The Ornate Sword That Napoleon Commissioned During His Rise to Power Is Heading to Auction
Prior to his final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, the French ruler gave the saber to one of his most trusted generals, whose family kept it for generations
On This Day in 1793, Revolutionaries Executed the King of France by Guillotine, a Deadly Machine They Saw as a Symbol of Equality
Supporters of the French Revolution killed Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, with the same apparatus used to execute common criminals
See the Dazzling Diamond Necklace With Possible Ties to Marie Antoinette That Just Sold for $4.8 Million
Some of the gems may have featured in a royal scandal known as the “affair of the diamond necklace” that damaged the French queen’s reputation in 1785
Drawing of the Bastille Cherished by George Washington Goes to Auction
The artwork was a gift from the Marquis de Lafayette, who also included the fortress’ key
The Paris Games’ Mascot, the Olympic Phryge, Boasts a Little-Known Revolutionary Past
The Phrygian cap, also known as the liberty cap, emerged as a potent symbol in 18th-century America and France
See the Graffiti Bored British Soldiers Carved Into a Castle Door More Than 200 Years Ago
One of the carvings may even depict French emperor and military commander Napoleon Bonaparte being hanged
‘Liberty Leading the People’ Returns to the Louvre After a Breathtaking Restoration
Eugène Delacroix’s 1830 oil painting had been covered in grime and discolored by eight layers of varnish
Why Has History Forgotten Joseph Bologne, the Brilliant 18th-Century Composer Showcased in ‘Chevalier’?
A new film dramatizes the story of a Black immigrant to France whose musical talents have long been overlooked
Why Marie Antoinette’s Reputation Changes With Each Generation
A new television series portrays the French queen as a feminist, drawing criticism from historians
Marie Antoinette’s Furniture Is Up for Auction
Two items represent two distinctive stages in the French queen’s life
Marie Antoinette’s Diamond Bracelets Are Going Up for Auction
The jewels carry an estimate of $2 to $4 million but may fetch a far higher price
Trove of 239 Rare Gold Coins Discovered in Walls of French Mansion
Renovators discovered a hidden box and pouch stuffed with rare gold coins, minted during the reigns of French Kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV
Iconic Portrait of French Chemist and His Wife Once Looked Entirely Different
Jacques-Louis David’s 1789 painting originally depicted Antoine and Marie Anne Lavoisier as wealthy elites, not modern scientists
Before He Wrote a Thesaurus, Roget Had to Escape Napoleon’s Dragnet
At the dawn of the 19th century, the young Brit got caught in an international crisis while touring Europe
Remains Discovered in Parisian Chapel May Belong to Guillotined Aristocrats
New research suggests the bodies of nearly 500 nobles beheaded during the Reign of Terror are buried in Chapelle Expiatoire
A Belgian Abbey Is Using Centuries-Old Recipes to Revive Its Brewery
Grimbergen Abbey in Belgium will produce its first beers in more than 200 years
How Voltaire Went from Bastille Prisoner to Famous Playwright
Three hundred years ago this week, the French philosopher and writer began his career with a popular retelling of Sophocles’ ‘Oedipus’
What if Napoleon Hadn’t Lost Europe and Other Questions of Alternate History
How the 200-year-old literary genre reflects changing notions of history and society
Madame de Pompadour Was Far More Than a ‘Mistress’
Even though she was a keen politicker and influential patron, she’s been historically overlooked
How Marie Tussaud Created a Wax Empire
From France, to Britain, to the world, Tussaud’s waxworks endure
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