Introduction
1. The Restoration matters
- The Bourbon Restoration is usually ignored
- When not ignored, it’s treated as a historical dead end
- (Even traditionalists tend to idealize the ancien régime, not the Restoration)
- My thesis: the Restoration is both interesting and important
2. The Restoration in 5 minutes
Background
- The French Revolution
- Napoleon
- Defeat and abdication
Return of the King
- New king: Louis XVIII
- New regime: constitutional monarchy
- Initial support faded quickly
The Hundred Days
- Napoleon returns!
- Louis flees
- Waterloo