Legislative Assembly
Maximin Isnard took his seat in the Legislative Assembly.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1791 in France — Page 11
Explore 592 historical events and records for France in 1791.
Historical records for France in 1791
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October
Legislative Assembly
Takes his seat in the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly
Pierre Victurnien Vergniaud took his seat in the Legislative Assembly.
Legislative Assembly
Takes his seat in the Legislative Assembly
Opening of Legislative Assembly
Louis XVI began relations with the new Legislative Assembly created by the Constitution of 1791.
Royal Titles Debate
Vergniaud argued that parliamentary language should abandon the royal forms of address 'Sire' and 'Majesty'.
National Guard commander resigns
Lafayette relinquished command of the Paris National Guard after the constitutional settlement was completed. His departure marked the end of the force's first highly personalized leadership phase.
Resignation from National Guard
Lafayette resigned command of the Paris National Guard after completion of the Constitution and withdrew from Paris politics.
Vice-President of Legislative Assembly
Vergniaud was elected vice-president of the Legislative Assembly as his influence among the left increased.
President of Legislative Assembly
Vergniaud became president of the Legislative Assembly during disputes over emigres and royal authority.
Citadel Demolition Proposal
Carnot proposed demolishing internal citadels, arguing that fortresses could become instruments of tyranny against a free people.
Emigre armies treated as foreign-policy threat
Brissot warned that armed émigrés gathering beyond France's borders endangered constitutional government. He supported stronger measures against rulers sheltering counterrevolutionary forces.
Foreign Affairs Committee influence expands
Brissot became prominent in the Legislative Assembly's foreign-policy discussions. He argued that the Revolution's survival was linked to how France confronted hostile European monarchies.
Guard Command Ends with Constitutional Settlement
Lafayette relinquished his Paris command as the constitutional arrangements of 1791 took effect. His withdrawal ended the first phase of leadership dominated by a single prominent general.
Lafayette resigns Paris command: Mayor loses popular standing
Bailly remained associated with the violence of July as opposition to constitutional moderates grew. The damage contributed to the rapid erosion of his political authority in the capital.
Lafayette resigns Paris command: Radical municipal alternative grows
Petion emerged as a prominent alternative to established moderate leaders in Paris. Public anger after the Champ de Mars affair strengthened the political appeal of more democratic municipal leadership.
Lafayette resigns Paris command: Retirement from the Guard
Lafayette resigned his command of the Paris National Guard after the constitutional settlement was completed. His departure occurred amid controversy over his record as protector of the monarchy.
War party enters Legislative Assembly: Aggressive foreign policy advocated
Brissot argued that the Revolution should confront hostile European powers rather than remain vulnerable to their threats. His influence helped create the loosely allied group later called Girondins.
War party enters Legislative Assembly: Bordeaux deputy gains prominence
Vergniaud took his seat in the Legislative Assembly as delegates from the Gironde became important parliamentary orators. His speeches gave a powerful public voice to advocates of a more assertive revolutionary policy.
War party enters Legislative Assembly: Deputies coordinate against court
Guadet joined deputies increasingly suspicious of the royal ministry and emigrant threats. Their collaboration predated the later application of a single Girondin label.
November
Veto of Emigre Measures
Louis XVI used his suspensive veto against legislation targeting émigrés, intensifying suspicion of the monarchy's political intentions.
Mayor of Paris
Elected mayor of Paris after Bailly's resignation
Mayor of Paris
Jerome Petion was elected mayor of Paris after Bailly's resignation.
Bailly leaves Paris mayoralty
Bailly resigned as mayor after prolonged hostility arising from the Champ de Mars shootings. His departure ended the tenure of the capital's first revolutionary mayor.
Bailly succeeded by a different political leadership
The vacancy created by Bailly's departure allowed Paris to choose a new municipal leader. The change reflected the collapse of confidence in the administration associated with the Champ de Mars episode.
Paris mayoral transition: Election to mayoralty
Petion won the Paris mayoralty as the capital turned away from Bailly's model of municipal leadership. The result revealed how the Champ de Mars tragedy altered the city's political balance.
Paris mayoral transition: Jacobin influence in city politics
Robespierre's political allies gained opportunities as moderate authority weakened in Paris. The municipal change reflected a larger shift toward popular activists and their elected representatives.
Paris mayoral transition: Resignation from municipal office
Bailly left the Paris mayoralty under the weight of declining popularity and political hostility. The suppression of petitioners had become inseparable from his public reputation.
Pressure on German princes advocated
Brissot urged diplomatic action against princes who permitted armed French émigrés to organize on their territory. The issue helped transform domestic counterrevolution into an international confrontation.
Resignation as Mayor
Bailly resigned as mayor of Paris after his popularity collapsed following the Champ de Mars violence.
December
Bailly withdraws from prominent public office
After resigning, Bailly retired from the centre of revolutionary politics. His withdrawal offered little protection once the political direction of the Revolution became more radical.
Declaration of War
Louis XVI addressed the Legislative Assembly on the émigré threat and warned that continued foreign protection of armed émigrés could lead to conflict.
Ultimatum over Emigre Forces
Louis XVI addressed the Legislative Assembly on the threat posed by émigré forces gathering under protection of German princes.
December address argues for revolutionary war
Brissot delivered a major defense of war at the Jacobin Club. He claimed that confronting foreign enemies could consolidate the Revolution, a view that became central to his political reputation.
Legislation
Vetoes the Legislative Assemblys Decree against priests
Veto of Decrees
Vetoes decrees against refractory priests and emigres
Veto of Refractory Priest Decree
Louis XVI vetoed legislation directed against refractory priests, worsening conflict with deputies who viewed clerical resistance as counter-revolutionary.
Austrian policy hardens in Assembly
Brissot pressed for a firm stance toward Austria and the courts accused of supporting counterrevolution. The argument contributed to an increasingly urgent diplomatic crisis.
Jacobin war debate divides reformers: Military firmness enters rhetoric
Vergniaud became associated with the legislators pressing the court to answer foreign threats. His eloquence helped make the war question central to parliamentary debate.
Jacobin war debate divides reformers: Royal diplomacy scrutinized
Guadet challenged the reliability of ministers responsible for responding to European rulers. Such attacks increased tension between militant legislators and the constitutional monarch.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.