Who was the Black Queen of France?
Catherine de’ Medici earned the nickname “The Black Queen” due to her association with numerous scandals, political intrigues, and rumors of poisonings and assassinations during her reign as queen consort...
Category: French History
What was Franz Reichelt known for?
I want to try the experiment myself and without trickery, as I intend to prove the worth of my invention. So goes the statement of Franz Reichelt when he was...
Why was France’s flag predominantly white from 1814 to 1830?
Contrary to popular opinion France’s flag from 1814 to 1830 was not entirely white; instead the French used a predominantly white flag. The flag was known as the “Bourbon Restoration...
Jean-François Champollion – the French orientalist who famously deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphs
Jean-François Champollion (1790-1832) was a French scholar, linguist, and Egyptologist who is renowned for his decipherment of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. He is considered the founding father of Egyptology and is...
Life and Major Works of Élisée Reclus
Élisée Reclus: Fast Facts Date of birth: March 15, 1830 Place of birth: Saint-Foy-la-Grande, Gironde, France Died: July 4, 1905; Torhout, Belgium Education: University of Berlin Notable works: “Nouvelle géographie...
Ferdinand Foch: Biography, World War I & Accomplishments
Ferdinand Foch (1851-1929) was a French general and military strategist who played a critical role in World War I. He is widely regarded as one of the most brilliant military...
Life and Major Accomplishments of Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, the first black general in the French army
Not much is known in French history about the first black man or person of mixed ethnicity to become a brigadier general, divisional general, and general-in-chief in the French army....
Louis IX of France: Life and Major Accomplishments of the Saint King
King Louis IX’s name blazons as a beacon of virtue in the history of Catholicism and the French monarchy. His reign is said to have coincided with the golden age...
René Descartes: History & Most Notable Achievements
Widely regarded as the ‘Founder of Contemporary Philosophy,” René Descartes sought to reinvent the curriculum in science by abandoning its established fundamental principles. He developed a philosophical system that includes...
10 Greatest French Scientists of All Time and their Accomplishments
The French have a reputation for being passionate about the arts, fine dining, and vintage wines. On the other hand, many people don’t realize that the French are also responsible...
Notable Achievements of Charles de Gaulle – French General and First President of the Fifth Republic
Charles de Gaulle, born Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle, is considered one of the most intelligent, zealous, devout, and hardworking European political and military leaders of the 20th century....
Napoleon III, the Last Emperor of France
Napoleon III of France: Fast Facts Born: Charles-Louis Napoleon Bonaparte Date of birth: April 20, 1808 Place of birth: Ajaccio, France Died: 1873 Place of death: Chislehurst, Kent, England Aged:...
Jean-Jacques Rousseau – Beliefs, Famous Works & Major Accomplishments
Best known for his philosophical treatises Émile; or, On Education(1762), A Discourse on the Origins of Inequality (1755) and The Social Contract (1762), 18th century Swiss-French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau who stated that society...
Philip IV of France: History, Facts and Major Accomplishments
King Philip IV of France, also known as Philip the Fair (Philippe le Bel), was a French monarch whose reign lasted from 1285 to 1314. This king of France was...
Joan of Arc: History, Facts, & Accomplishments
Joan of Arc was a French peasant girl who rose to immense prominence fighting on the side of the Dauphin of France Charles against English forces. Ultimately, Joan of Arc,...
