Why did Charles X's July Ordinances cause the July Revolution of 1830?

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The July Ordinances, published by Charles X on July 26, 1830, triggered the July Revolution because they were perceived as a direct royal coup d’état that violated the spirit of the Charter of 1814.12

Following a period of intense political polarization—exacerbated by the king’s appointment of the reactionary Prince de Polignac and the subsequent electoral victory of the liberal opposition—Charles X issued these decrees to consolidate his authority. The ordinances specifically aimed to:2

  • Dissolve the newly elected Chamber of Deputies.2
  • Further restrict the already limited suffrage.2
  • Eliminate the remaining freedom of the press.2

By attempting to bypass the constitutional process and silence political dissent, the king ensured that the confrontation with the public would turn violent. The resulting three days of fighting in Paris led to the abdication of Charles X and the eventual rise of Louis-Philippe as the "king of the French," marking the beginning of the July Monarchy.231