July Monarchy

The July Monarchy was the reign of Louis Philippe I from 1830 to 1848, who styled himself as King of the French rather than King of France. The government aimed to support commerce and industry while keeping most people excluded from political participation.

Following the July Revolution of 1830, King Charles X abdicated, and Louis Philippe took the throne instead. The order collapsed in 1848 when discontent over economic hardship and lack of reform sparked another revolution.

The three-color flag became a symbol of freedom, replacing the Bourbon lily on buildings and monuments across the country. People could express political views more openly than under previous rule.

To understand this period, explore political debates and caricatures in contemporary museums and archives across the country. Many locations in Paris hold objects and documents from the era that reveal how people lived and thought.

Family gatherings and funeral processions became hidden places of resistance against the regime, since public meetings were tightly controlled. These private occasions allowed people to share and strengthen their political beliefs away from the authorities.

Inception: 1830

Capital city: Paris

GPS coordinates: 48.81667,2.48333

Latest update: December 18, 2025 11:41