Napoleon abolishes the French Republican Calendar (1805)

Napoleon abolished the French Republican Calendar in December 1805, ending its official use after approximately twelve years. The decree, issued in September 1805, took effect on 1 January 1806, making 31 December 1805 the final day of official usage. This action replaced the revolutionary system with the Gregorian calendar.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. The French Republican Calendar was created during the French Revolution and implemented in late 1793 to replace the Gregorian calendar. It featured a ten-day week and was used by the French government for about twelve years. Napoleon, who became Emperor in 1804, moved to abolish this revolutionary timekeeping system.

The Decree. In December 1805, Napoleon abolished the revolutionary calendar with its ten-day week. The abolition ended the calendar's official use by the French government, which had begun in late 1793, and restored the Gregorian calendar that the revolutionary system had been meant to replace.

Implementation. The calendar remained in official use until 31 December 1805. On 1 January 1806, the Gregorian calendar was reinstated as the official timekeeping system in France. This marked the end of the revolutionary calendar's primary period of government use, which had lasted from late 1793 to 1805.

People involved

Sources

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