Jasmine Directory

The history of France is greatly portrayed in the wonderful musical "Les Miserables," regarding a revolution and rebellion fought in the 19th century. The Romans initially occupied France, followed by Germanic tribes, then the Frankish kings, who gave France its name, during the 7th century.

Under a Christianity movement, Charlemagne was appointed King by the Pope in the 1800s. Louis the Pious too over the reign and divided France into sections for he and his sons until the Arabs from Africa raided France. Vikings raided France from the 9th to the 10th centuries. France continued to have successive take overs by England, but Parisians continued their underground movements which led to the Joan of Arc uprising.

With each conquest of foreign influences, France continued to gain territories, the population grew and it achieved economic status. In between centuries of fighting, France lost many of its populous to illnesses like the Black Plague and other epidemics. France, in its fight against Britain, joined in the cause of the new colonists in America.

This involvement turned out to be quite costly to France, who taxed its people greatly. Unrest swept through France causing the French Revolution, when in the mid 1700's, a military leader was named, Napoleon Bonaparte. Following his rein, various Kings were appointed, then France entered WWI with a war on Germany, and had successive Presidents, until today.

The French population today is over 65 million, the largest in Europe and French is the official language. In addition to descendants of France and Spain, the ethnicity population consists of Celtic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese and Muslims.