis was entering his coach when a woman broke through the guards. Telling him she wished to give a bouquet of flowers as a gift to the bedridden Queen Louise, as the King reached to accept the flowers the woman - Éléonore Le Sueur – lunged forward. Guards immediately moved Le Sueur away to discover a dagger plunged in the king's torso! As Louis lay dying the perpetrator was heard shouting "down with the Bourbons! Down with the Monarchy!" Louis XVIII was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.
 
The five-year-old Dauphin, Louis Philippe Ferdinand Charles Marie, was proclaimed ‘King of the French’ by the ‘Grace of God and the Constitution of the State.’ Historians would aptly refer to this period as the December Monarchy, where the Crown was bound by the Great Charter. By many accounts, the declaration itself was a political – though peaceful – coup. While some historians argued this cemented the constitutional system, others believe it balanced between absolute and constitutional monarchy. As the 74-year reign of Louis Philippe shows, the Nouveau Regime would, in some ways, be an amalgamation of systems both old and new. Writing in the early twentieth century, the Franco-Haitian historian Dominique Sartre-Lescot wrote the French king “both reigned and ruled…as Head of the Empire, Keeper of the Kingdom, Arbiter of the Government, Guardian of the [Great] Charter & Intercessor between Parlement and the People.”

Twelve minutes after the proclamation, Queen Louise – now Queen Mother – whisked her children under heavy protection from Tuileries to Fontainebleau. From there, she ordered a month of national mourning for their slain king. The assassination of Louis XVIII rocked the entire nation. Condolences were sent from the crowned heads of Europe; eulogies and requiems written in the king's honor; and the press calling for swift justice against "the great detractors", the Sans Bourbonistes. Five days after the funeral procession of Emperor Napoleon, the same assembly escorted King Louis – posthumously known as 'L'Année Roi Trois' – to Saint-Denis Basilica. The head of the assembly was Louis XVIII’s father-in-law the Duc d’Orleans. The press would cast a negative image of the Duke. One satirical cartoon shows him wearing a crown and grabbing a child’s – supposedly, his own grandson the King – and grinning while saying “It is easy to take candy as it is a crown.” Adopting his famous portrait from Franz Xavier Winterhalter, the caption read ‘King Louis Philippe I & II of France!’ Father of the Regent, grandfather of the King and, from 1841 to 1848, Prime Minister of France, the Orleanist liberal policies buoyed France from near-destruction - and paved the way for the Second French Empire and La Belle Époque.
 
The five-year-old Dauphin, Louis Philippe Ferdinand Charles Marie, was proclaimed ‘King of the French’ by the ‘Grace of God and the Constitution of the State.’ Historians would aptly refer to this period as the December Monarchy, where the Crown was bound by the Great Charter. By many accounts, the declaration itself was a political – though peaceful – coup. While some historians argued this cemented the constitutional system, others believe it balanced between absolute and constitutional monarchy. As the 74-year reign of Louis Philippe shows, the Nouveau Regime would, in some ways, be an amalgamation of systems both old and new. Writing in the early twentieth century, the Franco-Haitian historian Dominique Sartre-Lescot wrote the French king “both reigned and ruled…as Head of the Empire, Keeper of the Kingdom, Arbiter of the Government, Guardian of the [Great] Charter & Intercessor between Parlement and the People.”

Twelve minutes after the proclamation, Queen Louise – now Queen Mother – whisked her children under heavy protection from Tuileries to Fontainebleau. From there, she ordered a month of national mourning for their slain king. The assassination of Louis XVIII rocked the entire nation. Condolences were sent from the crowned heads of Europe; eulogies and requiems written in the king's honor; and the press calling for swift justice against "the great detractors", the Sans Bourbonistes. Five days after the funeral procession of Emperor Napoleon, the same assembly escorted King Louis – posthumously known as 'L'Année Roi Trois' – to Saint-Denis Basilica. The head of the assembly was Louis XVIII’s father-in-law the Duc d’Orleans. The press would cast a negative image of the Duke. One satirical cartoon shows him wearing a crown and grabbing a child’s – supposedly, his own grandson the King – and grinning while saying “It is easy to take candy as it is a crown.” Adopting his famous portrait from Franz Xavier Winterhalter, the caption read ‘King Louis Philippe I & II of France!’ Father of the Regent, grandfather of the King and, from 1841 to 1848, Prime Minister of France, the Orleanist liberal policies buoyed France from near-destruction - and paved the way for the Second French Empire and La Belle Époque.

I'm guessing that the Second Empire referred to here is a Legitimist rather than a Bonapartean empire? If so, does a Bourbon proclaim himself Empereur des Francais? Or does he receive the title of emperor from another dominion a la Victoria as Empress of India?
 
I'm guessing that the Second Empire referred to here is a Legitimist rather than a Bonapartean empire? If so, does a Bourbon proclaim himself Empereur des Francais? Or does he receive the title of emperor from another dominion a la Victoria as Empress of India?

With the Regency of Louis Philippe coming to an end, and the firm establishment of French rule in Algeria, in 1852 the 17-year-old King accepts the title 'Sa Majesté Impériale l'empereur de l'Algérie'.
 
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Thanks for clearing that up.

Out of curiosity, what's been going on with the Artois branch? Still around causing scandals (I mean Berri got sent to Naples to find himself a bride, and there was an awkward menage a trois situation involving her (Maria Amelia) and her sister (Maria Cristina), and came back with neither, plus there's he's "English marriage" to Amy Brown, and an incident involving an actress (this was after his marriage) where he surprised her (the actress) in his rooms (at Bagatelle, I think) in flagrante delicto with another ahem...gentleman caller, and then instead of flipping his lid like a normal person, he proceeds to invite both of them to dinner). Either way, it would be interesting to see how d'Angoulême fared without having Madame Royal to put some backbone in him. Perhaps a match to Adélaïde d'Orléans (which was considered before the curtain call for the throne of St. Louis), which in itself would be fun, since Mme Adélaïde was the main reason LP accepted the throne in the first place (his wife was against it and tried to send the ministers away, but after her refusal, they turned to Adélaïde, who gladly accepted on behalf of her brother)).
 
Thanks for clearing that up.

Out of curiosity, what's been going on with the Artois branch? Still around causing scandals (I mean Berri got sent to Naples to find himself a bride, and there was an awkward menage a trois situation involving her (Maria Amelia) and her sister (Maria Cristina), and came back with neither, plus there's he's "English marriage" to Amy Brown, and an incident involving an actress (this was after his marriage) where he surprised her (the actress) in his rooms (at Bagatelle, I think) in flagrante delicto with another ahem...gentleman caller, and then instead of flipping his lid like a normal person, he proceeds to invite both of them to dinner). Either way, it would be interesting to see how d'Angoulême fared without having Madame Royal to put some backbone in him. Perhaps a match to Adélaïde d'Orléans (which was considered before the curtain call for the throne of St. Louis), which in itself would be fun, since Mme Adélaïde was the main reason LP accepted the throne in the first place (his wife was against it and tried to send the ministers away, but after her refusal, they turned to Adélaïde, who gladly accepted on behalf of her brother)).

Hmmmm...I haven't really thought of them, to be honest. But they will come up sooner or later....:)
 
Sorry everyone. Finishing up the semester, but have also been reading some books on French history of this period (Orleanist, Second Empire). Expect something soon within the couple days and weeks!
 
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