Paris Commune

The Paris Commune (French: Commune de Paris, pronounced [kɔ.myn də pa.ʁi]) was a revolutionary government that took power in Paris, the capital of France, from 18 March to 28 May 1871.

Paris Commune
Part of the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War
Date 18 March – 28 May 1871 (2 months, 1 week and 3 days) Location Paris, France Result Revolt suppressed Disbanding the Second National Guard by the French government
Belligerents
French Republic French Armed Forces	Communards National Guards
Commanders and leaders
Patrice de MacMahon	Louis C. Delescluze † Jarosław Dąbrowski †
Strength
170,000	On paper, 200,000; in reality, probably between 25,000 and 50,000 actual combatants
Casualties and losses
877 killed, 6,454 wounded, and 183 missing	6,667 confirmed killed and buried; unconfirmed estimates from 10-15,000

Cause

Historical context

On 2 September 1870, France was defeated in the Battle of Sedan during the Franco-Prussian War, and Napoleon III was captured. When the news reached Paris, angry people came out into the streets. Empress Eugénie fled Paris and the government of the Second Empire collapsed.

Republicans of the National Assembly created the French Third Republic, and formed a Government of National Defence to continue the war.