French History: Origins of Gaul and Roman Invasions

• The presentation is titled "Course 1: 2000 Years of French History" and serves as an introduction to French culture.
• The academic year is 2024-2025, Semester 2.
• The instructor is Sébastien Souvy, teaching at Université Lyon 3.

Origins of Gaul

• Gaul was colonised by the Celts around 1500 BC.
• The Celtic-Gaulish civilisation persisted until 52 BC, despite tribal wars.
• Gaul was not a unified country during this time, but rather a collection of rival tribes.

Roman Invasions

• In 58 BC, the Roman Empire, led by Julius Caesar, began its conquest of Gaul.
• Highly organised Roman legions faced Gaulish tribes united under Vercingetorix, chief of the Arverni, the most powerful tribe.

Roman Empire Conquest of Gaul

• The war against Roman armies was lengthy and lasted until 52 BC.
• Gaulish armies were defeated at the Battle of Alesia in 52 BC.
• Vercingetorix surrendered his arms to Julius Caesar.
• To prevent revolts, Julius Caesar took the elite Gaulish warriors with him and granted significant autonomy to Gaulish cities.

The Gallo-Roman Empire

• The Gallo-Roman Empire prospered under Roman rule for nearly 500 years (from 52 BC to 476 AD).
• Gaul became one of the wealthiest provinces of the Western Roman Empire.
• Possessing abundant resources Gaul was coveted by barbarian tribes.

The Fall of the Western Roman Empire

• Due to attacks from barbarian tribes from the south, north, and east, Roman armies abandoned Gaul in 476 AD.
• The attacking barbarian tribes consist of the Huns, led by Attila, the Visigoths in Spain and southwestern Gaul, the Ostrogoths in northern Italy, and the Franks in Belgium, Holland, and northern Gaul.

Entrance to the Middle Ages and the Creation of the Kingdom of the Franks

• The Franks conquered a large part of Gaul in 481 under King Clovis.
• To establish legitimacy among the Christian Gallo-Roman population, Clovis was baptised by the Bishop of Reims in 496.
• Clovis is considered the first king of the Merovingian dynasty and the first king of the Frankish kingdom.

Clovis and the Legend of the Fleur-de-Lys

• After marrying Clothilde but before converting to Christianity, legend says Clovis had a vision of an angel at the Battle of Tolbiac.
• The Angel offered him victory in exchange for converting to Christianity
• The angel asked Clovis to replace his pagan symbol of three toads with the Fleur-de-Lys, an emblem of Christianity.
• The Fleur-de-Lys remained the symbol of the French monarchy until 1830.

Charlemagne and Expansion of the Frankish Kingdom

• Charlemagne was crowned Emperor of the West by the Pope in Rome in 800 AD.
• He expanded his kingdom through military campaigns across most of Western Europe.
• As a reformer, Charlemagne protected the arts and initiated the Carolingian Renaissance.
• He is considered the "father of the French school".

France In The Middle Ages

• After Charlemagne's reign, the kingdom of France, named by Hugues Capet in 987, entered a period of religious obscurity.
• The Crusades, consisting of eight major campaigns, occurred between 1095 and 1291.
• By the early 13th century, the Inquisition was imposing repression through church-controlled tribunals.

The Hundred Years' War

• The Hundred Years’ War lasted from 1337-1453.
• It stands as the largest conflict between the kingdoms of France and England.
• The war took place on French soil and arose from succession disputes after the reign of Charles IV.
• The war pitted French heir, Philippe de Valois, against English heir, Edward III of England.
• The war was the source of tensions and rivalries between France and England.

Joan of Arc

• Jeanne d'Arc lived from 1412-1431.
• She became a powerful religious and political symbol in French history
• At age 17, Joan of Arc met Charles VII, and led troops to victory against the English.
• She freed Orléans and helped the French gain an advantage in the Hundred Years’ War.
• Joan of Arc was captured by the British.
• The French church tried and executed her for heresy.
• She became a martyr and was canonised in 1920.

The End of the Middle Ages

• The Middle Ages ended in 1492
• This marked the start of The French Renaissance
• The Kingdom of France joined other European nations in global exploration.
• Under King François 1st, who ruled from 1494-1547, France experienced a cultural and artistic blossoming.

French Colonial Empire

• The French began developing a colonial empire under François 1st.
• From the 16th to the 19th centuries, France colonised territories in North America (Canada, Louisiana), the Caribbean (French Antilles), Africa (Senegal), and India (Pondichéry).
• Around this time the Atlantic slave trade began, and would last four centuries.

The Second French Colonial Empire

• Between 1830 and 1939, France expanded into Africa and Asia including Indochina--Cambodia and Vietnam--and Oceania including French Polynesia and New Caledonia.
• At this point, it became the second largest empire in the world.
• The second World War resulted in the decline of the French colonial empire.
• Slavery was abolished in France in 1848.

The Reign Of Louis XIV

• Louis XIV, the Sun King, reigned from 1638-1715.
• Louis XIV's reign symbolised the height of absolute monarchy by divine right in France.
• With Louis XIV, France experienced international prestige.
• The country's economic ruin in 1789 can be traced to the time of Louis XIV.
• Louis XIV ordered the construction of the Château de Versailles, where he would eventually die.

The French Revolution

• The French Revolution transpired in 1789.
• It occurred during the Age of Enlightenment and revolutionary movements were spurred by ideals of liberty and equality.
• A starving populace protested against the monarch living in luxury.
• The royal residence, the Bastille, was dismantled on July 14, 1789, which then became a national holiday.
• The declaration of the rights of humans and citizens was written in 1789.
• The royal family was apprehended and in 1793, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were executed by guillotine.

The 19th Century Political Climate

• The 19th century was a time of great political change for France.
• The country experimented with five different forms of governance: a consulate, two empires, a parliamentary monarchy, an absolute monarchy, and two republics.

Napoléon 1st

• Napoléon 1st ruled from 1769-1821.
• Napoléon's reign made a lasting impact on French history
• Napoléon was elected Consul of France in 1799.
• By popular vote, Napoleon became Emperor of France in 1804, until 1815.
• Within a few years, Napoléon conquered most of Europe until his advance into Russia was halted.
• Napoleon's strategic military prowess, intellect, and incredible stories contributed to his myth.
• Napoleon escaped his imprisonment on the island of Elba and returned to power.

World War 1

• The first World War took place from 1914-1918
• The war was the result of conflict between France and Prussia during the19th century.
• France wanted to regain Alsace and Lorraine.
• France united with Great Britain and Russia, also known as the triple entente.
• The triple entente opposed Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire.
• The war expanded among other countries through alliances.

The Aftermath of World War 1

• More than 60 million soldiers participated
• 9 million died
• 27% of the French soldiers between 18-27 died during the war, making up to more than 1.3 million people
• Following the war, Germany faced a sharp decline which heightened feelings of nationalism among the German population.