September 21, 1792

Opening of the Convention

On September 21, 1792, the Convention succeeded the Legislative Assembly and ended the first experiment in constitutional monarchy.

The new assembly decreed the abolition of royalty in France.

The event occurred under the auspices of the victory at Valmy, the day before, on September 20, 1792, against Prussian troops.

The next day, September 22, 1792, the deputies decided, on a proposal from Danton, that public acts would henceforth be dated "Year 1 of the Republic".

It was in this "furtive" manner, according to Robespierre's words, that France discovered itself as a Republic!