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{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox election
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 1797 French Directory election
| percentage2 = 24.86%
| leader2 = [[Lazare Carnot]]
| seats2 = 44
| percentage1 = '''59.32'''
| party1 = [[Clichy Club]]
| ongoing = no
| image1 = Louise Adélaïde Desnos, née Robin (1807-1870) - Le général Comte Dumas (1753-1837).jpg
| next_election = 1798 French Directory election
| seat_change2 = {{Increase}} 44
| seats_before1 = 54
| color1 = 0080FF
| country = First French Republic
| country = First French Republic
| next_election = 1798 French legislative election
| next_year = 1798
| previous_election = 1795 French legislative election
| previous_year = 1795
| type = parliamentary
| seats_for_election = One-third of the seats in the [[Council of Five Hundred]] and the [[Council of Ancients|Council of Elders]]
| party1 = [[Clichy Club|Constitutional monarchists]]
| seats1 = '''182'''
| party2 = Republicans
| party2_name = no
| seats2 = 34
| title = [[President of the Council of Five Hundred]]
| title = [[President of the Council of Five Hundred]]
| before_election = [[Pierre-Antoine Lalloy]]
| before_election = [[Pierre-Antoine Lalloy]]
| before_party = [[Thermidorians]]
| after_party = [[Clichy Club]]
| after_election = [[Jean-Charles Pichegru]]
| after_election = [[Jean-Charles Pichegru]]
| color2 = 46F9E1
| seat_change1 = {{Increase}} 51
| next_year = 1798
| seats_before2 = 0
| percentage3 = 15.82%
| map_image = Assemblée législative 1797.svg
| party3 = [[Thermidorians]]
| seats_before3 = 63
| seats3 = 28
| seat_change3 = {{Decrease}} 35
| color3 = E75480
| leader3 = [[Paul Barras|Paul Nicolas]] Vicomte of [[Barras, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence|Barras]]
| image3 = Paul Barras directeur.jpg
| map_caption = Composition of the National Assembly
| image2 = Lazare-Carnot-par-Boilly.jpg
| previous_election = 1795 French Directory election
| previous_year = 1795
| election_date = 21 March – 2 April 1797
| election_date = 21 March – 2 April 1797
| seats1 = '''105'''
| type = Parliamentary
| party2 = [[The Plain|Maraisards]]
| leader1 = [[Mathieu Dumas]]
| seats_for_election = A third of the seats in the [[Council of Five Hundred]] and the [[Council of Ancients|Council of Elders]], as well as vacant seats
}}
}}


The '''French Directory election of 1797''' was held between 21 March and 2 April 1797 to elect a third of the Legislative Body of the [[French Directory|Directory]], that is to say 2/3 of the lower house, the [[Council of Five Hundred]] and the upper house, the [[Council of Ancients]]. The 1797 election marks the beginning of the 1/3 vote of its type. An election occurs each year with a third of the deputies up for election.
Legislative elections were held in France between 21 March and 2 April 1797 to elect one-third of the members of the [[Council of Five Hundred]] and the [[Council of Ancients]], the lower and upper houses of the legislature, which were under the [[French Directory|Directory]].

==Background==
Following the events of the [[Conspiracy of Equals]], the [[Jacobins]] and [[The Mountain|Montagnards]] lost their majority in the house, due to their support of [[François-Noël Babeuf]]. This led to a massive pro-Royalist push in the country, which increased with the impending end to the [[War of the First Coalition]].<ref>Woronoff, pp. 65–66.</ref>


Though the Royalists disagreed on who they would want to see as the proper pretender to the throne, they did in-fact agree that legally being elected would be the only means which they would re-establish the monarchy. Then, they would call for the dissolution of the Directory, but see the recreation of the [[French Constitution of 1791|Constitution of 1791]] with a new National Assembly. The Royalists were also divided on the future however, with the Absolutists (later known as [[Ultra-royalist|the Ultra Royalists]]) preferring a return to the absolute ''[[Ancien Régime]]'' under [[Louis XVIII|Louis, Count of Provence]] (future Louis XVIII) and supported the now two-year old [[Quiberon Expedition]]. The 'Constitutionalists' (later known as the [[Orléanist|Liberals]] or [[Doctrinaires]]) favoured a constitutional monarchy in addition to supporting individual rights and property in addition to freedoms and fair elections. The constitutionalists later began meeting at the 'Clichy Club', hence the new name, in addition to their nickname, the 'Clichyens'.<ref>le Bozec, p. 93</ref><ref>Woronoff, p. 69</ref>
== Context ==
Following the events of the [[Conspiracy of Equals]], the [[Jacobins]] and [[The Mountain|Montagnards]] lose their majority in the house simply by supporting [[François-Noël Babeuf]]. These leads to a massive pro-Royalist push in the country and even more so following the end of the impending end to the [[War of the First Coalition]] in site.<ref>Woronoff, pp. 65–66</ref>


==Results==
Though the Royalists disagreed on who they would want to see as the proper pretender to the throne, they did in-fact agree that legally being elected would be the only means which they would re-establish the monarchy. Then, they would call for the dissolution of the Directory, but see the recreation of the [[French Constitution of 1791|Constitution of 1791]] with a new National Assembly. The Royalists were also divided on the future however, with the Absolutists (later known as [[Ultra-royalist|the Ultra Royalists]]) preferring a return to the absolute ''[[Ancien Régime]]'' under [[Louis XVIII|Louis, Count of Provence]] (future Louis XVIII) and supported the now two-year old [[Quiberon Expedition]]. The 'Constitutionalists' (later known as the [[Orléanist|Liberals]] or [[Doctrinaires]]) favoured a constitutional monarchy in addition to supporting individual rights and property in addition to freedoms and fair elections. The constitutionalists later began meeting at the 'Clichy Club', hence the new name, in addition to their nickname, the 'Clichyens'.<ref>le Bozec, p. 93</ref><ref>Woronoff, p. 69</ref>
The elections saw royalists gain a supermajority, beyond what had been expected. The 260 newly elected members consisted of 182 constitutional monarchists, 34 republicans (of which 16 were left-wing republicans) and 44 whose position was unclear.<ref name=S>Soboul, pp. 43–44</ref> Only 11 of the 216 outgoing members who stood for re-election were re-elected.<ref name=S/> The republicans included two new Jacobins, [[Joseph Bonaparte]] and [[Jean-Baptiste Jourdan]]. In addition to the nearly 200 new seats taken by the pro-royalists, there were around 100 other royalist deputies already present and more than 130 other deputies likely to accept a constitutional monarchy.<ref>Tulard, p. 27</ref>


== Results ==
==Aftermath==
Less than six months after the election, fearing a return to the monarchy, the [[Coup of 18 Fructidor]] removed all those accused of being "pro-Monarchist" or those who had supported those deputies. According to most historians, the coup marked the beginning of the "Second Directory period" which is described as the "Authoritarian Directory".<ref>Woronoff, p. 73</ref><ref>le Bozec, p. 97</ref>
Following the election, the Royalists gained a supermajority, and an even larger one than what was expected. The Directory now comprised 182 new deputies of pro-constitutional monarchy, 44 ultra-royalists, and 34 republicans. Among the later included two new Jacobins, [[Joseph Bonaparte]] and [[Jean-Baptiste Jourdan]]. In addition to the nearly 200 new seats taken by the Royalists, there were around 100 other royalist deputies already present and more than 130 other deputies likely to accept a constitutional monarchy.<ref>Tulard, p. 27</ref>


==Footnotes==
Less than six months after the election, fearing a return to the monarchy, the [[Coup of 18 Fructidor]] is carried out. The coup removes all those accused of being "pro-Monarchist" or those who had supported those deputies. According to most historians, the coup marks the beginning of the 'Second Directory period' which is described as the 'Authoritarian Directory'.<ref>Woronoff, p. 73</ref><ref>le Bozec, p. 97</ref>
{{reflist}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%"
! colspan="4" |Seats up for election
!
|-
! colspan="2" |Party
!Leader
!Seats
!%
|-
| bgcolor="#0080FF" |
|'''[[Clichy Club]]'''
|[[Mathieu Dumas]]
|'''105'''
|'''59.32%'''
|-
| bgcolor="#46F9E1" |
|[[The Plain|Maraisards]]
|[[Lazare Carnot]]
|44
|24.86%
|-
| bgcolor="#E75480" |
|[[Thermidorians]]
|[[Paul Barras]], Vicomte de [[Barras, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence|Barras]]
|28
|15.82%
|-
| colspan="3" |'''Total'''
|177
|100%
|}


== Footnotes ==
==References==
*{{Cite book|last=Le Bozec|first=Christine|title=La Première République, 1792 – 1799|publisher=Éditions Perrin|year=2014|isbn=978-2262040918|location=Paris, France|oclc=871312113}}
<references />
*{{Cite book |last=Soboul |first=Albert |title=Le Directoire et le consulat 1795-1804 |publisher=Presses Universitaires de France |year=1967 |language=fr |trans-title=The Directory and the consulate 1795-1804 |chapter=2. Les élections de l'an V et la réaction. |quote= |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/ledirectoireetle0000sobo/page/44/mode/2up}}
*{{Cite book|last=Tulard|first=Jean|title=Le Directory et le Consulat|publisher=Presses Universitaires de France|year=1991|isbn=978-2130439806|series=History of Socialism in France|location=France|oclc=802676216}}
*{{Cite book|last=Woronoff|first=Denis|title=La République bourgeoise de Thermidor à Brumaire 1794-1799|publisher=Éditions du Seuil|year=2004|isbn=978-2757846704|location=France|oclc=1191043797}}


{{French elections}}
== References ==


[[Category:1797 in France|Legislative]]
* {{Cite book|last=Woronoff|first=Denis|title=La République bourgeoise de Thermidor à Brumaire 1794-1799|publisher=Éditions du Seuil|year=2004|isbn=978-2757846704|location=France|oclc=1191043797}}
* {{Cite book|last=Tulard|first=Jean|title=Le Directory et le Consulat|publisher=Presses Universitaires de France|year=1991|isbn=978-2130439806|series=History of Socialism in France|location=France|oclc=802676216}}
* {{Cite book|last=le Bozec|first=Christine|title=La Première République, 1792 – 1799|publisher=Éditions Perrin|year=2014|isbn=978-2262040918|location=Paris, France|oclc=871312113}}
{{France-election-stub}}{{French elections}}
[[Category:1797]]
[[Category:1797 in France]]
[[Category:1797 events of the French Revolution]]
[[Category:1797 events of the French Revolution]]
[[Category:18th-century elections in France]]
[[Category:18th-century elections in France]]
[[Category:18th-century elections in Europe]]
[[Category:French Directory]]
[[Category:French Directory]]
[[Category:Legislative elections in France]]
[[Category:Legislative elections in France]]
[[Category:Joseph Bonaparte]]

Latest revision as of 17:24, 8 December 2024

1797 French legislative election
← 1795 21 March – 2 April 1797 1798 →
One-third of the seats in the Council of Five Hundred and the Council of Elders
  First party Second party
 
Party Constitutional monarchists Republicans
Seats won 182 34
President of the Council of Five Hundred before election

Pierre-Antoine Lalloy

 Elected President of the Council of Five Hundred

Jean-Charles Pichegru

Legislative elections were held in France between 21 March and 2 April 1797 to elect one-third of the members of the Council of Five Hundred and the Council of Ancients, the lower and upper houses of the legislature, which were under the Directory.

Background

[edit]

Following the events of the Conspiracy of Equals, the Jacobins and Montagnards lost their majority in the house, due to their support of François-Noël Babeuf. This led to a massive pro-Royalist push in the country, which increased with the impending end to the War of the First Coalition.[1]

Though the Royalists disagreed on who they would want to see as the proper pretender to the throne, they did in-fact agree that legally being elected would be the only means which they would re-establish the monarchy. Then, they would call for the dissolution of the Directory, but see the recreation of the Constitution of 1791 with a new National Assembly. The Royalists were also divided on the future however, with the Absolutists (later known as the Ultra Royalists) preferring a return to the absolute Ancien Régime under Louis, Count of Provence (future Louis XVIII) and supported the now two-year old Quiberon Expedition. The 'Constitutionalists' (later known as the Liberals or Doctrinaires) favoured a constitutional monarchy in addition to supporting individual rights and property in addition to freedoms and fair elections. The constitutionalists later began meeting at the 'Clichy Club', hence the new name, in addition to their nickname, the 'Clichyens'.[2][3]

Results

[edit]

The elections saw royalists gain a supermajority, beyond what had been expected. The 260 newly elected members consisted of 182 constitutional monarchists, 34 republicans (of which 16 were left-wing republicans) and 44 whose position was unclear.[4] Only 11 of the 216 outgoing members who stood for re-election were re-elected.[4] The republicans included two new Jacobins, Joseph Bonaparte and Jean-Baptiste Jourdan. In addition to the nearly 200 new seats taken by the pro-royalists, there were around 100 other royalist deputies already present and more than 130 other deputies likely to accept a constitutional monarchy.[5]

Aftermath

[edit]

Less than six months after the election, fearing a return to the monarchy, the Coup of 18 Fructidor removed all those accused of being "pro-Monarchist" or those who had supported those deputies. According to most historians, the coup marked the beginning of the "Second Directory period" which is described as the "Authoritarian Directory".[6][7]

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ Woronoff, pp. 65–66.
  2. ^ le Bozec, p. 93
  3. ^ Woronoff, p. 69
  4. ^ a b Soboul, pp. 43–44
  5. ^ Tulard, p. 27
  6. ^ Woronoff, p. 73
  7. ^ le Bozec, p. 97

References

[edit]
  • Le Bozec, Christine (2014). La Première République, 1792 – 1799. Paris, France: Éditions Perrin. ISBN 978-2262040918. OCLC 871312113.
  • Soboul, Albert (1967). "2. Les élections de l'an V et la réaction.". Le Directoire et le consulat 1795-1804 [The Directory and the consulate 1795-1804] (in French). Presses Universitaires de France.
  • Tulard, Jean (1991). Le Directory et le Consulat. History of Socialism in France. France: Presses Universitaires de France. ISBN 978-2130439806. OCLC 802676216.
  • Woronoff, Denis (2004). La République bourgeoise de Thermidor à Brumaire 1794-1799. France: Éditions du Seuil. ISBN 978-2757846704. OCLC 1191043797.
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