France

486: Gaul is united by the Franks under Clovis. 987: Advent of Hughes Capet. July 14, 1789: French Revolution starts with the taking of the Bastille. September 22, 1792: The Republic is proclaimed. December 2, 1804: The First French Empire is established under Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon I). June 22, 1815: Napoleon is defeated by the English (Battle of Waterloo, Belgium). The monarchy is restored under the Bourbon dynasty by the Congress of Vienna.