Chronologies and Calendars/Chapter 11
ONWARD from or about the year 50 B.C., the Gauls adopted the manners, customs, and calendars of the Romans, who had then subjugated the country now known as France. In the fourth and fifth centuries of the Christian era, he Teutonic barbarians gradually got a footing on the land; and on the formal withdrawal of the Romans, these hordes overran the Gallic territories. History certainly seemed to be thereby doomed. But no. By 800 A.D, chronological order had recommenced, although it was their custom to begin the year as on Christmas Day, festum Nativitatione Christi—a usage which, according to Nicolas, 'prevailed almost universally during the ninth century,' Thereafter the Feast of the Annunciation was held by Eecclesiastics to open their year. Then Easter became New Year Day; and, to quote from the same authority, "from the end of the eleventh century to the year 1563, the usage has been nearly universal for the monarchs in their public instruments to begin the year at Easter" The papal indictions[2] were also used in some proclamations. But this was to be expected. To imitate Rome in these days was a cardinal virtue, except among Protestants.
105. In virtue of letters patent by Henry III. (of France), the Gregorian correction was adopted, so that the day after the 9th December, 1582, became 20th December, and 1st January, 1583, was the next New Year's Day, although this second part of the change had been in vogue since 1563. This (the new style) continued till 1792.
106. Chief amongst the audacities of the French Revolution a century ago, its mendacious words and novel remedies, must be placed the repudiation of the Christian and adoption of a new era in chronology.[3] In terms of the Terrorists' style of reckoning, it was enacted that:—
(a). The first day of the first year of liberty corresponded to 22nd September, 1792. Note.—Though this is the initiation date, yet the new calendar was actually introduced only on 22nd November, 1793.
(b). Their years contained twelve newly-named months of thirty days each.
(c). The five days remaining of the 365 were public festivals, representing our 17th—21st September, 1793, and so on, and were dedicated to Virtue, Genius, etc.
(d). On the fourth years, there was a sixth 'extra day'—jour de la Revolution.
(e). They had to recognise four seasons in their year from 22nd September, autumn being the first, and containing, like the others, three months. Here they are:—
| Autumn. |
| 1. Vintage month.[4] 2. Foggy month. 3. Hoar-frost month. |
| Winter. |
| 4. Snowy month. 5. Rainy month. 6. Windy month. |
| Spring. |
| 7. Budding month. 8. Flowery month. 9. Pasture month. |
| Summer. |
| 10. Harvest month. 11. Hot month. 12. Fruit month.[5] |
(f). Weeks were abolished, a tripartite division of the month being ordered instead, viz.:—
| 1st day of month = Decadi. |
| 10th day of„ month _„ Decadi I. |
| 20th day of„ month _„ Decadi II. |
and the other days were so many after a decadi, e.g., 19th = ninth day after Decadi I.
This Revolutionists' calendar never saw its sixteenth anniversary, for Napoleon ordered the re-adoption of the Julian-Gregorian style, as from and after 1st January, 1806.[6] During its epoch it appeared, for instance, (a) on the title pages of publications, and (b) in legal deeds, the Bank of France being incorporated 13th Pluviôse, the year VIII., i.e., 13th February, 1800, I also observed some time ago that the French Press, in suggesting that the Great Exhibition of 1900 should contain a Restoration in miniature of the first French Exhibition, refers thereto as that 'of the year VI. (1798).' The years in the Revolutionist's calendar were represented by Roman, no Arabic, numerals, I., II., III., IV., V., and so on.
- ↑ The fact that the extraordinary chronology invented by the Revolutionists held sway in France at the end of last century and the beginning of the present one, renders this chapter necessary.
- ↑ See section 22 supra.
- ↑ French Revolution, p. 227.
- ↑ This month covered the period 22nd Sept. to 21st Oct. in the Julian months, the other eleven being spread over the rest of the months of the Gregorian year.
- ↑ The French for these months is as follows:—(beginning with the first autumnal month), Vendémaire, Brumaire, Fimaire, Nivôse, Pluviôse, Ventôse, Germinal, Floréal, Prairial, Messidor, Ther-midor, Fructidor.
- ↑ This was one of the few beneficent acts of the Emperor.