THE REPUBLICAN CALENDAR

THE Republican Calendar was used from September, 22, 1792, to September 9, 1805. The names of the months were as foilows : — For Autumn : Vendémiaire {vindemia, grapegathering), Brumaire {bruma, brume, fog), Frimaire (frimas, hoarfrost) ; FOR WiNTER: Nivôse [nirosus, snowy), Pluviôse (pluviosus, rainy), Ventôse (ventosits, wïndy) ; FOR Spring: Germinal {gtrmoij germ), Floréal {fiorein ace, flower), Prairial (prairie, meadow) ; FOR SUMMER : Messidor (mcssis, harvest ; Sw/jov, gift), Thermidor &ép/i/.r,, beat ; êl'pov, gift), Fructidor (fructics, fruit).

The montli was divided into 3 "décades" of lo days each. The days were called primidi, duodi, iridi, quartidi, quititidi, sextidi, sep>tldi, octidi, nonidi, décadi.

Lalande and Fa.bre d'Eglantine composed this calendar, Romme caused it to be adopted.

Principal Dates of the Republican Calendar, with the

CORRESPONDING DaTES OF THE GrEGORIAN.

9 and 10 Thermidor, An II (July 27 and 28, 1794), a reaction sets in against Robespierre, who is guillotined on the loth, with some of his sanguinary supporters, and the Reign of Terror cornes to an end ; the leaders and supporters of this movement are called ' ' Thermidoriens, "

12 Germinal, An 77/ (April l, 1795)) ^ rising of the suburbs of Paris against the National Convention takes place ; the people ask for bread and a return to the Constitution of 1793 (a very Démocratie one, never completely carried out) ; they are dispersed by the military.

\cr Prairial, An III (May 20, 1795), ^ suprême but vain effort of the Jacobins (extrême Democrats) against what is called "La réaction thermidorienne" (Moderate Republicans and Royalists).

13 Vendémiaire, An IV (October 5, 1795), an insurrection of Moderate Republicans and Royalists takes place against the Assembly called "Convention Nationale;" it is quashed by Napoléon Bonaparte, commanding under Barras. ,

18 Fructidor, An F (September 4, 1797), a "coup d'Etat" is executed by three members of the Directoire, Barras, La Reveillère- Lepeaux, and Rewbell, against the " Conseils des Anciens et des Cinq-Cents," whom they accused of royalist tendencies.

30 Prairial, An VII (June 18, 1799), a reconstitution of the