Éric Anceau is a lecturer at Sorbonne University, the associate professor of history is the author of numerous works on the Second Empire and the war of 1870, in particular “They made and defeated the Second Empire” (Tallandier, 2019) .
None of the sieges and blockades that Paris has known has been as important and left as many traces as that which took place during the Franco-German war of 1870-1871, the “terrible year” of Victor Hugo.
After the defeat of Sedan, the Parisian revolution of September 4, 1870 overthrew the Second Empire.
A provisional government made up of moderate Republicans seized power with the military governor of Paris, General Trochu, at its head.
The capital becomes a large entrenched camp.
For a quarter of a century, it has been protected by 33 km of fortifications and by a belt of 16 forts.
The imperial government had brought in cattle and food from the surrounding countryside.
However, if the approach of the enemy caused the exodus of nearly 100,000
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