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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
National
Jessica Phelan

France's first divorce law, a social revolution ahead of its time

Divorce France Europe Church Rouen the French Revolution
An engraving by Jean-Baptiste Lesueur from around 1795 shows a couple before a judge, rethinking their divorce for adultery after the wife brought their young child into the courtroom. France first introduced divorce in 1792.
An engraving by Jean-Baptiste Lesueur from around 1795 shows a couple before a judge, rethinking their divorce for adultery after the wife brought their young child into the courtroom. France first introduced divorce in 1792. © Jean-Baptiste Lesueur / Musée Carnavalet

For a brief period at the end of the 18th century, France had the most liberal divorce laws in Europe. Before a conservative backlash brought it down, the legislation allowed thousands of couples to leave marriages for no other reason than wanting to – and became a touchstone for opponents and supporters of divorce alike.

When France first legalised divorce on 20 September, 1792, it was revolution at its most intimate.

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