Podcast thumbnail for The Story of France: Revolution, Empire, and National Identity — Fexingo History

The Story of France: Revolution, Empire, and National Identity — Fexingo History

Claim This Podcast

by Fexingo

187 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas Sponsors

Podcast Overview

France: a name that conjures visions of Gothic cathedrals and revolutionary barricades, of absolute monarchy and republican ideals. In this series, Lucas and Luna guide listeners through the layered narrative of a nation that shaped the modern world. From the coronation of Clovis in 496 to the secular state of laïcité, each episode unpacks a pivotal moment: the Capetian consolidation of royal power, the Hundred Years' War and Joan of Arc, the Wars of Religion that tore the kingdom apart, the Sun King's Versailles, the Enlightenment salons that brewed revolution, the storming of the Bastille, the Terror of 1793–94, Napoleon's conquests and his legal code, the Restoration, the Paris Commune, the Dreyfus Affair, Vichy collaboration, and the contentious construction of European unity. We examine the contradictions: liberty and centralisation, reason and faith, empire and republic. Why did France, the most powerful kingdom in Europe, collapse into revolution? How did the tricolour and the Marseillaise become global symbols? What does it mean to be French today, when the hexagon is a multi-ethnic republic still debating its colonial past? This is a story of ideas as much as battles—a conversation about national identity forged in crisis and creativity. The Eiffel Tower, the baguette, the beret: clichés that mask a deeper, often painful history. Join us as we trace the arc from Gaul to the Fifth Republic, a journey that asks what a nation is—and what it can become. #FrenchRevolution #NapoleonBonaparte #LouisXIV #JoanOfArc #VichyFrance #DreyfusAffair #Versailles #TheTerror #ParisCommune #HundredYearsWar #Tricolour #Laicite #SunKing #NapoleonicCode #HistoryOfFrance #FexingoHistory #WorldHistory #EuropeanHistory Keep every episode free: <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo">buymeacoffee.com/fexingo</a>

Language

🇺🇲

Publishing Since

4/23/2026

2 verified contact emails on file for The Story of France: Revolution, Empire, and National Identity — Fexingo History

Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.

Recent Episodes

Episode thumbnail for The Paris Commune: France's Radical Experiment in Self-Rule

August 12, 2026

The Paris Commune: France's Radical Experiment in Self-Rule

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Paris Commune of 1871—a brief, radical uprising that seized the French capital after the Franco-Prussian War and the fall of the Second Empire. They trace the spark from the Siege of Paris and the National Guard's defiant cannons on Montmartre, to the election of a revolutionary council and its ambitious decrees on workers' self-management, secular education, and women's rights. The conversation centers on key figures like Louise Michel, the 'Red Virgin,' and Adolphe Thiers, the conservative president who ordered the army to crush the uprising. Lucas recounts the brutal 'Bloody Week' in May 1871, when tens of thousands were killed, and reflects on the Commune's legacy—from Marx's writings to the establishment of the Third Republic and the building of the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur as a symbol of national penance. The episode weighs the Commune's ideals against its violent end, asking what its brief experiment still teaches us about democracy and revolution. #ParisCommune #1871 #LouiseMichel #AdolpheThiers #BloodyWeek #Montmartre #NationalGuard #ThirdRepublic #SacréCœur #KarlMarx #Séance #Versailles #Paris #France #Revolution #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo">buymeacoffee.com/fexingo</a>

Episode thumbnail for The Vendée: Civil War in Revolutionary France

August 11, 2026

The Vendée: Civil War in Revolutionary France

In 1793, revolutionary France faced a new enemy: its own people. This episode explores the War in the Vendée, a brutal civil war that erupted when rural peasants, priests, and nobles rose against conscription and revolutionary religious reforms. Lucas and Luna trace the revolt from its spark in the village of Saint-Florent-le-Vieil to the shocking outcome at Savenay, where Republican forces crushed the insurgent army. They discuss the charismatic leader Henri de la Rochejaquelein, the guerrillas' stunning victories at Thouars and Fontenay-le-Comte, and the devastating scorched-earth tactics of General Turreau's infernal columns. The episode also confronts the Republic's deportation decrees and the Vendée's disputed death toll, which some historians have called genocide. Through firsthand accounts and nuanced debate, Lucas and Luna shed light on a chapter that complicates the Revolution's legacy of liberty, equality, and fraternity. #Vendée #FrenchRevolution #CivilWar #HenriDeLaRochejaquelein #Turreau #InfernalColumns #ReignOfTerror #Catholicism #Conscription #CounterRevolution #GuerrillaWarfare #France #18thCentury #History #FexingoHistory #RevolutionaryWars #CivilConflict #FrenchHistory Keep every episode free: <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo">buymeacoffee.com/fexingo</a>

Episode thumbnail for The Bastille: Myth, Memory, and the Storming of 1789

August 10, 2026

The Bastille: Myth, Memory, and the Storming of 1789

In this milestone episode, Lucas and Luna dig into the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789 — not just the event itself, but the layers of myth and memory that turned an old fortress-prison into the symbol of the French Revolution. They separate the grim reality of the prison (only seven inmates, none of them political celebrities) from the explosive popular fury that made it a target. They walk through the day itself: the crowds at the Invalides seizing muskets, the tense negotiations at the Bastille with Governor Bernard-René de Launay, the gunfire that sparked chaos, and the brutal aftermath that ended with de Launay's death. Lucas explains how the revolutionaries themselves spun the story — from the fake 'prisoners freed' to the key to the Bastille sent to George Washington — and how the site was deliberately dismantled piece by piece, becoming both a relic and a rallying point. They also touch on the later controversies: the 1830s demolition of the Bastille's remains, the July Column built over its foundations, and the modern debates about what the Bastille actually meant. The episode ends with a reflective question about what we choose to remember and why, tying the Bastille's legacy to today's politics of memory. #Bastille #FrenchRevolution #1789 #July14 #StormingOfTheBastille #BernardRenéDeLaunay #KeyToTheBastille #GeorgeWashington #JulyColumn #PlaceDeLaBastille #RevolutionaryMemory #Prison #Fortress #Paris #RevolutionarySymbol #History #FexingoHistory #France Keep every episode free: <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo">buymeacoffee.com/fexingo</a>

187 total episodes available

Deep-dive analytics for The Story of France: Revolution, Empire, and National Identity — Fexingo History

Frequently asked questions

Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

What is The Story of France: Revolution, Empire, and National Identity — Fexingo History?

France: a name that conjures visions of Gothic cathedrals and revolutionary barricades, of absolute monarchy and republican ideals. In this series, Lucas and Luna guide listeners through the layered narrative of a nation that shaped the modern world. From the coronation of Clovis in 496 to the secular state of laïcité, each episode unpacks a pivotal moment: the Capetian consolidation of royal power, the Hundred Years' War and Joan of Arc, the Wars of Religion that tore the kingdom apart, the Sun King's Versailles, the Enlightenment salons that brewed revolution, the storming of the Bastille, the Terror of 1793–94, Napoleon's conquests and his legal code, the Restoration, the Paris Commune, the Dreyfus Affair, Vichy collaboration, and the contentious construction of European unity. We examine the contradictions: liberty and centralisation, reason and faith, empire and republic. Why did France, the most powerful kingdom in Europe, collapse into revolution? How did the tricolour and the Marseillaise become global symbols? What does it mean to be French today, when the hexagon is a multi-ethnic republic still debating its colonial past? This is a story of ideas as much as battles—a conversation about national identity forged in crisis and creativity. The Eiffel Tower, the baguette, the beret: clichés that mask a deeper, often painful history. Join us as we trace the arc from Gaul to the Fifth Republic, a journey that asks what a nation is—and what it can become.

#FrenchRevolution #NapoleonBonaparte #LouisXIV #JoanOfArc #VichyFrance #DreyfusAffair #Versailles #TheTerror #ParisCommune #HundredYearsWar #Tricolour #Laicite #SunKing #NapoleonicCode #HistoryOfFrance #FexingoHistory #WorldHistory #EuropeanHistory

Keep every episode free: <a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo">buymeacoffee.com/fexingo</a>

How often does this podcast release new episodes?

This podcast updates daily.

Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.

Legal Disclaimer

Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.

All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.

We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.

While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.

By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.