During the
French Revolution, the
proclamation of the abolition of the monarchy was a proclamation by the
National Convention of
France announcing that it had abolished the French
monarchy on
21 September 1792.
Prelude
The Convention's députés were instructed to put an end to the crisis that had broken out since the prevented
flight to Varennes of
Louis XVI (June 1791), the bloody capture of the
Tuileries (
10 August 1792). Their middle class origin and their political activity meant that most of them bore no sympathy for the monarchy and the victory at the
battle of Valmy on 20 September (the revolution's first military success) occurred on the same day as their meeting, thus confirming their convictions.
Proposition for abolition
When the député for
Paris,
Jean-Marie Collot d'Herbois, proposed abolition he met with little resistance - at most
Claude Basire, friend of
Georges Jacques Danton, tried to temper the enthusiasm, recommending a discussion before any decision. However, abbé
Henri Grégoire,
constitutional bishop of
Blois, replied strongly to any suggestion of discussion:
Jean-François Ducos supported him in affirming that any discussion would be useless "after the lights spread by 10 August". This summary argument served as a debate and the decision taken was unanimous, giving birth to the
First French Republic. Surprised by its own daring and needing to convince itself this was the right decision, the Convention decided to date all official acts not from 1789 (ie making 1792 "year 4 of liberty") but from the pronouncment (making the year after it "year 1 of the Republic").
Sources
- Source : "Journal officiel de la Convention Nationale", 1792-1793.
Category:1792 events of the French Revolutionfr:Proclamation de l'abolition de la royauté 
