French political history

French political history is marked by transformation from monarchy to republic, starting with the medieval kingdoms and the powerful absolute monarchy of Louis XIV. The French Revolution (1789) abolished the monarchy, establishing the First Republic. France oscillated between republics, empires under Napoleon, and monarchies in the 19th century. The 20th century saw political upheaval, wars, and decolonization, culminating in the founding of the Fifth Republic in 1958, led by Charles de Gaulle. Today, France is a stable democracy with a semi-presidential system, balancing presidential and parliamentary powers within a framework committed to republican values.