French Charte Constitutionnelle [Constitutional Charter] of 1814

Historical Context Note

Ian Morrison (Independent Scholar - Europe)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.5.2.05: French Writing and Culture: The Nineteenth-Century , 1800-1900.
Vol. editors: David Elwyn Evans (University of St Andrews), Edward Forman (University of Bristol), Elisabeth Gerwin (University of Lethbridge), Nigel Harkness (University of Newcastle upon Tyne), Tim Unwin (University of Bristol), David Williams (University of Sheffield), Jennifer Yee (University of Oxford)

Domains

Regulation of government and electoral processes

Dates

Date of occurrence 1814-06-04

Places

France (Location)

Resources

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On his restoration to power in 1814, Louis XVIII issued a constitution, the

CharteConstitutionnelle

. In his Preamble, he wrote that the

Charte

was his response his subjects’ changed outlook and their wish for a new constitution. He declared also that he was granting the

Charte

as King by divine right, and purely by his royal authority; in short, he claimed to be using his God-given sovereignty. He also undertook, for himself and on behalf of his successors, to maintain this settlement permanently (Rials, 48-49). However, while the Preamble reasserts Louis’s sovereignty, the detailed provisions of the

Charte

(articles 13-56) institute a parliament which in practice would make the laws. This is arguably a surrender of sovereignty (a surrender of the ultimate political authority). But…

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557 words

Citation: Morrison, Ian. "French Charte Constitutionnelle [Constitutional Charter] of 1814". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 12 December 2022 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=13747, accessed 25 November 2024.]

French Charte Constitutionnelle [Constitutional Charter] of 1814

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