Chambre introuvable
Encyclopedia
La Chambre introuvable (French
: Unobtainable Chamber) was the first Chamber of Deputies
elected after the Second Bourbon Restoration
in 1815. It was dominated by Ultra-royalists who completely refused to accept the results of the French Revolution
. The name was coined by King Louis XVIII of France
.
The elections, held on August 14, 1815 under census suffrage and under the impact of the "White Terror
", produced a heavy Ultra-royalist majority: 350 of the 402 members were Ultra-royalists.
The "Unobtainable Chamber", which was first assembled on October 7, 1815, was characterized by its zeal in favour of the aristocracy
and the clergy
and aimed at reestablishing the Ancien Régime. The Chambre introuvable voted the establishment of military provost-marshal
courts and banished all of the Conventionnels who had voted for Louis XVI's execution.
Louis XVIII, confronted with rising discontent in French society, followed the counsels of the Duc de Richelieu
, prime minister since September 1815, the Duke of Wellington
, the British commander of the occupation troops, and the Russian ambassador Pozzo di Borgo, and dissolved the Chamber on September 5, 1816.
The subsequent elections resulted in the Ultras being temporarily replaced by the more liberal Doctrinaires
, who attempted to reconcile the Revolution's legacy with the monarchy.
When under the government of Jean-Baptiste, comte de Villèle
, the Ultra-royalists resumed the majority in the chamber in December 1823, this chamber was dubbed Chambre retrouvée, the "Recovered Chamber", in reference to the Chambre introuvable.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Unobtainable Chamber) was the first Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies of France
Chamber of Deputies was the name given to several parliamentary bodies in France in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries:* 1814–1848 during the Bourbon Restoration and the July Monarchy, the Chamber of Deputies was the Lower chamber of the French Parliament, elected by census suffrage.*...
elected after the Second Bourbon Restoration
Bourbon Restoration
The Bourbon Restoration is the name given to the period following the successive events of the French Revolution , the end of the First Republic , and then the forcible end of the First French Empire under Napoleon – when a coalition of European powers restored by arms the monarchy to the...
in 1815. It was dominated by Ultra-royalists who completely refused to accept the results of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. The name was coined by King Louis XVIII of France
Louis XVIII of France
Louis XVIII , known as "the Unavoidable", was King of France and of Navarre from 1814 to 1824, omitting the Hundred Days in 1815...
.
The elections, held on August 14, 1815 under census suffrage and under the impact of the "White Terror
White Terror
White Terror is the violence carried out by reactionary groups as part of a counter-revolution. In particular, during the 20th century, in several countries the term White Terror was applied to acts of violence against real or suspected socialists and communists.-Historical origin: the French...
", produced a heavy Ultra-royalist majority: 350 of the 402 members were Ultra-royalists.
The "Unobtainable Chamber", which was first assembled on October 7, 1815, was characterized by its zeal in favour of the aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
and the clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
and aimed at reestablishing the Ancien Régime. The Chambre introuvable voted the establishment of military provost-marshal
Provost Marshal
The Provost Marshal is the officer in the armed forces who is in charge of the military police .There may be a Provost Marshal serving at many levels of the hierarchy and he may also be the public safety officer of a military installation, responsible for the provision of fire, gate security, and...
courts and banished all of the Conventionnels who had voted for Louis XVI's execution.
Louis XVIII, confronted with rising discontent in French society, followed the counsels of the Duc de Richelieu
Armand-Emmanuel du Plessis, Duc de Richelieu
Armand Emmanuel Sophie Septimanie de Vignerot du Plessis, 5th Duke of Richelieu was a prominent French statesman during the Bourbon Restoration...
, prime minister since September 1815, the Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
, the British commander of the occupation troops, and the Russian ambassador Pozzo di Borgo, and dissolved the Chamber on September 5, 1816.
The subsequent elections resulted in the Ultras being temporarily replaced by the more liberal Doctrinaires
Doctrinaires
Doctrinaires was the name given during the Bourbon Restoration to the little group of French Royalists who hoped to reconcile the Monarchy with the Revolution, and power with liberty...
, who attempted to reconcile the Revolution's legacy with the monarchy.
When under the government of Jean-Baptiste, comte de Villèle
Jean-Baptiste Guillaume Joseph, comte de Villèle
Jean-Baptiste Guillaume Joseph Marie Anne Séraphin, comte de Villèle , was a French statesman. Several time Prime minister, he was a leader of the Ultra-royalist faction during the Bourbon Restoration.- Youth :...
, the Ultra-royalists resumed the majority in the chamber in December 1823, this chamber was dubbed Chambre retrouvée, the "Recovered Chamber", in reference to the Chambre introuvable.
See also
- France in the nineteenth centuryFrance in the nineteenth centuryThe History of France from 1789 to 1914 extends from the French Revolution to World War I and includes:*French Revolution *French First Republic *First French Empire under Napoleon...
- Bourbon RestorationBourbon RestorationThe Bourbon Restoration is the name given to the period following the successive events of the French Revolution , the end of the First Republic , and then the forcible end of the First French Empire under Napoleon – when a coalition of European powers restored by arms the monarchy to the...