University of Virginia Library

V. History and Statistics.

At the time of the conquest of Gaul by Julius Cæsar, the
Parisii were a tribe settled on the banks of the Sequana or
Seine, and their chief town was Lutetia, situated on the present
island of La Cité.

The first event worthy of mention was the introduction of
Christianity by St. Denis the Areopagite, who, according to tradition,
suffered martyrdom on Montmartre about the year 250.

Constantius Chlorus is said to have founded the Palais des
Thermes (p. 135) between 292 and 306.

Julian resided at Lutetia in 360. The name of the town was
then changed to Parisii and political franchises granted to it.

In the vicinity of Paris. Gratian was defeated and slain by
Maximus in 383.

Clovis, son of Childeric, king of Tournay, finally expelled
the Romans about the year 496, embraced Christianity and became
the founder of the Merovingian dynasty. He erected a church to
St. Peter and St. Paul, which he subsequently dedicated to Ste.
Geneviève who died in his reign. Few of the monarchs of this
or the subsequent dynasty resided at Paris.

Pepin, in 752, was the founder of the second or Carlovingian
dynasty.

Charlemagne, 768.

Louis I. (Le Débonnaire), 814.

Charles II. (Le Chauve), 840. Paris sacked by the Normans,
857. — The subsequent monarchs neglected the city and, when
it was again attacked by the Normans in 885, left it to its own
resources. This dynasty was therefore deposed and the crown
given to Count Odo, who had been instrumental in repelling
the Normans. Under his descendant

Hugh Capet, 987, the city rapidly increased in magnitude,
and a palace, the present Palais de Justice, was commenced.

Robert (Le Pieux), 996.

Henry I., 1031. French crusades under Godfrey de Bouillon.

Philip I., 1060.

Louis VI. (Le Gros), 1108, founded a palace on the site of
the Louvre.

Louis VII. (Le Jeune), 1137. His divorced wife, Eleanor of
Guienne and Poitou, married Henry Plantagenet, afterwards
Henry II. of England. Foundation-stone of Notre Dame laid by
Pope Alexander III. 1163. Suger, abbot of St. Denis, the king's
minister.

Philip II. (Auguste), 1180, considerably extended the city
and surrounded it with a wall and turrets. Third Crusade, 1189.
The English, Flemish and German troops defeated at Bouvines,
1214.

Louis VIII. (Le Lion). 1223.

Louis IX. (St. Louis), 1226. Crusades to Egypt and Tunis
Paris obtains various municipal advantages. The University founded
by Robert Sorbon, 1250.

Philip III. (Le Hardi), 1270.

Philip IV. (Le Bel), 1285, founded several courts of justice.
He caused the transfer of the papal residence to Avignon, and
in 1307 abolished the order of Knights Templar.

Louis X. (Le Hutin), 1314.

Philip V. (Le Long), 1316.

Charles IV. (Le Bel), 1322, died without issue. The House
of Valois succeeds.

Philip VI., 1328. War with England, 1338. Battle of
Crécy, 1346.

John II. (Le Bon). 1350; defeated and taken prisoner by the
English at Maupertuis, 1356. Peace of Bretigny, 1360.

Charles V. (Le Sage). 1361, founded the Royal Library, the
Bastille and the Palais des Tournelles. The city extended and
re-fortified. The English expelled by Bertrand du Guesclin.

Charles VI., 1380, became insane twelve years afterwards.
The French conquered by Henry V. of England at Azincourt,
1415. Paris occupied by the English, 1421.

Charles VI., 1422. The siege of Orleans raised by Joan
of Arc, 1429. The English expelled. Paris desolated by famine
and plague.

Louis XI., 1461. Introduction of printing and establishment
of post-office.

Charles VIII., 1483; conquered Naples, 1495.

Louis XII., "Le Père du peuple", 1498, first king of the
younger branch of the House of Valois, conquered Milan and, in
conjunction with the Spaniards, Naples. Having quarrelled with
the latter, he was defeated by them on the Garigliano in 1503,
on which occasion Bayard was present. The League of Cambrai
formed for the purpose of expelling the Venetians from the mainland
of Italy. The Venetians conquered at Agnadello, 1509.
The French defeated at Ravenna, 1512.

Francis I., 1515. The city was probably more considerably
altered and improved in this than in any of the preceding
reigns. Numerous new edifices erected, churches repaired and
fortifications extended. Palace of the Louvre and Hôtel de Ville
commenced. Wars with the emperor Charles V. Francis defeated
and taken prisoner at Pavia, 1525.

Henry II., 1547, husband of Catherine de Médicis, accidentally
killed at a tournament (p. 35). Final expulsion of the
English.

Francis II., 1559, husband of Mary Stuart of Scotland.

Charles IX., 1560. The Tuileries erected. Massacre of
St. Bartholomew, August 24th., 1572.

Henry III., 1574, brother of his two predecessors, assassinated
at St. Cloud by Jacques Clément, a Dominican friar.

Henry IV., 1589, first monarch of the House of Bourbon,
conquered the Roman Catholic League at Arques in 1589, and at
Ivry in 1590, became a Roman Catholic in 1593, besieged and
captured Paris in 1594. Sully his minister. Religious toleration
granted by the Edict of Nantes. Henry divorced from Margaret
of Valois in 1599. married Marie de Médicis the following year;
assassinated by Ravaillac 1610. The metropolis greatly embellished
during this reign. The Pont Neuf completed, additions made
to the Louvre and Tuileries.

Louis XIII., 1610, banished his mother Marie de Médicis,
who died at Cologne in 1642. Richelieu his minister (d. 1642).
English fleet defeated at Rhé, 1627; La Rochelle taken from the
Huguenots. The Palais Cardinal (now Royal) commenced by
Richelieu, and the Luxembourg by Marie de Médicis. New bridges,
quays and streets constructed. Jardin des Plantes laid out.

Louis XIV., 1643, under the regency of his mother, Anne
of Austria. Ministers: Mazarin (d. 1661), Louvois (d. 1691) and
Colbert (d. 1683). Generals: Turenne (d. 1675), Condé (d. 1686),
Marshal Luxembourg (d. 1695).

War of the Fronde against the court and Mazarin. Condé
defeated the Spaniards at Rocroy, 1643, and at Lens in Holland
in 1645. Submission of the Fronde. Peace of the Pyrenees, 1659.

Louis married Maria Theresa, 1660. Part of Flanders conquered,
1667. Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, 1668. — War with
Holland, 1672. Peace of Nymwegen, 1678. Strasbourg occupied,
1681. Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, 1685. Devastation of
the Palatinate. The French fleet conquered by the English at
La Hogue, 1692. Peace of Ryswyk, 1697.

Spanish war of succession, 1701; the French frequently defeated
by Marlborough and Prince Eugene. Peace of Utrecht and
Rastadt, 1714.

During this reign upwards of eighty new streets and thirty-three
churches were constructed. Hôtel des Invalides, Observatory
and the colonnade of the Louvre completed. Collège Mazarin,
Gobelins, triumphal arches etc. commenced. Fortifications converted
into boulevards.

Louis XV., 1715, under the regency of the Duke of Orleans.
Polish and Austrian wars of succession. Seven years' war with
England. Successes of Frederick the Great and Ferdinand Duke
of Brunswick against the French; battles of Rossbach, Crefeld,
Minden etc.

The Pantheon, Ecole Militaire, Palais du Corps Législatif,
Hôtel des Monnaies and many other important buildings were
erected during this reign. Jardin des Plantes extended.

Louis XVI., 1774.

1789. Assembly of the States General at Versailles, May 5th.
Formation of the National Assembly, June 17th. Storming of
the Bastille, July 14th. Confiscation of ecclesiastical property,
Nov. 2nd.

1790. National féte in the Champ de Mars.

1791. The Emigration. The king and royal family escape
from Paris, but are intercepted at Varennes, June 20th.

1792. War with Austria, April 20th. Storming of the Tuileries,
Aug. 10th. The king arrested, Aug. 13th. The National
Convention opened and royalty abolished, Sept. 21st. Republic
proclaimed Sept. 25th.

1793. Louis XVI. beheaded, Jan. 20th. Republican reckoning
of time introduced, Sept. 22nd[1] . Reign of Terror. The queen
beheaded, Oct. 16th. Worship of Reason introduced, Nov. 10th.
Loss of Belgium.

1794. Robespierre's fall and execution, July 28th. Jourdan's
victory at Fleurus. Belgium reconquered.

1795. Conquest of Holland by Pichegru. Bonaparte commander
of the troops of the Convention against the Royalists under Danican,
Oct. 3rd. Directory established, Oct. 28th.

1796. Bonaparte's successes in Italy (Milan, Arcole, Rivoli,
Mantua etc.).

1797. Peace of Campo Formio. Change in the Directory
caused by the "Revolution of 18th Fructidor", Sept. 4th.

1798. Bonaparte in Egypt. Victory of the Pyramids, July 21st.
Defeated by Nelson in the battle of the Nile, Aug. 1st.

1799. Bonaparte invades Syria. Acre defended by Sir Sidney
Smith. Victory of Aboukir, July 25th. Fall of the Directory
Nov. 9th. Bonaparte First Consul, Dec. 25th.

1800. Bonaparte's passage of the St Bernard, May 13th. Victories
at Piacenza, Montebello and Marengo. Moreau victorious
at Hohenlinden, Dec. 3rd.

1801. Peace of Lunéville with Germany, Feb. 9th.

1802. Peace of Amiens with England, March 27th.

1804. Napoleon Bonaparte proclaimed Emperor, May 18th.
Coronation by Pope Pius VII., Dec. 2nd.

1805. Renewal of war with Austria. Battle of Austerlitz, Dec. 2nd.
Peace of Pressburg, Dec. 26th.

1806. War with Prussia. Battles of Jena and Auerstaedt. Entry
into Berlin, Oct. 27th.

1807. War with Russia and Prussia. Battles of Eylau and
Friedland. Treaty of Tilsit, July 8th.

1808. War in Spain.

1809. Conquest of Saragossa Renewed war with Austria.
Battle of Eckmühl. Vienna entered, May 13th. Battle of Wagram.
Peace of Vienna, Oct. 14th.

1810. Marriage of Napoleon with Marie Louise, daughter of
Francis II. of Austria, March 11th.

1812. Renewed war with Russia. Battles of Smolensk and
the Moskowa. Moscow entered, Sept. 15th. Retreat commenced
Oct. 19th. Passage of the Beresina — Wellington's victory of
Salamanca.

1813. Battles of Lützen, Dresden, Leipsic, Hanau etc.

1814. Battles of Brienne, Montmirail, Laon, Arcis sur Aube,
and Paris. Entrance of the allies into Paris, March 31st. Abdication
of the emperor, April 11th. Departure for Elba, May 4th.
First Treaty of Paris, May 30th.

The frightful scenes of devastation which were enacted during
the revolution, especially in 1793, need hardly be adverted to;
they were, however, beneficial in sweeping away the overgrown
conventual establishments, which occupied the best sites and one-third
of the area of the city. Under the Directory the museum
of the Louvre was commenced. Vast improvements were effected
under Napoleon; the mean buildings which formerly occupied the
Place du Carrousel were demolished; the N. gallery between the
Louvre and the Tuileries and the handsome Rue de Rivoli were
commencéd; new streets, spacious markets, three bridges, quays,
canals etc. constructed; numerous fountains and monuments erected;
churches restored and embellished; the Bourse and other public
edifices founded.

1814. The Restoration. Louis XVIII. king.

1815. Napoleon's return from Elba. Battles of Ligny and
Waterloo. Second entrance of the allies into Paris, July 7th.
Napoleon banished to St. Helena where he died (May 5th, 1821).

1823. Spanish campaign.

1824. Charles X.

1830. Conquest of Algiers. Revolution of July. Louis Philippe
elected king, Aug. 7th.

1848. Revolution of February. Republic. Sanguinary conflicts
in Paris, June 23rd to 26th. Louis Napoleon elected
President.

1851. Dissolution of the Assemblée Législative, Dec. 2nd.

Civic improvements progressed comparatively slowly under
Louis XVIII. and Charles X. Under Louis Philippe they were
resumed with fresh vigour. Many handsome new streets were
opened, churches and public edifices completed, vast works undertaken
for the drainage of the city, new bridges and quays constructed,
gardens and squares laid out etc. at an outlay exceeding
100 million francs.

1852. Napoleon III., Emperor, elected by universal suffrage
(plébiscite), Dec. 2nd.

Probably no city in the world has ever witnessed such gigantic
improvements as Paris under the present régime. Dense masses

of houses and numerous tortuous streets have been replaced by
broad boulevards, spacious squares and palatial edifices. Public
works of colossal magnitude have been undertaken, whilst those
commenced in former reigns have been brought to a successful
completion. Embellishments on the most extensive scale have
been effected in the public parks and gardens, and, what is of
incalculable importance, the city is now thoroughly well drained,
lighted, paved and supplied with water.

Population. According to the latest census Paris contains
1,696,141 (665,000 in 1788) souls, of whom 80,000 are Germans
and 5000 English. About one-third of the births are illegitimate.
The number of Protestants is estimated at 62,000, Jews 20,000,
dissentient 30,000, the remainder being Roman Catholics

Extent. The circumference of Paris is upwards of 21 miles;
its area 19,280 acres, or about 30 sq. miles. The Boulevard de
Sébastopol, the longest street, is about 2 M. in length.

Revenues. The budget of the city of Paris for 1865 amounted
to 155,590,040 fr, the expenditure being the same as the receipts.
The following items deserve mention. For educational purposes
4,473,101 fr.; street-cleaning 12,847,900 fr.; drainage, pavement,
gas etc. 22,447,595 fr. Paris at present contains 503 elementary
schools, 293 of which are conducted by lay and 210 by ecclesiastical
superintendents. The number of pupils amounts to 94,630. The
inner boulevards, one of the most frequented thoroughfares in
Paris, are daily traversed by 24,099 horses, and 32,052 daily pass
through the former Barrière de l'Etoile, leading to the Bois de
Boulogne. Since 1859 the water-conduits have been extended
by upwards of 67,000 mètres (41⅗ M.), the drains 39,000 mètres
(24⅕ M.). A sum of 4,752,000 fr. was also expended in 1865
for architectural and ornamental purposes, 9,000,000 fr. for improving
the streets, and 25,177,846 fr. for the construction of
public edifices, to be erected with the support of the government.
The total receipts of the five years 1859—64 amounted to
843,032,316 fr., the total expenditure to 832,530,330 fr. The
annual interest of the civic debt was 13,589,363 fr.