French republican calendar

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This editable, developed Main Article is subject to a disclaimer.

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The French republican calendar was instituted by the National Convention after the French Revolution as a reform of the Gregorian calendar that would help to divorce the new republic from its Catholic predecessor.

## Contents

* 1 The creation of the calendar
* 2 Its structure
* 2.1 Start of the year
* 2.2 Months and days
* 2.3 Leap years
* 3 Its demise
* 4 References

## The creation of the calendar[edit]

In 1793, the National Convention's Committee of Public Instruction created a subcommittee, chaired by the mathematician Charles Gilbert Romme, to create a new calendar. Other members were Louis Lagrange and Gaspard Monge, also mathematicians; the scientists Antoine François Fourcroy, Guyton de Morveau, Joseph Jérôme le François de Lelande, and Joseph Lakanal; and the poets Marie-Joseph de Chénier and Philip François Nazaire Fabre d'Églantine.

Romme presented the results, first to the Committee of Public Instruction and then to the full Convention, in September of 1793, and the Convention issued a decree on October 5th that made the calendar official. The names of days and months were finalized by a decree on November 24th.

## Its structure[edit]

### Start of the year[edit]

Year I was deemed to have started on September 22, 1792 Gregorian, the date of the founding of the Republic, and also the fall equinox of that year. Each following year was to start at midnight of the day of the fall equinox, as observed at the Paris Observatory.

### Months and days[edit]

A year was divided into 12 months of 30 days each, with five epagomenal days, six in leap years. Each month consisted of three décades, or 10-day weeks, with days named Primdi, Duodi, Tridi, Quartidi, Quintidi, Sextidi, Septidi, Octidi, Nonidi, and Decadi ("First Day", "Second Day", etc.). Every Decadi was to be a rest day. Fabre d'Églantine named the days and months as follows[1]. Note that every Quintidi was named for an animal, and every Decadi for a farming tool.

Fall months

| | Name| (English name)| Name| (English name)| Name| (English name)
Months| | Vendemaire| Vintage| Brumaire| Foggy| Frimaire| Frosty
Primdi| 1| Raisin| Grape| Pomme| Apple| Raiponce| Rampion
Duodi| 2| Safran| Crocus| Céleri| Celery| Turneps| Field-turnips
Tridi| 3| Châtaignes| Chestnut tree| Poire| Pear| Chicorée| Chicory
Quartidi| 4| Colchiques| Autumn crocus| Bettrave| Beet| Nèfle| Medlar
Quintidi| 5| Cheval| Horse| Oie| Goose| Cochon| Pig
Sextidi| 6| Balsamine| Balsam| Héliotrope| Heliotrope| Mâche| Lamb's lettuce
Septidi| 7| Carottes| Carrots| Figue| Fig| Chou-fleur| Cauliflower
Octidi| 8| Amarante| Amaranth| Scorsonère| Black salsify| Miel| Honey
Nonidi| 9| Panais| Parsnip| Alisier| Sorb| Genièvre| Juniper
Decadi| 10| Cuve| Tank| Charrue| Plow| Pioche| Mattock
Primdi| 11| Pome-de-Terre| Potato| Salsifis| Salsify| Cire| Wax
Duodi| 12| Immortelle| Immortelle| Macre| Water chestnut| Raifort| Horseradish
Tridi| 13| Potiron| Winter squash| Topinambour| Jerusalem artichoke| Cèdre| Cedar
Quartidi| 14| Réséda| Mignonette| Endive| Endive| Sapin| Fir
Quintidi| 15| Ane| Donkey| Dindon| Turkey| Chevreuil| Deer
Sextidi| 16| Belle-de-nuit| Pretty-by-night| Chervis| Caraway| Ajonc| Gorse
Septidi| 17| Citrouille| Pumpkin| Cresson| Watercress| Cyprès| Cypress
Octidi| 18| Sarrasin| Buckwheat| Dentelaire| Leadwort| Lierre| Ivy
Nonidi| 19| Tournesol| Sunflower| Grenade| Pomegranate| Sabine| Savin
Decadi| 20| Pressoir| Pressing shed| Herse| Harrow| Hoyau| Hoe
Primdi| 21| Chanvre| Hemp| Bacchante| Bacchante| Erable-sucre| Maple syrup
Duodi| 22| Pêche| Peach| Azerole| Azarole| Bruyère| Heather
Tridi| 23| Navet| Turnip| Garance| Madder| Roseau| Reed
Quartidi| 24| Amaryllis| Amaryllis| Orange| Orange| Oseille| Sorrel
Quintidi| 25| Boeuf| Steer| Faisan| Pheasant| Grillon| Cricket
Sextidi| 26| Aubergine| Eggplant| Pistache| Pistachio| Pingon| Pine nut
Septidi| 27| Piment| Red pepper| Macjonc| | Liége| Cork
Octidi| 28| Tomate| Tomato| Coing| Quince| Truffe| Truffle
Nonidi| 29| Orge| Barley| Cormier| Service tree| Olive| Olive
Decadi| 30| Tonneau| Barrel| Rouleau| Rolling pin| Pelle| Shovel
Winter months
| | Name| (English name)| Name| (English name)| Name| (English name)
Months| | Nivôse| Snowy| Pluviôse| Rainy| Ventôse| Windy
Primdi| 1| Tourbe| Peat| Lauréole| Daphne| Tussilage| Coltsfoot
Duodi| 2| Houile| Coal| Mousse| Moss| Cornouiller| Dogwood
Tridi| 3| Bitume| Bitumen| Fragon| Butcher's broom| Violier| Wallflower
Quartidi| 4| Soufre| Sulphur| Perce-neige| Snowdrop| Troëne| Privet
Quintidi| 5| Chien| Dog| Taureau| Bull| Bouc| Billygoat
Sextidi| 6| Lave| Lava| Laurier-thym| Viburnum| Asaret| Azarum
Septidi| 7| Terre végétale| Topsoil| Amadouvier| Tinder agaric| Alaterne| Buckthorn
Octidi| 8| Fumier| Manure| Mèzéréon| Mezereon| Violette| Violet
Nonidi| 9| Salpêtre| Saltpeter| Peuplier| Poplar| Marceau| Goat willow
Decadi| 10| Fléa| Flail| Coignée| Axe| Beche| Garden fork
Primdi| 11| Granit| Granite| Ellebore| Hellebore| Narcisse| Narcissus
Duodi| 12| Argile| Clay| Brocoli| Broccoli| Orme| Elm
Tridi| 13| Ardoise| Slate| Laurier| Laurel| Fumeterre| Fumus terrae
Quartidi| 14| Grès| Sandstone| Avelinier| Filbert tree| Vélard| Hedge-mustard
Quintidi| 15| Lapin| Rabbit| Vache| Cow| Chèvre| Nanny goat
Sextidi| 16| Silex| Flint| Buis| Box tree| Epinards| Spinach
Septidi| 17| Marne| Marl| Lichen| Lichen| Doronic| Leopard's bane
Octidi| 18| Pierre à chaux| Limestone| If| Yew| Mouron| Pimpernel
Nonidi| 19| Marbre| Marble| Pulmonaire| Lungwort| Cerfeuil| Chervil
Decadi| 20| Van| Winnowing basket| Serpette| Pruning knife| Cordeau| Cord
Primdi| 21| Pierre à plâtre| Gypsum| Thlaspi| Pennycress| Mandragore| Mandrake
Duodi| 22| Sel| Salt| Thimelé| | Persil| Parsley
Tridi| 23| Fer| Iron| Chiendent| Couch grass| Cochléaria| Cochlearia
Quartidi| 24| Cuivre| Copper| Traînasse| Knotgrass| Pâquerette| Daisy
Quintidi| 25| Chat| Cat| Lièvre| Hare| Thon| Tuna
Sextidi| 26| Etain| Tin| Guède| Woad| Pissenlit| Dandelion
Septidi| 27| Plomb| Lead| Noisetier| Hazel| Silvie| Forest
Octidi| 28| Zinc| Zinc| Cyclamen| Cyclamen| Capillaire| Maidenhair fern
Nonidi| 29| Mercure| Mercury| Chéledoine| Celandine| Frène| Ash
Decadi| 30| Crible| Sifting screen| Traineau| Sleigh| Plantoir| Dibble
Spring months
| | Name| (English name)| Name| (English name)| Name| (English name)
Months| | Germinal| Seedtime| Floréal| Flowery| Prairial| Meadowy
Primdi| 1| Primevère| Primrose| Rose| Rose| Luzerne| Alfalfa
Duodi| 2| Platane| Plane tree| Chêne| Oak| Hémérocale| Day-lily
Tridi| 3| Asperges| Asparagus| Fougère| Fern| Trèfle| Clover
Quartidi| 4| Tulipes| Tulips| Aubépine| Hawthorn| Angélique| Angelica
Quintidi| 5| Poule| Hen| Rossignol| Nightingale| Canard| Duck
Sextidi| 6| Blette| Swiss chard| Ancolie| Columbine| Mélisse| Melissa
Septidi| 7| Bouleau| Birch| Muguet| Lily of the valley| Fromental| Wheat
Octidi| 8| Jonquille| Daffodil| Champignon| Mushroom| Martagon| Martagon
Nonidi| 9| Aune| Alder| Hyacinthe| Hyacinth| Serpolet| Wild thyme
Decadi| 10| Couvoir| Incubator| Rateau| Rake| Faux| Scythe
Primdi| 11| Pervenche| Periwinkle| Rhubarbe| Rhubarb| Fraise| Strawberry
Duodi| 12| Charme| Hornbeam| Sainfoin| Fodder| Bétoine| Betony
Tridi| 13| Morille| Morel| Bâton-d'or| Goldenrod| Poix| Pitch
Quartidi| 14| Hêtre| Beech| Chamérisier| Dwarf palm| Acacia| Locust tree
Quintidi| 15| Abeille| Honeybee| Ver-à-soie| Silkworm| Caille| Quail
Sextidi| 16| Laitue| Lettuce| Consoude| Comfrey| Oeillet| Carnation
Septidi| 17| Mélèze| Larch| Pimprenelle| Burnet| Sureau| Elder tree
Octidi| 18| Ciguë| Hemlock| Corbeille-d'or| Yellow alyssum| Pavot| Poppy
Nonidi| 19| Radis| Radish| Arroche| Mountain spinach| Tilleul| Lime tree
Decadi| 20| Ruche| Beehive| Sarcloir| Hoe| Fourche| Pitchfork
Primdi| 21| Gainier| Judas tree| Statice| Statice| Barbeau| Cornflower
Duodi| 22| Romaine| Romaine lettuce| Fritillaire| Fritillary| Camomille| Chamomile
Tridi| 23| Maronnier| Chestnut tree| Bourrache| Borage| Chèvrefeuille| Honeysuckle
Quartidi| 24| Roquette| Rocket plant| Valériane| Valerian| Caille-lait| Rennet
Quintidi| 25| Pigeon| Pigeon| Carpe| Carp| Tanche| Tench
Sextidi| 26| Anémone| Anemone| Fusain| Charcoal| Jasmin| Jasmine
Septidi| 27| Lilas| Lilac| Civette| Chives| Verveine| Verbena
Octidi| 28| Pensée| Pansy| Buglose| Bugloss| Thym| Thyme
Nonidi| 29| Myrtille| Blueberry| Sénevé| Wild mustard| Pivoine| Peony
Decadi| 30| Greffoir| Grafting knife| Loulette| Shepherd's crook| Chariot| Wagon
Summer months
| | Name| (English name)| Name| (English name)| Name| (English name)
Months| | Messidor| Harvest| Thermidor| Hot| Fructidor| Fruit
Primdi| 1| Sigle| Rye| Epeautre| Spelt| Prune| Plum
Duodi| 2| Avoine| Oats| Bouillon blanc| Mullein| Millet| Millet
Tridi| 3| Oignon| Onion| Melon| Melon| Lycoperde| Puff-ball
Quartidi| 4| Véronique| Speedwell| Ivraie| Rye grass| Escourgeon| Winter barley
Quintidi| 5| Mulet| Mule| Bélier| Ram| Saumon| Salmon
Sextidi| 6| Romarin| Rosemary| Prêle| Horsetail| Tubéreuse| Tuber
Septidi| 7| Concombre| Cucumber| Armoise| Artemisia| Sucrion| Sugar melon
Octidi| 8| Echalottes| Shallots| Carthame| Safflower| Apocyn| Dog bane
Nonidi| 9| Absynthe| Absinthe| Mûres| Mulberries| Réglisse| Licorice
Decadi| 10| Faucille| Sickle| Arrosoir| Watering can| Echelle| Ladder
Primdi| 11| Coriandre| Coriander| Panis| Panic grass| Pastrèque| Watermelon
Duodi| 12| Artichaut| Artichoke| Salicot| | Fenouil| Fennel
Tridi| 13| Giroflée| Wallflower| Apricot| Apricot| Epine-vinette| Barberry
Quartidi| 14| Lavande| Lavender| Basilic| Basil| Noix| Walnut
Quintidi| 15| Chamois| Fawn| Brebis| Ewe| Truite| Trout
Sextidi| 16| Tabac| Tobacco| Guimauve| Marshmallow| Citron| Lemon
Septidi| 17| Groseille| Red currant| Lin| Flax| Cardière| Teasel
Octidi| 18| Gesse| Vetch| Amande| Almond| Nerprun| Buckthorn
Nonidi| 19| Cerise| Cherry| Gentiane| Gentian| Tagette| Indian rose
Decadi| 20| Parc| Pen (enclosure)| Ecluse| Lock| Hotte| Sack
Primdi| 21| Menthe| Mint| Carline| Thistle| Eglantier| Dog rose
Duodi| 22| Cumin| Cumin| Caprier| Caper shrub| Noisette| Hazelnut
Tridi| 23| Haricots| Beans| Lentille| Lentil| Houblon| Hops
Quartidi| 24| Orcanète| Dyer's bugloss| Aunée| Elecampane| Sorgho| Sorghum
Quintidi| 25| Pintade| Guinea fowl| Loutre| Otter| Écrivisse| Crayfish
Sextidi| 26| Sauge| Sage| Myrte| Myrtle| Bigarade| Bitter orange
Septidi| 27| Ail| Garlic| Colza| Canola oil| Verge d'or| Goldenrod
Octidi| 28| Vesce| Vetch| Lupin| Lupin| Maïs| Maize
Nonidi| 29| Blé| Wheat| Coton| Cotton| Marron| Horse chestnut
Decadi| 30| Chalémie| | Moulin| Mill| Panier| Basket

The epagomenal days were originally called sanculotides ("days of the sans-culottes"; modern spelling, sans-culottides). They were named Fête de la Vertu ("Festival of Virtue"), Fête du Génie ("Festival of Genius"), Fête du Travail ("Festival of Work"), Fête de l'Opinion ("Festival of Opinion"), Fête des Récompenses ("Festival of Rewards"), and Fête de la Révolution ("Festival of the Revolution"). These were to be public holidays, and Fête de la Révolution, the leap day, was to be a day of games between competitors from all over France.

### Leap years[edit]

Leap years, called "sextile years" because of the six epagomenal days, were to occur every four years, with the first being year III. A group of four years was to be known as a Franciade. However, as was quickly pointed out by the astronomer Jean Baptiste Joseph Delambre, there was no way to reconcile this with the desire to begin every new year on the equinox. In response, Romme formed a new subcommittee to "perfect" the calendar. It ultimately proposed to follow the Gregorian pattern of leap years, with the exception of suppressing one leap day every 4000 years. Before the recommendation could be implemented, however, Romme was arrested and sentenced to death.

## Its demise[edit]

The republican calendar was deeply unpopular both inside and outside France and its conquered territories for the difficulties it caused in communicating and doing business with the rest of Europe. The working people of France were also unhappy about having only one day of rest in every ten.

The décade was the first part of the calendar to go, in 1795. Also in that year, the sanculotides were renamed simply jours supplémentaires ("extra days").

Napoleon exempted Rome from the new calendar in 1799, to placate the Pope. In 1805, now emperor, he restored France to Catholicism and restored the old calendar. France officially rejoined the Gregorian world on January 1st, 1806.

## References[edit]

1. ↑ French day names from: Richards, E G (1998) Mapping Time: The Calendar and its History. New York: Oxford University Press. pp 398-399.