If France Became A Monarchy?

[ImKevin]

What do you think would happen ?

[cepe]

a revolution shortly afterwards, but less violent than the last one.

[CyrilVladisla]

How would the head of the French monarchy be decided?
Would the new sovereign be the Legitimist claimant to the French throne?
Would the new sovereign be the Orleanist claimant to the French throne?
Would the new sovereign be the Bonapartist claimant to the French throne?

[Blog Real]

I have no idea. I wonder the same thing about my country, Portugal.

But I don't believe that France will be a monarchy.

[miss whirley]

Originally Posted by CyrilVladisla

How would the head of the French monarchy be decided?
Would the new sovereign be the Legitimist claimant to the French throne?
Would the new sovereign be the Orleanist claimant to the French throne?
Would the new sovereign be the Bonapartist claimant to the French throne?

I don't think any of these people would volunteer for the dubious honor of being a royal. Sacrifice all your privacy, dignity and peace of mind just to become a public punching-bag. No Thanks!

If I were them I would be throwing yearly liberation parties to celebrate my private citizenship.

[Ish]

Originally Posted by cepe

a revolution shortly afterwards, but less violent than the last one.

I would doubt it.

If a restoration were to happen in most European realms it would very likely be the result of some form of referendum - in essence the people standing up and saying they want the monarchy back. This isn't likely to face a revolution, not if the referendum wins by a clear majority, and if it did... Well, that would likely be a bloody political coupe, but that doesn't seem to be how politics works in most parts of Europe anymore.

I think it's unlikely that a restoration would happen in France for many reasons though - France has been a republic for too long, the people who have claims to the throne do so rather dubiously, and there are too many claimants in order for the monarchist cause to be united enough to gain momentum. It was different in the 19th century when the people putting themselves forward for the role were actually closely related to those who had held the role already (and foreign powers were willing to interfere).

[HereditaryPrincess]

Originally Posted by miss whirley

I don't think any of these people would volunteer for the dubious honor of being a royal. Sacrifice all your privacy, dignity and peace of mind just to become a public punching-bag. No Thanks!

If I were them I would be throwing yearly liberation parties to celebrate my private citizenship.

But, let's not forget that "these people" are already French Royals, albeit defunct. The Legitimist claimant is the Duke of Anjou, whilst the Orleanist Claimant is the Comte de Paris, and the Bonaparte Claimant is the Prince Napoleon. Even though the Duke of Anjou lives in Spain with his family (his father was a cousin of the former King Juan Carlos of Spain), they all have some idea of what it's like to be a royal in France.

It would be fascinating to see what would happen if France were to become a monarchy again, and who would assume the throne. I wonder how well known the French Royals are in France (ie. who is the more famous family out of the three claimants), and how popular they are over each other. When I went on a recent visit to the South West of France, I stayed in an area that was quite royalist as the magazines featured the Duke of Vendome and his family on the front cover in connection with the presentation and christening of Princess Louise-Marguerite. A sign in the local church said that despite the general French views on royalty, the village have always been royalists at heart, even during the revolution.

As Ish has said, France has been a republic for too long now and what with the revolution and all that, I doubt they would want to go back to the old days. I doubt there will be another revolution if the French monarchy ever does get restored, as the attitude towards royalty might have changed. European Royalty gets featured on a lot of French magazines (think Paris Match, People etc), and there are even French magazines devoted just to the royals.

It would be interesting to hear our French posters' views on this subject.

[JR76]

One can never be to sure but to me the hopes of restoration died with the previous Count and Countess of Paris. Compared to their son and grandsons they led a truly royal lifestyle and was accorded the prestige that came with their supposed position. The countess for instance was the true queen of Paris society for most of her life and was treated as an unofficial First Lady by most people. All this is off course my own opinion but based on what I've read and heard.


Sent from my iPhone using The Royals Community mobile app

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by CyrilVladisla

How would the head of the French monarchy be decided?
Would the new sovereign be the Legitimist claimant to the French throne?
Would the new sovereign be the Orleanist claimant to the French throne?
Would the new sovereign be the Bonapartist claimant to the French throne?

I doubt France will ever be a monarchy again, but, if it were, the Orleanist pretender would probably be chosen as monarch given that he is the legitimate heir following Philip V's renunciation of his succession rights in France upon being recognized King of Spain and the later demise of Henri of Artois, the last known male descendant in male line of the senior branch of House of Bourbon who had ruled France since Henri IV.

[Muhler]

Wouldn't a referendum about choosing among the most suitable (and willing) clairmants/candidates/whatever be a logic solution?

[XeniaCasaraghi]

They'd end up getting rid of them again like the last 10x. In all seriousness what is the point of going backwards? France is one place that does not need help with tourism or a global mascot. I don't know how long they've been a republic but it seems to be working fine for them.

[wyevale]

The possibility of any restoration [of any claimant] to the Throne of France is infinitesimally small, since the Republican establishment is so heavily dependant on maintaining the 'status quo'.The whole ethos of society and education is predicated on the maintenance of the way things ARE.

French children are indoctrinated from birth [and throughout school] with the founding revolutionary myth of 'liberty, equality & fraternity', and the absolute moral rightness of republican 'virtue' as opposed to the evil of the Ancien Regime. Until very recently dissenting voices [questioning the justice of the events of 1789-93] were taboo, and are still howled down as reactionary.

In very much the same way as the US does with its own Revolution, France fetishises this phase, as cathartic & 'cleansing' [ a cursory look at the words of the 'Marseillaise', tells you all you need to know about how Royalists ,and monarchism are portrayed there..] '

To arms citizens Form your battalions
March, march
Let impure blood
Water our furrows
What do they want this horde of slaves
Of traitors and conspiratorial kings?
For whom these vile chains
These long-prepared irons?
Frenchmen, for us, ah! What outrage
What methods must be taken?
It is us they dare plan
To return to the old slavery!'


Enough said..


Restoration is an interesting, and enjoyable fantasy, but a fantasy nonetheless.

[Andy T]

It won't happen. "La République" is, for most French people, synonymous with democracy and this view is reinforced by the media and the state.

[listysimona]

I have no idea.

[Kitty1224]

What about now?

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Kitty1224

What about now?

In what sense? Has anything happened in the last few years to make you feel that the Republic is not likely to last?

[Friedrich Karl II]

Any monarchist restoration, not matter is that Legitimists, Orleanists or Bonapartes, is currently very implausible. France is strongly republican and last monarch has ousted almost 150 years ago. It is very long time so not chances for this. In early 20th century it might had been possible in right circumstances but probably any possibility died after WW2. Not sure if even current claimants of Legitimists, Orlanists and Bonapartes believe for that.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Denville

In what sense? Has anything happened in the last few years to make you feel that the Republic is not likely to last?

When Antoine Griezmann shouts in the world's camera "Vive la France! Vive la République!" after winning the World Cup, when people spontaneous burst into chanting La Marseillaise (a revolutionary song) and when at e-ve-ry police station, prefecture, mairie and department we see the tricolore with Liberté - Égalité - Fraternité, it is hard to imagine the Fleur-de-Lys waving again. It will never happen.

[QueenEmpath]

Taking about French Royalty, what happened to Louis XVI of France and Marie Antonette's descendants after French Revolution?

[Elektra]

They have no direct descendants unfortunately.

Their son and heir little Louis XVII died of tuberculosis aged ten, in June 1795.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XVII_of_France

Their daughter Marie Thérèse Charlotte (titled Madame Royale) survived three years of being a prisoner in the Temple. the revolutionaries sent her to Austria in 1795 by exchanging her with French prisoners. She later married in exile her cousin the Duke of Angoulême but they had no issue. She only came back to France in 1815 when her uncle became the new King Louis XVIII. She went to exile a final time after the 1830 revolution and died in 1851 at Frohsdorf Castle in Austria.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_...A8se_of_France

So there are no direct descendants of them.