French Third Restoration

The Third Restoration refers to an unsuccessful attempt in 1873 to restore the monarchy in France following the collapse of the Second Empire and the political instability of the early Third Republic. This effort, led by royalists, sought to crown Henri d'Artois, Count of Chambord, as king, but ultimately failed due to political divisions and Henri's refusal to compromise on key symbols such as the tricolor flag.

Background

After the fall of Napoleon III in 1870, France faced political fragmentation. In the 1871 legislative elections, royalists won a majority in the National Assembly, with a split between Legitimists supporting Henri d'Artois and Orléanists backing Philippe d'Orléans, Count of Paris. The Orléanists agreed to support the Count of Chambord's claim to the throne, with the expectation that upon his death, with him lacking any sons, he would be succeeded by their own claimant, Prince Philippe, Count of Paris.

Restoration plan

Henri d'Artois, known to his supporters as "Henri V," returned to France and expressed willingness to ascend the throne under a monarchy. However, Henri insisted that he would accept the crown only on condition that France abandon its tricolour flag (associated with the French Revolution) and return to the use of the ''fleur de lys'' flag, comprising the historic royal arms of France. He declared, "I will not abandon the white flag, which has been the symbol of French honor and monarchy." His unwavering insistence on reinstating the white Bourbon flag instead of retaining the republican tricolor flag alienated moderate supporters and Orléanists.

Despite efforts by royalist leaders, including Patrice de Mac Mahon, the monarchist factions could not reconcile their differences. Henry rejected a compromise whereby the ''fleur-de-lys'' would be the new king's personal standard, and the tricolour would remain the national flag. Pope Pius IX, upon hearing Henri's decision, notably remarked "And all that, all that for a napkin!"

1873 Attempt

In 1873 another attempt to restore the monarchy failed for the same reasons. Henri traveled to Paris and tried to negotiate with the government, to no avail; and on 20 November, the National Assembly confirmed Mac Mahon as President of France for the next seven years.Gabriel de Broglie, ''Mac Mahon,'' Paris, Perrin, 2000, pp. 247–251.

Without broad political consensus, the National Assembly dissolved the royalist commission on 31 October 1873, ending the immediate prospects for restoration.

Cementing the Republic

The failure of the restoration solidified the Third Republic, especially after the Constitutional Laws of 1875 established a framework for republican governance. The 1877 legislative elections further weakened royalist influence, and by 1879, the election of a republican Senate and the resignation of Mac Mahon marked the definitive decline of monarchist aspirations.

Extinguishing the Legitimist Claim

Upon the Count of Chambord's death, the Orleanist claimant Phillippe Count of Paris was recognized by most monarchists as Philippe VII of France. This succession was disputed by the Carlist descendants of the Bourbon kings of Spain, who argued that being descended directly from Louis XIV their claim was greater than that of the Orléanists'; however, this argument was weakened by Philip V of Spain's renunciation of his and his descendants' claim to the French throne pursuant to the Treaty of Utrecht.

References

{{reflist

1873 in France
History of France
Monarchism in France
Bourbon Restoration
French Third Republic