Questions tagged [france]
Officially the French Republic is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands
302
questions
61
votes
6answers
24k views
Why are the German and French languages so different?
My understanding (which could be wrong) is the following:
During and before the period of the fall of western Rome (roughly 400 AD), the Franks and the Alemanni were tribal people who moved around a ...
7
votes
1answer
218 views
Were there any elections in the First French Empire?
I know Napoleon's senate was appointed, but what about the lower house? Were there political factions like in the first republic?
10
votes
1answer
886 views
What other courts were similar to Louis XIV of France's court in Versailles?
After reading about feudalism in the Middle Ages it became apparent that lords lived on their lands far away from the king and provided military services themselves in exchange for said lands. However,...
4
votes
1answer
165 views
What is the proportion of Harki descendants in today's French Algerian community?
I was having this discussion once with someone, and now I am curious:
Q: What proportion of today's Algerian immigrants (of first and second generation, who may or may not have French nationality) in ...
4
votes
2answers
277 views
What economic incentives (if any) did France have to aid the American army during the revolution?
Most history texts only state France had a desire to seek revenge for their defeat in the 7 Years War and that a Treaty of Alliance (1778) was signed. I'm having a hard time convincing myself that ...
2
votes
1answer
135 views
Exact date of Aquitania uprising over Charlemagne?
I read that the uprising of the Aquitainians and Gascons led by Hunald II, probably son of King Waifar, was in 769. But I can't find info about the exact date (only the month name).
7
votes
1answer
298 views
Where did the French National Constituent Assembly meet on August 4, 1789?
Where did the National Constituent Assembly decide to abolish feudalism?
I read that the National Constituent Assembly did not meet in a specific place. Therefore I want to know where they met in ...
1
vote
2answers
775 views
How was Napoleon able to take power from the Republic
Napoleon took power less than a generation after the French Revolution. He had a lot of support from the Army and the people, how was this possible? Why would the French people support someone who ...
13
votes
2answers
782 views
Black Monday, April 13, 1360
According to English Wikipedia ("Black Monday (1360)"), a severe hail happened on Monday, April 13, 1360
when the army of Edward III was camped in an open field near Chartre. The article says that the ...
17
votes
2answers
7k views
When was France fully liberated?
Speaking of metropolitan France (the 'Hexagone' + Corsica), when was France fully liberated of German occupying forces at the end of World War II?
We all know of the D-Day landings in Normandy in ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
What motivated revolutionary France to declare war on Britain in 1793?
France declared war on Britain in 1793 (War of First Coalition). What was its motivation for declaring war? It was already at war with many European powers at the moment, and it was not likely in a ...
2
votes
0answers
186 views
Was Mein Kampf prohibited in occupied France? [closed]
Because the Nazis did not want the French to know about the anti-French attitude of Hitler?
41
votes
7answers
12k views
Why aren't there major cities on the Atlantic coast of France?
I see Bordeaux and Nantes, but they are a short ways inland. The U.S. has several like New York, Boston, Miami, Charleston.
4
votes
1answer
385 views
To what extent is a coincidence that the Dec. of the Rights of Man and the Citizen and the USA Dec. of Independence were approved so close in time? [closed]
France helped North Americans revolutionaries during the Independence War. The USA Declaration of Independence (USA, 1776) and the US Constitution (USA, 1787) influenced the content of the Declaration ...
1
vote
1answer
174 views
What was the meaning of Auguste Delfosse's statement “La liberté française pour faire le tour du monde n'a pas besoin de passer en Belgique!”
Auguste Delfosse, a Belgian politician, is said to have given this statement in the Belgian House of Representatives on March 1, 1848:
La liberté française pour faire le tour du monde n'a pas ...
8
votes
2answers
739 views
Did c.1900 France have a law against foreign government resisting its conquest?
I found this picture in Wikipedia (its copyright expired so it can be reproduced here):
The caption says:
Execution of Prince Ratsimamanga and the Minister of the Interior
under order of ...
8
votes
2answers
376 views
Are there any antisemitic caricatures from France during the interwar period?
I am looking for antisemitic caricatures in France between the two World Wars.
I can find examples both from before and after, e.g. ones related to the Dreyfus case, but none during this period.
Are ...
2
votes
2answers
171 views
Tomb for Charles V (of france) and Jeanne de Bourbon in Saint Denis?
Can someone provide me with the location of the tomb for Charles V and Jeanne de Bourbon in Saint Denis ?
To be specific: I know that the tomb was located in the chapel of the virgin, but after it ...
32
votes
9answers
19k views
Was England considered a “colony” of France?
After the "Norman conquest of England", many things including languages, the ways of life, etc. have changed a lot in Europe. Especially it affected the English language significantly that a lot of ...
2
votes
2answers
702 views
Why has Hatutu's population never returned to the island?
Any info on this topic is scarce and hard to find.
Hatutu is an island in French Polynesia, part of the Marquesas Islands group. The population was evacuated (I believe) prior to the underwater ...
15
votes
2answers
800 views
Were there elections in France under the absolute monarchy?
I was wondering, if any elections allowed in France during the period of absolutism. In the Middle age, people with civil and political rights were allowed to elect some kind of city council (also in ...
18
votes
2answers
3k views
Why were Morocco and Tunisia made a French protectorate, but Algeria annexed as part of France?
This question is somewhat related to this one.
The three maghreban countries of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia are almost like three sisters and share everything in common culturally and historically. ...
12
votes
1answer
2k views
Why did Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia remain loyal to France during and after World War II?
During WW II Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia did not revolt against either Vichy France or Free France. Not only did they not take advantage of the initial French defeat and its occupation by Axis powers,...
3
votes
1answer
165 views
What alternatives to working was proposed in Paris during May, 1968? [closed]
What ideas for alternatives to work, or a society where people work to survive, did people have during May 1968 in Paris? How could that society function and how could people feed themselves?
I've ...
4
votes
0answers
15k views
Why does the rooster symbolise France? [closed]
The Gallic Rooster is widely used as a symbol of France. However, there are a number of conflicting sources on how it originated.
The French embassy in the USA states that the rooster originated ...
2
votes
2answers
367 views
When was the first secular society?
When was the first attempt to create a secular society? (a society that was intentionally separate from religion). Was the French Revolution the first to discard religion as an legitimizing force and ...
7
votes
1answer
155 views
Diaries or writings of Cathar Perfecti in 12th Century France
The Cathars were a Gnostic sect of southern (Languedoc) France in the 12th Century. "Perfecti" were individuals in the sect who followed the most extremely austere lives, renouncing worldly pleasures ...
21
votes
3answers
13k views
What did Richelieu mean by his “six lines” quote?
Cardinal Richelieu is frequently quoted as saying,
If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest of men, I will find something in them which will hang him.
What I've never seen ...
9
votes
2answers
8k views
What was the average size of French families during the Middle Ages?
My question takes place in at the beginning of the middle-ages in France.
Let's focus on small villages and ordinary people (peasants, craftsmen, etc.).
I would like to know how many people used to ...
6
votes
1answer
231 views
How did the French word 'familier' become associated with the concept of Magical Familiars, historically?
How did the word 'familier' (French) become associated with the concept of Magical Familiars, historically?
Or do we not know?
Proof for the concept being from French, first.
6
votes
2answers
2k views
What was the final result for France after the Napoleonic wars?
What I'd like to know is if the final outcome of the wars was ultimately beneficial for France. In territorial terms.
Did it manage to keep some territorial gains?
If the question isn't clear be ...
17
votes
3answers
4k views
Why was Germany unified in Versailles not Berlin?
Why did Wilhelm I (or Bismarck) decide to perform official Germany unification in France?
In my opinion, if the ceremonial was to honour the Prussian king and be a tribute or allegiance to him, it ...
12
votes
8answers
2k views
Who is the man in the red jacket in this painting?
This is a painting from near 1850 that depicts a (famous) French man, possibly noble, in a park, maybe Paris.
Is he a Minister? King? Military? Whoever he might be, I consider he is important, since ...
4
votes
0answers
236 views
What were the names of the weapon manufacturers in France in the late 1700's
What were the names of the companies that manufactured hand weapons in France in the late 1700's and who were the most productive.
6
votes
1answer
564 views
Ports Used by French Navy in 1792 and Strength of Fleet
I am currently writing series of young adult novels about the European Conflicts beginning in 1792.
Where were the major and minor French Navy ports and yards, and what was the relative strength of ...
12
votes
3answers
3k views
Why was France given such a lenient peace after Napoleon was defeated?
For two decades revolutionary France had attacked and conquered many nations in Europe. Millions were killed. But when the allies finally defeated France, the peace was very lenient. France didn't ...
16
votes
2answers
2k views
What was the reaction to English monarchs using the title “King of France”?
After the Hundred Years War (or "wars") the English had been wiped off France, but English monarchs kept using their official title "King of France". As I understand, this was to ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
How did Napoleon I succeed in France despite his shortcomings in French?
TL;DR. My question: The following sources onfirm that despite Napoleon's industry and perseverance, he never refined his French to the level of a native fluent speaker.
So how did he succeed in France,...
3
votes
1answer
95 views
Presidents of the French Tribunate from 1799 to 1807
who were the presidents of the French Tribunate from 1799 to 1807?
the French wiki only has an undated list of names (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribunat):
Pierre Daunou
Jean-Nicolas Démeunier
Jean ...
17
votes
3answers
6k views
Why did the French nobility adopt Calvinism?
The Wikipedia article on the French Wars of Religion says that the Calvinist form of Protestantism, in particular, spread into the nobility. Now, I'd like to know why is that, and not Lutheranism for ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
France vs Germany in 1940: equipment vs. organization [closed]
Many times I heard that in 1940 France had more tanks than Germany and that French tanks were better than German ones. Is it indeed so?
What about airplanes?
2
votes
0answers
132 views
What is the usage of a small wash-house in Versailles during Louis XIV times?
I was searching for the usage of a small construction on the edge of the Versailles Castle gardens (the stone thing on the left on the picture below, one of the gates (Saint-Antoine) is on the right):
...
3
votes
2answers
405 views
Napoleon's exploits in 1785
Napoleon Bonaparte being commissioned Second Lieutenant at the age 17 in French Artillery, returned to Corsica.
Given his French Allegiance, why did he join the resistance movement while still ...
2
votes
1answer
400 views
Napoleon's Height [duplicate]
I have heard from some scholars that Napoleon was actually average sized. The only reason everyone thinks he is short is because of the difference in English inches and French inches. Is this true?
7
votes
1answer
3k views
What happened to the french overseas colonies during the beginning of the french revolution?
While I understand that Paris and then most of France got swept up in revolutionary fervor. What happened in its far flung colonies, such as the Antilles, India, North America, Africa and even ...
6
votes
2answers
729 views
John the Fearless: John I or John II? Can the French and the English agree?
I am comparing the English and French wikipedia articles about John the Fearless:
The English article has him as "John II of Burgundy" while the French article says he's John I of Burgundy:
https:/...
6
votes
1answer
4k views
Flag of Paris: Why blue and red?
The flag of Paris is blue and red.
What was the red chosen for?
What was the blue chosen for?
I have heard that blue identified with Saint Martin, and red with Saint Denis, but the Wikipedia pages ...
3
votes
2answers
10k views
What happened to the French soldiers evacuated at Dunkirk and elsewhere in 1940?
How many of them fought on in the Free French Forces and how many of them simply repatriated back to France?
8
votes
5answers
2k views
Was the Battle of Trafalgar strategically pointless?
On a tactical level, the Battle of Trafalgar is one of the most analysed naval battles in history and there are many books and papers covering the battle itself. Most of the strategic analysis covers ...
-4
votes
1answer
4k views
Did Jaques Chirac say “Without Africa, France will slide down into the rank of a third [rate] power”?
This article claims that Jaques Chirac stated in March 2008:
“Without Africa, France will slide down into the rank of a third [rate] power”
This is significant because it implies France is acting ...
