France: timeline and key events

Battle of Alesia

Caesar crushes Vercingetorix's revolt. Gaul becomes Roman.

Clovis becomes King of the Franks

Clovis I unifies Frankish tribes and founds the Kingdom of the Franks.

Coronation of Charlemagne

The King of the Franks is crowned Emperor of the West by Pope Leo III in Rome.

Hugues Capet, first Capetian king

Hugues Capet founds the Capetian dynasty that will reign over France for 800 years.

Start of the Hundred Years' War

Conflict between France and England over the French throne succession.

Joan of Arc liberates Orléans

Joan of Arc lifts the siege of Orléans, a decisive turning point in the Hundred Years' War.

Edict of Nantes

Henry IV grants freedom of worship to Protestants, ending the Wars of Religion.

French Revolution

Storming of the Bastille on July 14. End of the Ancien Régime and beginning of a new era.

Napoleon crowned Emperor

Napoleon Bonaparte crowns himself Emperor of the French at Notre-Dame de Paris.

Battle of Waterloo

Napoleon is definitively defeated by the allied armies. End of the First Empire.

Construction of the Eiffel Tower

Gustave Eiffel erects the tower for the World Exhibition. Symbol of Paris.

Entry into World War I

France declares war on Germany. Start of four years of deadly conflict.

Appeal of June 18

General de Gaulle launches from London his call to resistance against the Nazi occupier.

D-Day Normandy landings

The Allies land in Normandy on June 6. Decisive turning point of World War II.

Fifth Republic

De Gaulle founds the Fifth Republic. The new Constitution strengthens executive power.

May 1968

Student revolt and general strikes shake French society.

FIFA World Cup victory

"Zidane-Thuram": France wins its first World Cup at the Stade de France.