The Evolution of an Empire A Brief Historical Sketch of France   By: Mary Platt Parmele (1843-1911)

EVOLUTION OF AN EMPIRE

A BRIEF HISTORICAL SKETCH OF

FRANCE

BY

MARY PARMELE

Author of "Evolution of Empire Series, Germany;" "Who? When? What? Literature Chart."

NEW YORK

WILLIAM BEVERLEY HARISON,

59 FIFTH AVENUE

1894

PUBLISHED AND COPYRIGHTED, 1894,

BY

WILLIAM BEVERLEY HARISON,

59 FIFTH AVE., NEW YORK CITY.

ELECTROTYPED AND PRINTED BY

THE PUBLISHERS' PRINTING COMPANY

182 186 WEST 14TH STREET

NEW YORK

PREFACE.

In an attempt to tell the story of a great nation in about 100 pages, it is needless to say there must be a rigid exclusion of all save essential facts. To those already familiar with the subject, this sketch is offered merely as a reminder of the sequence of conditions and events in the evolution of France; while to the student it is presented as a framework upon which may be placed, in orderly and comprehensible fashion, the results of future reading and research.

To the latter class I would suggest that a series of papers, written upon the most prominent themes found in the Table of Contents, will bear fruit in knowledge more real and vital than may be obtained from the writings of others, however eloquent and vivid the presentation.

M. P.

NEW YORK, July 23d, 1894.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

The Aryan Family of Nations Keltic Race Ancient Gaul Gauls in Rome Gauls in Greece and in Asia Minor

CHAPTER II.

Roman Conquest of Gaul Julius Cæsar

CHAPTER III.

Birth of Christianity Its Dissemination Persecution at Lyons by order of Marcus Aurelius The Roman Empire Espouses Christianity under Constantine

CHAPTER IV.

Gaul Overrun and Subjugated by Franks Clovis King Decay of the Merovingian Line Maire du Palais King de facto Charles Martel Birth of Mohammedanism Its Triumphs Christendom Threatened Pepin King Charlemagne Alliance with Pope France, Italy, and Germany Emerge as Separate Nationalities

CHAPTER V.

The Northmen Beginnings of Feudalism in France Normandy Bestowed upon the Northmen Conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy Albigenses Inquisition at Toulouse The Crusades

CHAPTER VI.

Decline of Feudalism Creation of the Commune Charles VII. Henry V. in France Joan of Arc

CHAPTER VII.

Francis I. Huguenots Catharine de Medici Francis II.

CHAPTER VIII.

Massacre of St. Bartholomew Henry III. Henry IV.

CHAPTER IX.

Edict of Nantes Louis XIII. Richelieu

CHAPTER X.

Louis XIV. Revocation of the Edict of Nantes Louis XV. Age of Voltaire and Rousseau The Gathering Storm

CHAPTER XI.

Louis XVI. and Marie Antoinette American Colonies Arrayed Against England French Aid to America Smouldering Fires of Discontent Louis Convokes States General National Assembly Created by Commons Bastille Attacked Revolution Execution of King

CHAPTER XII.

Napoleon Bonaparte Toulon Campaign in Italy Empire Established Europe Under the Feet of the Great Corsican Marie Louise Waterloo Louis XVIII. Charles X. Louis Philippe Second Republic Louis Napoleon President Second Empire Napoleon III. Franco Prussian War Sedan Third Republic Review of Present Conditions

EVOLUTION OF AN EMPIRE.

CHAPTER I.

One of the greatest achievements of modern research is the discovery of a key by which we may determine the kinship of nations. What we used to conjecture, we now know. An identity in the structural form of language establishes with scientific certitude that however diverse their character and civilizations, Russian, German, English, French, Spaniard, are all but branches from the same parent stem, are all alike children of the Asiatic Aryan.