Events from the year 1870 in France.

Incumbents

Napoleon III Napoleon III (Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte; 20 April 18089 January 1873) was the first President of France (as Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte) from 1848 to 1852 and the last monarch of France as Emperor of the French from 1852 to 1870. A neph ...

(abdicates 4 September, monarchy abolished)

Events

*February - Denis Vrain-Lucas is sentenced to 2 years in prison for multiple forgery, in Paris. *20 April -

Constitutional referendum A referendum (plural: referendums or less commonly referenda) is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of a ...

reaffirms the status of the

Second French Empire The Second French Empire (; officially the French Empire, ), was the 18-year Imperial Bonapartist regime of Napoleon III from 14 January 1852 to 27 October 1870, between the Second and the Third Republic of France. Historians in the 1930s ...

. *14 July - Ems Dispatch published, serving as a '' casus belli'' for war between France and

Prussia Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an e ...

. *15 July - French army mobilizes. *16 July - Corps législatif votes to declare war on Prussia. *19 July - France declares war on Prussia: opening of the Franco-Prussian War. *4 August - Battle of Wissembourg: Prussian forces overwhelm the French garrison at Wissembourg. *6 August **

Battle of Spicheren The Battle of Spicheren, also known as the ''Battle of Forbach'', was a battle during the Franco-Prussian War. The German victory compelled the French to withdraw to the defenses of Metz. The Battle of Spicheren, on 6 August, was the second o ...

, near Saarbrücken: Prussian victory. **

Battle of Wörth The Battle of Wörth, also known as the Battle of Reichshoffen or as the Battle of Frœschwiller, refers to the second battle of Wörth, which took place on 6 August 1870 in the opening stages of the Franco-Prussian War (the first Battle of ...

: decisive Prussian victory. *14 August -

Battle of Borny-Colombey A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...

: Prussian victory; French retreat upon

Metz Metz ( , , lat, Divodurum Mediomatricorum, then ) is a city in northeast France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers. Metz is the prefecture of the Moselle department and the seat of the parliament of the Grand ...

. *15 August - Siege of Strasbourg begins. *16 August - Battle of Mars-la-Tour: Prussian victory. *18 August - Battle of Gravelotte: Prussian victory. *30 August - Battle of Beaumont: Prussian victory. *31 August - Battle of Noiseville: Prussian victory. *1–2 September -

Battle of Sedan The Battle of Sedan was fought during the Franco-Prussian War from 1 to 2 September 1870. Resulting in the capture of Emperor Napoleon III and over a hundred thousand troops, it effectively decided the war in favour of Prussia and its allies, ...

: decisive Prussian victory.

surrenders himself and the entire Army of Châlons and declares the Second Empire dissolved. *3 September - Siege of Metz begins with French forces besieged. *4 September - Third Republic declared in Paris. Government of National Defense established. Empress Eugenie flees to England with her

son A son is a male offspring; a boy or a man in relation to his parents. The female counterpart is a daughter. From a biological perspective, a son constitutes a first degree relative. Social issues In pre-industrial societies and some curren ...

. *19 September - Siege of Paris begins. *27–30 September - Battle of Le Bourget, part of the siege of Paris: Prussian victory. *28 September - Siege of Strasbourg ends with French surrender. *30 September -

Battle of Chevilly The Battle of Chevilly was fought during the siege of Paris. The battle was the second French sortie from Paris against the German armies. On 30 September 1870 General Joseph Vinoy attacked the Prussian VI Corps at Chevilly and was easily r ...

, part of the siege of Paris: Prussian victory. *8 October - Leon Michel Gambetta escapes besieged Paris in a hot-air balloon. *18 October - Battle of Bellevue, near Metz: Prussian victory. *23 October - Siege of Metz ends with French surrender. *3 November - Siege of Belfort begins with French troops besieged. *9 November -

Battle of Coulmiers The Battle of Coulmiers was fought on 9 November 1870 between French and Bavarian forces during the Franco-Prussian War, ending in French victory. The struggle The Army of the Loire, under General D'Aurelle de Paladines, surprised a Bavaria ...

: French victory over Bavarian forces. *11 November - French retake Orléans. *27 November - Battle of Amiens: Prussian victory. *28 November -

Battle of Beaune-la-Rolande The Battle of Beaune-la-Rolande on 28 November 1870 was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War, won by Prussia. In an attempt to relieve the Siege of Paris, French General Crouzat's XX Corps launched an attack against three Prussian brigades resting ...

: Prussian victory. *29 November - Battle of Villiers, largest of the French sorties from besieged Paris, begins. *2 December - Battle of Loigny-Poupry, Prussian victory. *3 December - Battle of Villiers ends with Prussian victory. *3–4 December - Second Battle of Orléans: Prussians recapture Orléans. *23–24 December -

Battle of Hallue The Battle of Hallue was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War on 23 and 24 December 1870. The battle was fought between 40,000 French under General Louis Faidherbe and 22,500 Prussian troops under Edwin Freiherr von Manteuffel. The French lost ...

results in stalemate.

Arts and literature

*February - Sculptor

Aimé Millet Aimé Millet (September 28, 1819 – January 14, 1891) was a noted French sculptor, who was born and died in Paris. Millet was the son of miniaturist Frédéric Millet (1796–1859) and uncle to Chicago architectural decorator Julian Louis ...

is appointed professor at the École des Arts décoratifs. *25 May -

Léo Delibes Clément Philibert Léo Delibes (; 21 February 1836 – 16 January 1891) was a French Romantic composer, best known for his ballets and operas. His works include the ballets ''Coppélia'' (1870) and '' Sylvia'' (1876) and the opera ''Lakm� ...

ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form ...

Coppélia ''Coppélia'' (sometimes subtitled: ''La Fille aux Yeux d'Émail'' (The Girl with the Enamel Eyes)) is a comic ballet from 1870 originally choreographed by Arthur Saint-Léon to the music of Léo Delibes, with libretto by Charles-Louis-Étie ...

'' debuts at the

Théâtre Impérial de l'Opéra The Paris Opera (, ) is the primary opera and ballet company of France. It was founded in 1669 by Louis XIV as the , and shortly thereafter was placed under the leadership of Jean-Baptiste Lully and officially renamed the , but continued to be k ...

at the

Salle Le Peletier The Salle Le Peletier or Lepeletier (sometimes referred to as the Salle de la rue Le Peletier or the Opéra Le Peletier) was the home of the Paris Opera from 1821 until the building was destroyed by fire in 1873. The theatre was designed and con ...

in Paris. *28 June -

Claude Monet Oscar-Claude Monet (, , ; 14 November 1840 – 5 December 1926) was a French painter and founder of impressionist painting who is seen as a key precursor to modernism, especially in his attempts to paint nature as he perceived it. During ...

marries his mistress and model

Camille Doncieux Camille-Léonie Doncieux (; 15 January 1847 – 5 September 1879) was the first wife of French painter Claude Monet, with whom she had two sons. She was the subject of a number of paintings by Monet, as well as Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Édoua ...

in Paris;

Gustave Courbet Jean Désiré Gustave Courbet ( , , ; 10 June 1819 – 31 December 1877) was a French painter who led the Realism movement in 19th-century French painting. Committed to painting only what he could see, he rejected academic convention and ...

is a witness.

Births

*25 January -

Henry Bordeaux Henry Bordeaux (25 January 1870 – 29 March 1963) was a French writer and lawyer. Bordeaux came from a family of lawyers of Savoy. He was born in Thonon-les-Bains, Haute-Savoie. His grandfather was a magistrate and his father served on the Chamb ...

, writer and lawyer (died 1963) *28 April -

Frédéric Justin Collet Frédéric Justin Collet (28 April 1870 – 1966) was a French pathologist and otolaryngologist. He studied medicine in Lyon, where he had as instructors Raphaël Lépine (1851–1919), and Antonin Poncet (1849–1913). In 1894 he obtained his ...

pathologist Pathology is the study of the causes and effects of disease or injury. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in th ...

and otolaryngologist (died 1966) *20 June -

Georges Dufrénoy Georges Dufrénoy (June 20, 1870December 9, 1943) was a French post-Impressionist painter associated with Fauvism. Biography He was born in Thiais, France. His family lived at 2 Place des Vosges in Paris in a historic 17th-century building in wh ...

, post-impressionist painter (died 1943) *27 July -

Hilaire Belloc Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc (, ; 27 July 187016 July 1953) was a Franco-English writer and historian of the early twentieth century. Belloc was also an orator, poet, sailor, satirist, writer of letters, soldier, and political activist. ...

, French-born English man of letters (died

1953 in the United Kingdom Events from the year 1953 in the United Kingdom. This is the year of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the North Sea flood. Incumbents * Monarch – Elizabeth II * Prime Minister – Winston Churchill (Conservative) * Parliament � ...

) *24 September - Georges Claude, engineer, chemist and inventor (died

1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism. Events January * Ja ...

) *30 September - Jean Baptiste Perrin,

physicist A physicist is a scientist who specializes in the field of physics, which encompasses the interactions of matter and energy at all length and time scales in the physical universe. Physicists generally are interested in the root or ultimate cau ...

and Nobel laureate (died 1942) *8 October - Louis Vierne, organist and composer (died 1937) *10 December - Mary Bonaparte, eldest daughter of Prince Napoléon Bonaparte of Canino (died 1947)

Deaths

January to June

*19 January -

Jean-Baptiste Troppmann Jean-Baptiste Troppmann (October 5, 1849 – January 19, 1870) was a French spree killer who between August 24 and September 19, 1869, murdered eight members of the Kinck family, including six children aged between 2 and 16 years old, in order ...

, spree killer, executed (born 1849) *1 February -

Auguste Regnaud de Saint-Jean d'Angély Auguste Michel Étienne Regnaud de Saint-Jean d'Angély, later 2nd Count Regnaud de Saint-Jean d'Angély (30 July 1794, Paris – 1 February 1870 Cannes) was a Marshal of France, soldier and politician. Biography Auguste was the illegitimate son ...

Marshal of France Marshal of France (french: Maréchal de France, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished ( ...

(born 1794) *19 February -

Nathaniel de Rothschild Nathaniel de Rothschild (1812–1870), was a businessman, banker and winemaker. He established the Château Mouton Rothschild. Biography Early life Nathaniel de Rothschild was born on 2 July 1812 in London. He was the fourth child of Natha ...

, founder of the wine-making branch of the Rothschild family (born 1812) *20 June -

Jules de Goncourt Jules Alfred Huot de Goncourt (; 17 December 183020 June 1870) was a French writer, who published books together with his brother Edmond. Jules was born and died in Paris. His death at the age of 39 was at Auteuil-Neuilly-Passy of a stroke br ...

, writer (born

1830 It is known in European history as a rather tumultuous year with the Revolutions of 1830 in France, Belgium, Poland, Switzerland and Italy. Events January–March * January 11 – LaGrange College (later the University of North Alabama) b ...

)

July to December

*15 August -

Ardant du Picq Charles Jean Jacques Joseph Ardant du Picq (19 October 1821 – 18 August 1870) was a French Army officer and military theorist of the mid-nineteenth century whose writings, as they were later interpreted by other theorists, had a great effe ...

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...

and

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

theorist (born 1819) *2 September -

Charles Joseph, comte de Flahaut Auguste-Charles-Joseph de Flahaut de La Billarderie, comte de Flahaut (21 April 17851 September 1870) was a French general during the Napoleonic Wars, a statesman, and late in life French ambassador to the Court of St James's. Biography He was ...

, general and statesman (born 1785) *23 September - Prosper Mérimée, dramatist, historian and archaeologist (born 1803) *25 October - Etienne-Michel Faillon,

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: * Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD * Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...

historian (born 1800) *28 October -

Jean-Pierre Falret Jean-Pierre Falret (; 26 April 1794 – 28 October 1870) was a French psychiatrist. He was born and died in Marcilhac-sur-Célé.

, psychiatrist (born 1794) *29 October -

Jules Baroche Pierre Jules Baroche (18 November 1802, Paris29 October 1870, Jersey) was a French statesman, who served as minister in several of Napoleon III's governments. He was Minister of the Interior from 15 March 1850 to 24 January 1851, Minister of Forei ...

, statesman and Minister (born 1802) *24 November -

Comte de Lautréamont Comte de Lautréamont () was the ''nom de plume'' of Isidore Lucien Ducasse (4 April 1846 – 24 November 1870), a French poet born in Uruguay. His only works, '' Les Chants de Maldoror'' and ''Poésies'', had a major influence on modern art ...

, poet (born 1846 in Uruguay) *28 November - Frédéric Bazille, painter, killed in action (born 1841) *5 December - Alexandre Dumas, père, writer (born 1802) *26 December - Marie Dominique Bouix, Jesuit canon lawyer (born 1808)

Full date unknown

* Jacques-François Ochard, painter (born 1800)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1870 In France 1870s in France