The February 1831 riots July Monarchy

françois guizot, leader of parti de l ordre.

despite these reforms, targeted bourgeoisie rather people, paris once again rocked riots on 14 , 15 february 1831, leading laffitte s downfall. immediate cause of riots funeral service organized legitimists @ saint-germains l auxerrois church in memory of ultra-royalist duke of berry, assassinated in 1820. commemoration turned political demonstration in favour of count of chambord, legitimist pretender throne. seeing in celebration intolerable provocation, republican rioters ransacked church 2 days in row, before turning on other churches. revolutionary movement spread other cities.

confronted renewed unrest, government abstained strong repression. prefect of seine odilon barrot, prefect of police jean-jacques baude, , new commandant of national guard, general georges mouton, remained passive, triggering guizot s indignation, republican armand carrel s criticisms against alleged demagogy of government. far suppressing crowds, government had archbishop of paris mgr. de quélen arrested, charging friar of saint-germain-l auxerrois , other priests, along other monarchists, having provoked masses.

in gesture of appeasement, laffitte, supported prince royal ferdinand-philippe, duke of orléans, proposed king remove fleur-de-lys, symbol of ancien régime, state seal. obvious displeasure, louis-philippe signed 16 february 1831 ordinance substituting arms of house of orléans shield open book, on read charte de 1830 . fleur-de-lys, removed public buildings, etc. new defeat of king sealed laffitte s fate.

on 19 february 1831, guizot verbally attacked laffitte in chamber of deputies, daring him dissolve chamber , present himself before electors. laffitte accepted, king, 1 entitled dissolve chamber, preferred wait few days more. in meanwhile, prefect of seine odilon barrot replaced taillepied de bondy @ montalivet s request, , prefect of police jean-jacques baude vivien de goubert. make matters worse, in insurrectionary climate, economic situation bad.

louis-philippe tricked laffitte resigning having minister of foreign affairs, horace sébastiani, pass him note written french ambassador vienna, marshal maison, , had arrived in paris on 4 march 1831, announced imminent austrian intervention in italy. learning of note in le moniteur of 8 march, laffitte requested immediate explanations sébastiani, replied had followed royal orders. after meeting king, laffitte submitted council of ministers belligerent program, , subsequently disavowed, forcing him resign. of ministers had negotiated positions in forthcoming government.