21st September 1792: French First Republic begins when the National Convention formally abolish the monarchy

Scott Allsop (0:00)

On the 21st of September 1792 the French First Republic began when the newly-elected National Convention formally abolished the monarchy. Welcome to HistoryPod.

Although King Louis XVI had accepted a new constitution in September 1791, relations between the king and the revolutionary movement remained difficult. Louis' attempt at escape from France in June 1791, known as the flight to Varenne, had already increased suspicion of his intentions, while political divisions grew between supporters of constitutional monarchy and those seeking a republic. The situation deteriorated further in 1792 France declared war on Austria in April, and Prussia subsequently joined the conflict against the revolutionary government. On the 10th of August, an armed uprising in Paris resulted in the storming of the Tuileries Palace. Louis XVI and his family were placed under arrest, and the Legislative Assembly suspended the king from his powers.

Elections were soon held for a new National Convention, which met for the first time on the 20th of September. Later that day, French forces secured their first major victory against the Prussians at the Battle of Valmy. This strengthened the position of the revolutionaries, and reduced the immediate threat of an invasion of Paris. The following day, the Convention unanimously decreed that royalty is abolished in France. There was no formal vote declaring the Republic on the same day, but the abolition of the monarchy effectively ended royal government. The Convention subsequently ordered that official documents should be dated from the first year of the French Republic, establishing the Republican era.

Louis XVI was executed for treason in January 1793, and the first French Republic remained in existence until Napoleon Bonaparte established the first French Empire in 1804