Ultra-royalist facts for kids

The Ultra-royalists (called Ultras for short) were a political group in France between 1815 and 1830. This was during a time known as the Bourbon Restoration. Ultras were often from noble families. They strongly believed in a powerful king and wanted Roman Catholicism to be the only official religion in France.

They also supported the old ways of society, where people had different ranks. They believed only certain people should have the right to vote. The Ultras did not like new ideas like liberalism or democracy. They were against the idea that the people's wishes should guide the government.

A Time of Trouble

After King Louis XVIII returned to power in 1815, some people faced problems. These were people thought to have supported the French Revolution or Napoleon. Many Ultra-royalists had just come back from being exiled. They wanted to reverse the changes brought by the Revolution.

Historian John Baptist Wolf said that the Ultras were trying to undo the changes made by the French Revolution and Napoleon. In some parts of southern France, there was a period of unrest. Royalists believed the country had many traitors. They tried to find and stop those they saw as enemies.

The Bourbon Kings and Ultras

Charles X

's ideas were very similar to the Ultras.

The Ultra-royalists became a very strong political group during the Bourbon Restoration (1814–1830). They were often called "more royalist than the king." This meant they supported the king even more strongly than the king himself did! They had a lot of power under King Louis XVIII (1815–1824) and King Charles X (1824–1830).

The Ultras did not want the king's power to be limited by a constitution. They hoped to bring back the "Ancien Régime", which was the old system before the French Revolution. They were against liberalism, republicanism, and democracy. King Louis XVIII wanted a more moderate return to the old ways. He hoped this would be acceptable to people who had been part of the Revolution. But the Ultras wanted a complete return to the past.

Their power came partly from the voting rules. These rules greatly favored them. For example, the Chamber of Peers had members who inherited their positions. The Chamber of Deputies was elected by only about 100,000 voters.

Jean-Baptiste de Villèle

, a leading Ultra-royalist.

In 1815, the Ultras won a large majority in the Chamber of Deputies. King Louis XVIII was so surprised he called it La Chambre Introuvable, meaning "the unfindable chamber." He thought it was unbelievable to have a group of deputies even more royalist than him. The king eventually decided to close this assembly.

After this, there was a "Liberal Interlude" from 1816 to 1820. This was a difficult time for the Ultras. But in 1820, the Duke of Berry was attacked and died. This event made the Ultras stronger. They then passed new laws that helped them control the Chamber of Deputies even more.

When King Louis XVIII died in 1824, the Ultras were very happy. They saw him as too moderate. They expected their leader, the new king Charles X, to become an absolute ruler. This meant he would answer only to God. In 1825, a law called the Anti-Sacrilege Act was passed. It made stealing sacred church items punishable by death. This law was rarely used and was later removed. The Ultras also wanted to limit freedom of the press.

What Happened to the Ultras?

The July Revolution in 1830 changed everything. The Bourbon kings were replaced by a more liberal branch of the royal family. This new king was Louis Philippe. The Ultras mostly went back to their private lives.

However, they still had some influence for many years. Their views became softer over time. Their main goal became bringing back the Bourbon royal family. From 1830 onwards, they became known as the Legitimists.

Important Members

Election Results

The Ultras participated in elections for the Chamber of Deputies. Here's how they did:

Election year	Total votes	% of votes	Seats won	Change	Position	Leader
Chamber of Deputies
1815	35,200	87.5%	350 / 400	New	1st (majority)	François-Régis de La Bourdonnaye
1820	34,780	36.9%	160 / 434	190	2nd (minority)	Jean-Baptiste Séraphin
1824	90,240	96%	413 / 430	253	1st (majority)	Jean-Baptiste Séraphin
1827	40,420	43.1%	185 / 430	228	1st (majority)	Jean-Baptiste Séraphin
1830	47,940	50.7%	282 / 556	97	1st (majority)	Jules de Polignac

See also

• Anti-Sacrilege Act
• Legitimists
• Political parties under Restoration