French:
Charte Constitutionnelle

Charter of 1814, French constitution issued by Louis XVIII after he became king (see Bourbon Restoration). The charter, which was revised in 1830 and remained in effect until 1848, preserved many liberties won by the French Revolution. It established a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament, guaranteed civil liberties, proclaimed religious toleration, and acknowledged Catholicism as the state religion.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Heather Campbell.

Quick Facts
Date:
1814 - 1830
Location:
France

Bourbon Restoration, (1814–30) in France, the period that began when Napoleon I abdicated and the Bourbon monarchs were restored to the throne. The First Restoration occurred when Napoleon fell from power and Louis XVIII became king. Louis’ reign was interrupted by Napoleon’s return to France (see Hundred Days), but Napoleon was forced to abdicate again, leading to the Second Restoration. The period was marked by a constitutional monarchy of moderate rule (1816–20), followed by a return of the ultras during the reign of Louis’ brother, Charles X (1824–30). Reactionary policies revived the opposition liberals and moderates and led to the July Revolution, Charles’s abdication, and the end of the Bourbon Restoration.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Heather Campbell.