Doctrinaires facts for kids

The Doctrinaires (pronounced Dok-tree-nairs) were a group of French politicians during a time when France was changing a lot. This was between 1814 and 1848. They were royalists, meaning they supported having a king. However, they also wanted to keep some of the good changes that came from the French Revolution.

They believed in a constitutional monarchy. This means the king would rule, but his power would be limited by a set of rules, like a constitution. They also wanted people to have more freedom. A key leader was Pierre Paul Royer-Collard. They supported a system where only a few people could vote. For example, when Louis XVIII was king, only about 100,000 Frenchmen could vote. The Doctrinaires were seen as a middle-ground group. They were liberal, but also a bit conservative.

Later, during the July Monarchy, leaders like the Duke of Broglie and François Guizot were important Doctrinaires. They held powerful government jobs. Both Broglie and Guizot even became Prime Ministers of France.

How the Doctrinaires Started

Early Years and Challenges

The Doctrinaires first worked with King Louis XVIII in 1816. The king was worried about the extreme royalists, called the Ultra-royalists. These Ultras wanted to go back to the old ways completely.

However, the Ultras soon gained power again. The Doctrinaires then became an opposition group. They were in the middle of the political scene. On one side were the republicans and other liberals. On the other side were the Ultra-royalists.

The End of an Era

The Doctrinaires faced big challenges when Charles X became king. He was Louis XVIII's brother and even more traditional. Charles X appointed an Ultra-royalist, Prince de Polignac, as his minister. This decision helped cause the 1830 July Revolution. After this revolution, the Doctrinaires joined with another group called the Orléanists. They had similar ideas about how France should be governed.

What Does "Doctrinaire" Mean?

A Name That Stuck

The name "Doctrinaires" was first used in 1816. It was meant as a joke or a way to make fun of them. A French newspaper called Nain jaune réfugié used it to describe Pierre Paul Royer-Collard. He was known for always teaching and sticking to his beliefs. The name came from a religious group called the Prêtres de la doctrine chrétienne, who were also known as the "doctrinaires."

The name quickly became popular. It was then used for all of Royer-Collard's friends and colleagues. These people came from different backgrounds. Some had been royalists who left France during the revolution. Others had worked for Napoleon. But they all shared similar political ideas.

Their Main Goals

The Doctrinaires wanted to make the monarchy more connected to the French people. They also wanted to make France more accepting of the monarchy. Before the revolution, the king was seen as ruling by "divine right" (chosen by God). The Doctrinaires wanted the king to rule with the support of the people. This was a big change!

They believed in following the 1814 Charter. This was a set of rules given by King Louis XVIII. They wanted the king to work with them to stop the Ultra-royalists. The Ultras wanted to undo all the changes from the French Revolution.

The Doctrinaires believed the king should choose his ministers. They also thought that ministers should not be removed just because the parliament disagreed with them. Their perfect idea was a king who accepted the changes of the revolution. This king would rule in a liberal way. He would get advice from a parliament where mostly wealthy and educated people could vote. This kind of king was finally found in Louis-Philippe during the July Monarchy.

The Doctrinaires' ideas were explained by François Guizot in his book from 1816. Their main newspapers were the Indépendant (later called the Constitutionnel) and the Journal des Débats. Many of their supporters were former officials from Napoleon's time. They believed in a monarchy but remembered Napoleon's strong rule. They also disliked the old ways of the Ancien Régime. Merchants, factory owners, and lawyers also supported them.

Prominent Members

• The Baron of Barante
• Jacques Claude Beugnot
• Louis Becquey
• Maine de Biran
• The Duke of Broglie
• Pierre Paul Royer-Collard
• Benjamin Constant
• Victor Cousin
• Georges Cuvier
• Élie Decazes
• The Marquis Dessolles
• Tanneguy Duchâtel
• François Guizot
• Prosper Duvergier de Hauranne
• Hippolyte François Jaubert
• Camille Jordan (politician)

  Camille Jordan

• Théodore Simon Jouffroy
• The Marquis of Lafayette
• Jean Maximilien Lamarque
• Étienne-Denis Pasquier
• The Count of Rémusat
• The Duke of Richelieu
• Hercule de Serre
• Charles Maurice de Talleyrand
• Abel-François Villemain
• François-René de Chateaubriand

  Chateaubriand, who was a traditional conservative, joined the liberal-Doctrinaire opposition against the Ultra-royalist minister Villèle.

Electoral Results

Chamber of Deputies
Election year	No. of overall votes	% of overall vote	No. of overall seats won	+/–	Leader
1815	5,200 (2nd)	12.5	50 / 400	New	Pierre Paul Royer-Collard
1816	49,820 (1st)	52.7	136 / 258	86	Pierre Paul Royer-Collard
1820	42,300 (1st)	44.7	194 / 434	58	Élie Decazes
1824	3,760 (2nd)	4.0	17 / 430	177	Pierre Paul Royer-Collard
1827	37,600 (2nd)	39.5	170 / 430	163	The Marquis of Lafayette
1830	46,060 (2nd)	49.3	274 / 378	204	The Marquis of Lafayette
1831	76,805 (1st)	61.4	282 / 459	8	Casimir Périer

See also

• Modification of political parties under the Restoration