The Siècle History Podcast

Supplemental 22: The French Connection 04.07.2026 1h 3min

The Siècle is joined by fellow French history podcasters Everett Rummage of Age of Napoleon and Will Clark of Grey History to talk about the connections between France and the early United States. Update: The transcript of this episode has now been published! The Siècle Age of Napoleon Grey History: The French Revolution and Napoleon A video recording of this episode was also published on The Siècle's YouTube page as "What France should have learned from the United States". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 50: Movement and Resistance 27.06.2026 1h

With unrest still bubbling on the streets of Paris, the center-left Party of Movement and the center-right Party of Movement struggle for control of the new July Monarchy. See a full annotated transcript of this episode: Check out the Battle Royale podcast, which is ranking all the French monarchs Like what you hear? Support the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fact Check 4: The Marquise of Saint-Fargeau 01.04.2026 26min

The Marquise de Saint-Fargeau tried to help Jules de Polignac flee France after the July Revolution. But who was this mysterious noblewoman? It seemed like a simple question... Support independent historical research like this podcast on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thesiecle See a full annotated transcript of this episode: https://thesiecle.com/factcheck4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 49: The Trial 26.01.2026 1h 8min

The July Revolution may be done, but France isn't sure if it's done with revolution. As King Louis-Philippe and a band of squabbling politicians try to govern France, the people of Paris take to the streets to demand one thing above all else: the heads of Charles X's former ministers. Will Jules de Polignac and company meet their end at a guillotine — or at the hands of a lynch mob? See a full annotated transcript of this episode: http://thesiecle.com/episode49/ Check out the "La Fayette, We Are Here" podcast by Emmanuel Dubois: https://www.lafayettepodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 48: Citizen-King 13.11.2025 29min

France has a new king after the July Revolution of 1830, and Louis-Philippe wants everyone to know he's not like a regular king — he's a cool king. See a full annotated transcript of this episode here. Like the show? Help spread the word by posting reviews on social media and tagging The Siècle. The show is active on Bluesky, X, Facebook, and Instagram. (Apologies if these timestamps don't work — this is a work in progress) (00:00:00) Ad (00:02:15) Cold Open (00:04:15) Introduction (00:07:07) What’s in a name? (00:11:36) The King as politician (00:15:04) The King as citizen (00:22:30) The King as man (00:26:25) Courage to the sticking place (00:30:39) Teaser Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fact Check 3: Polignac's Visions 29.09.2025 43min

French prime minister Jules de Polignac believed he was receiving visions of the Virgin Mary during France's 1830 July Revolution — or so many sources claim. But is it true? Join me as we sort fact from fiction, and see how these claims tie into the religious history of 19th Century France. Support independent historical research like this podcast on Patreon: https://patreon.com/thesiecle See a full annotated transcript of this episode: http://thesiecle.com/factcheck3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 47: The July Settlement 16.08.2025 54min

The July Revolution is over, and Louis-Philippe will be France's next king. But what sort of monarchy Louis-Philippe will lead is yet to be determined, as France's politicians gather to hash out the final details of the nascent July Monarchy. Like the show? Support it on Patreon, where all patrons giving as little as $1/month receive an ad-free feed: https://patreon.com/thesiecle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 46: Revolutions 30.06.2025 1h 7min

Revolutions podcaster Mike Duncan talks about the July Revolution, why Charles X is one of the great idiots of history, the dissident elites who can make or break any revolution, and the value of narrative history podcasting. Help support The Siècle by backing the show on Patreon, where all supporters receive an ad-free feed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 45: The July Revolution 02.06.2025 1h 22min

In an epic conclusion, the people of Paris will chase Marshal Marmont and King Charles X's army out of Paris on Thursday, July 29, 1830 — leaving all of France up for grabs as republicans, Bonapartists, Orléanists, and rank adventurers all make bids for power with the ultimate prize on the line. Like what you hear? Support The Siècle on Patreon. Read a full annotated transcript of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 44: Bourbons on the Rocks 06.01.2025 56min

King Charles X just wants to spend some time at his vacation house playing cards, hunting, and hanging out with his family. But it's late July 1830, and people keep interrupting him to talk about some alleged revolution in Paris. My apologies for the number of different ways I managed to pronounce "Neuilly" in this episode. Find out how to support the podcast and get an ad-free feed at thesiecle.com/support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fact Check 2: The Lying Chef 17.11.2024 31min

Larger-than-life French chef Alexis Soyer helped revolutionize British cuisine in the Victorian period — but his widely reported personal encounter with France's 1830 revolution is just a tall tale. Visit thesiecle.com/factcheck2 to read a full annotated transcript of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 43: The Politicians 13.10.2024 34min

While men fight and die on the streets of Paris, France's feckless politicians try to muster the will to take decisive action of their own to address a revolution no one on either side expected. A quick refresher on important dates so far: August 8, 1829: The Polignac ministry is appointed Early July, 1830: Marshal Bourmont captures Algiers; opposition candidates win French elections Sunday, July 25, 1830: King Charles X and his ministers approve the Four Ordinances Monday, July 26, 1830: The Four Ordinances are published in the Moniteur. Journalists draft the Protest of the Forty-Four. Initial protests. A mob attacks Polignac's carriage. Tuesday, July 27, 1830: Four newspapers publish in defiance of the Four Ordinances. Protests grow into riots. Marshal Marmont assumes command of Paris. Soldiers open fire on civilians. Initial barricades go up. Wednesday, July 28, 1830: Marmont is given dictatorial control of Paris, and sends out his three attack columns. Deputies meet with Marmont. By the end of the night, Marmont's columns all retreat. Visit thesiecle.com/support to buy merch or to support the show on Patreon. All Patreon subscribers receive an ad-free feed of the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 42: Marmont 09.09.2024 54min

Marshal Auguste de Marmont was tasked with putting down Parisian rebels after the Four Ordinances of July 1830. There were only a few problems: he didn't have enough men or supplies, he opposed the Ordinances, and his bosses neglected to inform him of his new job. Buy merch for The Siècle here! Visit thesiecle.com/episode42 to see maps and images about the fighting described in today's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Supplemental 21: The French History Games 10.08.2024 1h 37min

Three French history podcasters come together to determine the most corrupt, idealistic, eloquent and idiotic figures — among others — from the Revolutionary, Napoleonic and post-Napoleonic eras. (Update: The original version of this file cuts out after 48 minutes. Re-download for a fixed version.) Check out Age of Napoleon and Grey History: The French Revolution! Submit your comments on this episode via Will Clark's link here. View a full annotated transcript here, and find out how to support the show and receive an ad-free fee here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 41: The People 03.07.2024 35min

That escalated quickly! Find out how — and why — the people of Paris went from ignoring Charles X's coup on Monday, July 26, 1830, to engaging in street fighting with the French Army less than 24 hours later. See a full annotated and illustrated transcript online here. Learn more about the Barricades convention, July 12 - 14, 2024, here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 40: The Journalists 03.06.2024 22min

Charles X's Four Ordinances in July 1830 threatened to impose strict censorship on France's opposition newspapers. So what were the journalists going to do about it? Visit thesiecle.com/support to find out how to support the show. Read a full annotated transcript of this episode at thesiecle.com/episode40. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Supplemental 20: What's a franc? 26.04.2024 22min

Everything you ever wanted to know about francs and sous, centimes and louis d’or, and the bewildering array of 19th Century French currency. What were all these coins? What were they worth? How did they compare to other currencies like pounds and dollars, how does that compare to today — and what does Charlemagne have to do with all of this? See a full annotated transcript with pictures on the show website. Join the show's Patreon to get an ad-free feed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Supplemental 19: Fifth Birthday Special 27.02.2024 57min

It's been five years since The Siècle first debuted! To mark the show's fifth anniversary, I'm joined by fellow history podcaster Everett Rummage of The Age of Napoleon podcast to answer listener questions and talk about history, podcasting, and more. Check out the show's new YouTube channel, where I'm gradually uploading audio of back episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 39: The Four Ordinances 22.01.2024 53min

On July 26, 1830, Parisians woke up to four stunning proclamations from King Charles X, four ordinances rewriting French politics and public life. Join me to explore what these Four Ordinances did, how Charles could issue them, and how they came to appear in Parisians' morning newspaper. Visit thesiecle.com/episode39 for an annotated transcript, including images of the Four Ordinances in the July 27 Moniteur. Become a patron on Patreon to receive an ad-free fee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 38: The 221 05.01.2024 58min

In 1830, France's slow-moving political crisis builds to a fever-pitch, as King Charles X goes to war with his liberal opposition at home, and the Regency of Algiers abroad. Amid military and electoral campaigns, Charles X will face a decision that could reshape his reign. The Siècle's 5th anniversary is coming up on January 22, 2024. I'm hosting a special Q&A episode (with a guest moderator you might know!) and want your questions! Please email david (at) thesiecle (dot) com by January 13, 2024, with any questions you want considered for inclusion in that episode — about the show, about 19th Century France, or even about me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices