Lafayette Biography and Timeline

Election as Noble Deputy

Lafayette was elected as a noble deputy for Riom and entered the Estates General as a supporter of reform.

Role range: 1789-1792

Support for Troop Withdrawal

Lafayette supported Mirabeau's demand that troops concentrated around Paris and Versailles be withdrawn.

Role range: 1789-1792

Lafayette Links Rights Declaration to Constitutional Government

Lafayette argues that a concise declaration should guide constitutional institutions by stating enduring principles of natural and social rights.

Role range: 1789-1792

Lafayette Presents Draft Declaration of Rights

Lafayette presents his draft Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen to the National Assembly.

Role range: 1789-1792

Dissolution of Army

The Army dissolves itself

Role range: 1789-1792

Dissolution of Army

The Army dissolves itself.

Role range: 1789-1792

National Guard

The National Guard, a citizens militia, is formed which wears the tricolour cockade

Role range: 1789-1792

National Guard

The National Guard, a citizens militia, is formed which wears the tricolour cockade.

Role range: 1789-1792

Siege of Bastille

The Parisians storm the Bastille

Role range: 1792-1799

Bastille Demolition Order

As commander of the Paris National Guard, Lafayette ordered the demolition of the captured Bastille.

Role range: 1789-1792

Commander of National Guard

Appointed Commander of the National Guard by Louis XVI

Role range: 1789-1792

Commander of National Guard

Lafayette was appointed Commander of the National Guard by Louis XVI.

Role range: 1789-1792

Commander of National Guard

Appointed Commander of the National Guard by Louis XVI

American Rights Models Inform Lafayette Draft

Lafayette draws on American declarations of rights while refining his proposed French declaration before presenting it to the Assembly.

Role range: 1789-1792

Virginia Declaration Influence on Rights Project

Lafayette's draft reflects principles associated with the Virginia Declaration of Rights and his experience of the American Revolution.

Role range: 1789-1792

Article 1 Freedom and Equality in Rights

Article 1 establishes that men are born and remain free and equal in rights, while allowing distinctions based on common utility.

Role range: 1789-1792

Article 12 Public Force Serves the Community

Article 12 states that public force exists for the benefit of all rather than the private advantage of those controlling it.

Role range: 1789-1792

Article 15 Accountability of Public Officials

Article 15 gives society the right to demand an account of administration from every public official.

Role range: 1789-1792

Article 2 Natural and Imprescriptible Rights

Article 2 identifies liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression as natural and imprescriptible rights.

Role range: 1789-1792

Article 4 Limits of Individual Liberty

Article 4 defines liberty through freedom of action bounded by the equal rights of others and limits established by law.

Role range: 1789-1792

March to Versailles

Lafayette led National Guard units to Versailles during the October Days and worked to protect the royal family.

Role range: 1789-1792

Festival of the Federation Oath

Lafayette administered the National Guard oath during the Festival of the Federation at the Champ de Mars.

Role range: 1789-1792

Champ de Mars Suppression

Lafayette commanded National Guard forces during the violent suppression of the republican petitioners at the Champ de Mars.

Role range: 1789-1792

Resignation from National Guard

Lafayette resigned command of the Paris National Guard after completion of the Constitution and withdrew from Paris politics.

Role range: 1789-1792

Invasion of Flanders

Fighting begins along the Flanders frontier, Lafayette commands the French forces

Role range: 1789-1792

Invasion of Flanders

Fighting begins along the Flanders frontier, Lafayette commands the French forces.

Role range: 1789-1792

Constitution of France

Announces to the Assembly that the Jacobins are a state within a state

Role range: 1789-1792 – 1792-1792

Constitution of France

Announces to the Assembly that the Jacobins are a state within a state.

Role range: 1789-1792 – 1792-1792

National Assembly

Appears at the bar of the Assembly & demands the dissolution of the Jacobins

Role range: 1789-1792 – 1792-1792

National Assembly

Appears at the bar of the Assembly and demands the dissolution of the Jacobins.

Role range: 1789-1792 – 1792-1792

National Guard

Raises a force from the National Guard to march on the Jacobins but fails

Role range: 1789-1792 – 1792-1792

National Guard

Raises a force from the National Guard to march on the Jacobins but fails.

Role range: 1789-1792 – 1792-1792

Peace

Lafayette secretly sought an armistice with Austria.

Role range: 1789-1792 – 1792-1792

Peace

Secretly seeks an armistice with Austria

Role range: 1789-1792 – 1792-1792

Exile of Lafayette

The Tuileries is stormed by the Paris mob, Lafayette surrenders to Austria

Role range: 1789-1792 – 1792-1792

Exile of Lafayette

The Tuileries is stormed by the Paris mob, Lafayette surrenders to Austria.

Role range: 1789-1792 – 1792-1792

Result of Surrender of Lafayette

Lafayette enters Austrian custody after crossing the frontier.

Role range: 1789-1792 – 1792-1792

Result of Surrender of Lafayette

Lafayette is detained by Austria after leaving revolutionary France.

Role range: 1789-1792 – 1792-1792

Surrender of Lafayette

Lafayette crosses the border & surrenders to Austria

Role range: 1789-1792 – 1792-1792

Surrender of Lafayette

Lafayette crosses the border and surrenders to Austria.

Role range: 1789-1792 – 1792-1792