Fête de la Fédération (1790)

The Fête de la Fédération was a massive holiday festival held throughout France in 1790 in honour of the French Revolution, celebrating the Revolution itself, as well as national unity. It commemorated the revolution and events of 1789 which had culminated in a new form of national government, a constitutional monarchy led by a representative Assembly.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. After the initial revolutionary events of 1789, France's ancien régime had shifted into a new paradigm of constitutional monarchy. By the end of 1789, towns and villages throughout France began to join together as fédérations, fraternal associations which commemorated and promoted the new political structure. Plans were set for simultaneous celebrations in July 1790 all over the nation, but the fête in Paris would be the most prominent by far.

Nature of Celebration. The inaugural fête of 1790 was set for 14 July, to coincide with the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, although that is not what was celebrated. It was also a symbol of the reunification of the Three Estates, after the heated Estates-General of 1789, with the Bishop (First Estate) and the King (Second Estate) blessing the people (Third Estate).

Outcome. The occasion passed peacefully and provided a powerful, yet illusory, image of celebrating national unity after the divisive events of 1789–1790. At this time, the first French Constitution was not yet completed, and it would not be officially ratified until September 1791.

Musical Contributions. A Te Deum for the Federation of 14 July 1790, a hymn by composer François-Joseph Gossec, is associated with the event.

People involved

Sources

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