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Monarchist Club Club monarchique | |
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| President | Jean Joseph Mounier (1789) Pierre Victor, baron Malouet (1789–1791) |
| Founded | 1 December 1789; 235 years ago (1789-12-01) |
| Dissolved | 18 June 1791; 234 years ago (1791-06-18) |
| Merged into | Feuillants Club |
| Headquarters | 8, rue de la Michodière,Paris |
| Ideology | Constitutional monarchism Conservatism[1] Conservative liberalism Moderatism |
| Political position | Centre[2][3] |
| Colours | Blue White (monarchy's colours) |
TheFriends of the Monarchist Constitution (French:Amis de la Constitution Monarchique), commonly known as theMonarchist Club (French:Club monarchique) or theMonarchiens, were one of therevolutionary factions in the earliest stages of theFrench Revolution. The Monarchiens were briefly acentrist stabilising force criticized by theleft-wing of theNational Constituent Assembly, the spectators in the galleries and the patriotic press. Established in August 1789, the Monarchist Club was quickly swept away. Specifically, the brief movement developed when the Revolution was shifting away from theAncien Régime during theSpring of 1789 and was defeated by the end of 1789. Subsequently, the term itself is usually derogatory.
Monarchiens were once viewed as contributors to theThird Estate. They differed fromEmmanuel Joseph Sieyès andHonoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau as they did not "speak the language of democracy". Instead, they formed their views based on theliberalism influences of the years of theEnlightenment andConstitution of the United Kingdom. They sought fairness under law and pushed for a working constitution. The Monarchiens position favored voting and common deliberations. It aimed to merge the rights of the royal authority with the rights of thecommon man. This idea was in fact part of their downfall as the changes brought about by the Revolution were far more aggressive than what the Monarchiens viewed as acceptable. Specifically, the Monarchiens were unable to understand and reform to the importance ofpolitical legitimacy when it came to discussing the constitutional process. In fact, they sought to establish a free government without substituting one power for another, but rather redefining the existing powers of themonarchy.
The group was founded and led byJean Joseph Mounier, who was born in 1758. Though Mounier was neither graceful nor eloquent in his speeches, he was able to influence many with his strength and consistency. Among his followers werePierre Victor, baron de Malouet,Nicolas Bergasse,Gérard de Lally-Tollendal andStanislas Marie Adélaïde, comte de Clermont-Tonnerre. On 9 July, Mounier's views of the government's political position were outlined in a statement to the National Constituent Assembly. The Assembly ultimately voted against the introduced Monarchiens views of Mounier on 10 and 11 September. The rejection led to the resignation of Mounier.
... many joining the more conservative Club Monarchique, which adroitly circumvented the difficulties undermining the ...
