After five years of turmoil, France needed a government. But how? With the Republic increasingly controlled by “rogues and scoundrels,” the battle was on for the Revolution’s future. Assailed from all sides, the Committee of Public Safety emerged triumphant.
This episode traces Robespierre’s parliamentary victory of 25 September 1793, Saint-Just’s decree of “Revolutionary Government” on 10 October 1793, and the Convention’s decision to remain “until the peace.” From foreign plots and factional struggles to the subordination of ministers and generals, discover how dissent became treason as the Revolution laid the foundations for both survival and dictatorship.
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Become a True Revolutionary and listen now to Episode 101: The Foreign Plot!
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Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an ad-free feed, a community discord, a reading club, and tonnes of exclusive bonus content, you're missing out! Do your part for as little as half a cup of coffee per episode! It's the best value on the internet, with the best people too!
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About
Grey History: The French Revolution and Napoleon is a podcast dedicated to exploring the complexities of our history. By examining both the experiences of contemporaries and the conclusions of historians, Grey History seeks to unpack the ambiguities and nuances of the past. Understanding the French Revolution and the age of Napoleon Bonaparte is critical to understanding the history of the world, so join us on a journey through a series of events that would be almost unbelievable if it weren't for the fact that it's true! If you're looking for a binge-worthy history podcast on the Revolution and Napoleon, you're in the right place!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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2026 France Tours - Your Feedback Is Needed!
Explore France in 2026!This is your chance to experience French history together in person. Please complete the short survey to help design the first Grey History Tours. Everyone who takes part will be eligible for exclusive discounts when the tours are announced.
Take the survey HERE. It will take less than 5 minutes and it's almost all multiple choice!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B8WPLTG
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1.99 English & French Revolutions with History of England Part II
From influence to imitation, the discussion continues with David Crowther of The History of England podcast. We also explore how the English Revolution influenced events in France, why the revolutions diverged so sharply, and in what ways the new regimes replicated the worst aspects of the old.
Early Access
Become a True Revolutionary and listen now to Episode 100 Revolutionary Until The Peace!
The Grey History Community
Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an ad-free feed, a community discord, a reading club, and tonnes of exclusive bonus content, you're missing out! Do your part for as little as half a cup of coffee per episode! It's the best value on the internet, with the best people too!
Join Now And Support the Show
Make a one-off donation
Contact Me
Send your questions, praise, and scorn here
Newsletter
Sign Up for Free Bonus Episode
Follow on Social Media:
Facebook
Instagram
X
Advertising
Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on Grey History: The French Revolution and Napoleon.
All members of the Grey History Community have an ad-free version of the show. Support the show here.
About
Grey History: The French Revolution and Napoleon is a podcast dedicated to exploring the complexities of our history. By examining both the experiences of contemporaries and the conclusions of historians, Grey History seeks to unpack the ambiguities and nuances of the past. Understanding the French Revolution and the age of Napoleon Bonaparte is critical to understanding the history of the world, so join us on a journey through a series of events that would be almost unbelievable if it weren't for the fact that it's true! If you're looking for a binge-worthy history podcast on the Revolution and Napoleon, you're in the right place!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1.99 English & French Revolutions with History of England Part I
Two kings, two revolutions, and two podcasters ready to unpack it all!
In this collaboration with David Crowther of The History of England, we explore the English and French Revolutions. Part I examines the characters of Charles I and Louis XVI, their trials and missed opportunities, the role of religion, and the constitutional experiments of both upheavals. Part II will continue the discussion, tracing similarities and differences and assessing how the English Revolution influenced events in France.
Video Version
Patreon
Early Access
Become a True Revolutionary and listen now to Episode 100 Revolutionary Until The Peace!
The Grey History Community
Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an ad-free feed, a community discord, a reading club, and tonnes of exclusive bonus content, you're missing out! Do your part for as little as half a cup of coffee per episode! It's the best value on the internet, with the best people too!
Join Now And Support the Show
Make a one-off donation
Contact Me
Send your questions, praise, and scorn here
Newsletter
Sign Up for Free Bonus Episode
Follow on Social Media:
Facebook
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X
Advertising
Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on Grey History: The French Revolution and Napoleon.
All members of the Grey History Community have an ad-free version of the show. Support the show here.
About
Grey History: The French Revolution and Napoleon is a podcast dedicated to exploring the complexities of our history. By examining both the experiences of contemporaries and the conclusions of historians, Grey History seeks to unpack the ambiguities and nuances of the past. Understanding the French Revolution and the age of Napoleon Bonaparte is critical to understanding the history of the world, so join us on a journey through a series of events that would be almost unbelievable if it weren't for the fact that it's true! If you're looking for a binge-worthy history podcast on the Revolution and Napoleon, you're in the right place!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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1.98 Vendée with Jean-Clément Martin
From monsters to myths, this episode unpacks the Vendée with Professor Jean-Clément Martin.
One of the foremost authorities on the civil war, Martin shows how factional politics transformed local unrest into a national catastrophe. We explore how chaos and rivalries drove atrocities, why the conflict cannot be defined as genocide, and why “the Terror” should be seen not as historical reality but as a political invention.
Video Versions:
Patreon
Youtube
Further Reading
La Vendée et la France (1987)
Robespierre. La fabrication d’un monstre (2016)
La Terreur. Vérités et légendes (2017)
“The Vendée, chouannerie, and the State, 1791–99,” in Peter McPhee (ed.), A Companion to the French Revolution (2013)
Vendée In Images
Depictions of key events and leaders
Early Access
Become a True Revolutionary and listen now to Episode 99 English & French Revolutions with History of England.
The Grey History Community
Help keep Grey History on the air! Every revolution needs its supporters, and we need you! With an ad-free feed, a community discord, a reading club, and tonnes of exclusive bonus content, you're missing out! Do your part for as little as half a cup of coffee per episode! It's the best value on the internet, with the best people too!
Join Now And Support the Show
Make a one-off donation
Contact Me
Send your questions, praise, and scorn here
Newsletter
Sign Up for Free Bonus Episode
Follow on Social Media:
Facebook
Instagram
X
Advertising
Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on Grey History: The French Revolution and Napoleon.
All members of the Grey History Community have an ad-free version of the show. Support the show here.
About
Grey History: The French Revolution and Napoleon is a podcast dedicated to exploring the complexities of our history. By examining both the experiences of contemporaries and the conclusions of historians, Grey History seeks to unpack the ambiguities and nuances of the past. Understanding the French Revolution and the age of Napoleon Bonaparte is critical to understanding the history of the world, so join us on a journey through a series of events that would be almost unbelievable if it weren't for the fact that it's true! If you're looking for a binge-worthy history podcast on the Revolution and Napoleon, you're in the right place!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
History isn't black and white, yet too often it's presented as such. Explore the ambiguities and nuances of the French Revolution.
Support the show today: https://www.patreon.com/greyhistory
Ever wondered how the French Revolution started with hope for liberty and equality and descended into the Reign of Terror? Curious as to how the French Revolution still influences your life today? Looking for your next long-form, detailed history podcast recommended by universities and loved by French Revolution and Napoleon enthusiasts? Then Grey History The French Revolution and Napoleon is the history podcast for you!
In the first 12 episodes, we explore the origins of the French Revolution. Starting with French history in the late eighteenth century, the first two episodes examine the Estates of the Realm and the historic reigns of King Louis XIV and King Louis XV. We then dive into French involvement in the American Revolutionary War, and the profound impact this has on the history of France. Taking the time to contrast the experiences of contemporaries and the opinions of historians, we proceed to unpack the fall of the Old Regime (Ancien Régime), including the summoning of the Estates-General, the creation of the National Assembly (later the National Constituent Assembly), and the Tennis Court Oath. Finally, we dive into the dismissal of Jacques Necker and the series of events that triggered the Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789. Along the way, we routinely dive into contentious debates in the history of the French Revolution, before proceeding to examine the period of constitutional monarchy from 1789 to 1792.
From Episodes 13 - 35, Grey History The French Revolution and Napoleon examines the workings of the National Assembly, the Constitution of 1791, and the first year of the Legislative Assembly. This includes contentious debates surrounding the Assembly's religious reforms, including the nationalisation of church property, the issuing of assignats, the closure of monastic orders, and the Civil Constitution of the Clergy. It also includes historic events such as the October Days, the Flight to Varennes, and the declaration of the Revolutionary War. As we unpack the ever-changing events of Paris during the revolutionary era, you'll not only hear from historians from across the ideological spectrum, as well as key participants. This includes Maximilien Robespierre, Georges Danton, Jean-Paul Marat, the Comte de Mirabeau, Abbé Sieyès, Jean-Sylvain Bailly, the Marquis de Lafayette, and of course, the French royals, King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. We'll also examine the factional dynamics emerging in the revolution, including the Jacobins (Montagnards), Girondins (Brissotins), Feuillants, and others. Finally, we will discuss international reactions to the French Revolution, including Edmund Burke's responses as well as those of foreign monarchs.
From Episode 36 onwards, we explore the fall of the monarchy on 10 August 1792, a gruesome and chaotic event that was ironically witnessed by the future French Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte. But, between the overthrow of King Louis XVI and the rise of the Napoleonic Empire a decade later, the history of France is one defined by turmoil, conspiracy, heartbreak, and bloodshed. From the September Massacres of 1792 to the Reign of Terror in 1793 and 1794, the French Revolution is an almost unbelievable tragedy of horror and crime. But, it's also an inspirational story of hope and heroism. Fighting for democratic principles, the French (and later Napoleonic) armies transformed world history forever, along with democratic societies. You absolutely don't want to miss out on the history of the French Revolution and the subsequent age of Napoleon!
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