In modern media, France is often called the Fifth Republic, and this somewhat poetic name gives rise to many questions: why this particular serial number was assigned, why France, and where then the previous Republics - the First, Second, Third and Fourth.
France before the Republic
After the first Capetian king was elected in France in the 10th century, this country continued to be a monarchy until the end of the 18th century. In 1328, the Valois dynasty reigned on the throne, and in 1589 it was replaced by the younger branch of the Capetian - the Bourbons.
Over the centuries, rather complex relations between classes have formed in the country. By the middle of the 18th century, it became clear that the royal power discredited itself in many aspects, the nobility was ruined or mired in an idle life, the bourgeoisie demanded new privileges, and the peasants eked out a miserable existence.
The growing differentiation between classes and the gradual lag of France behind its neighbors led to an increase in social tension and resulted in the Great French Revolution, the beginning of which is considered to be the capture of the Bastille on July 14, 1789.
Republics One to Four
Further in the history of France, the period of the Republics began, each has a serial number corresponding to the edition of the Constitution of the state. The First Republic was established on September 21, 1792, on the day of the overthrow of King Louis XVI. It lasted until 1804, when Napoleon Bonaparte proclaimed himself emperor.
Since different political forces saw the development of France in their own way, a protracted period of power change began, which lasted about one and a half centuries. From 1804 to 1815, France remained an empire, after the deposition of Napoleon, the heir to the Bourbon dynasty, Louis XVIII, was enthroned.
In July 1830, revolution broke out again, and the king abdicated. The Second Republic lasted from 1848 to 1852, but the constitution during this period was imperfect because it did not help resolve differences between the President and the National Assembly. In 1852, France again became a constitutional monarchy led by Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, this period of history is called the Second French Empire.
Louis Napoleon Bonaparte was the nephew of the famous emperor of France.
Further, the course of events was influenced by the strengthening of Germany, the new emperor was deposed, and the period from 1870 to 1914 in France is called the Third Republic. During this period of time, an event occurred that influenced the course of all history - an alliance with Great Britain was signed, the Entente was formed.
The military and political situation in its territories outside Europe, in particular in Algeria, had a significant impact on the history of France.
Already after the Second World War, in connection with the change in the balance of power in the world and a new crisis of power in the country, the Constitution of France was changed, and the period of the Fourth French Republic began.
Fifth Republic
The events that served as the reasons for the revision of the current system were the incessant political crises and the aggravated situation in Algeria, when the military withdrew from obedience to the government. After the new Constitution of France was adopted in 1958, the country was tacitly called the Fifth Republic by the number of the edition of the main legal document of the state.
This period of history continues to this day, and so far there is no reason to believe that the numeral "fifth", so beloved by journalists and observers, will soon be replaced by "sixth". The main differences between the new version of the Constitution and the previous one are in the expanded powers of the president, previously he had no right to dissolve parliament. However, the term of his tenure in the main post of the country has been reduced from seven to five years.
