In July 1830, Paris erupted. For three days, workers, students, and veterans rose against royal ordinances that trampled the Charter of 1814. Barricades filled the streets, the tricolour flag flew once more, and the Bourbon monarchy collapsed. King Charles X fled, and Louis-Philippe—styled the “Citizen King”—took the throne.

This revolution wasn’t just a power shift; it was a powerful reminder that France’s revolutionary spirit was far from extinguished. From backroom politics to street battles, the July Revolution marked a turning point in modern French history.
Join us to revisit this pivotal moment.

Timecodes

Introduction
04:06 - A Broken Country
11:19 - A Step Too Far
19:52 - The Barricades
25:38 - King of the French
35:50 - Conclusion

To know more about the world behind the 1830 Revolution — the politics, the kings, the chaos — check out The Siècle‬, a phenomenal podcast on 19th-century France. Available on your podcast app of choice or at: https://thesiecle.com/

Relevant Episodes:
The French Revolution, a Worldwide Tremor
Napoléon Part II - From Paris to Saint Helena

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: La Liberté guidant le peuple. Eugène Delacroix, 1830. Musée du Louvre, Paris.

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If you weren't sleeping through your chemistry classes in high school, you probably heard the phrase "Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed." This is basically what we know as the law of conservation of mass. It was coined by Antoine Lavoisier, the man considered the father of modern chemistry and one of history's most influential scientists.

However, he will end his days under the blade of the guillotine in 1794. How can this be? Join us as we delve into the remarkable but tragic life of Lavoisier, a savant at the scaffold!

Timecodes

Introduction
06:36 - Young, Rich and Brillant
13:25 - Understanding Nature
20:39 - The French Revolution
25:37 - The Blade Falls
31:17 - Conclusion

Relevant Episode:
The French Revolution, a Worldwide Tremor

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: Portrait d'Antoine Lavoisier et de sa femme, Jacques-Louis David, 1788. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Support the show

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• Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify
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The story of the Résistance is the story of ordinary men and women rising to the occasion. Risking everything to fight oppression, to defend their homes, their country, their way of life. Being a résistant could mean many things. You could be part of a network, you could just run errands or messages, you could spy on the Germans or just not answer their questions properly. The Résistance took many, many forms, just like the collaboration.

Join us as we explore this troubled, violent and fascinating period of French history!

Timecodes
Introduction
05:29 - Rising from the Ashes
13:47 - Deciding to Fight
20:31 - Unifying the Movements
26:56 - Liberating France
37:07 - Conclusion

Relevant Episodes:
The Fall of France of 1940, German Victory or French Defeat?
Charles de Gaulle, Tales of Grandeur

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Photograph: The Résistance fighter Simone Segouin, aka "Nicole Minet", on August 23rd 1944.

Support the show

Reach out, support the show and give me feedback!

• Contact me or follow the podcast on social media
• Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or on Spotify
• Become a patron on Patreon to support the show
• Buy me a Coffee