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Michael Davies’ Complete Three-Part Lecture Series

The French Revolution Reconsidered

The French Revolution is one of the most influential—and controversial—events in world history. It is commonly remembered as the birth of modern liberty, democracy, and human rights. Yet beneath the familiar slogans of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity lies a far more complex story: one of religious persecution, ideological revolution, and the systematic attempt to uproot Christian civilization.

In this landmark three-part lecture series, renowned Catholic historian Michael Davies presents one of the clearest and most compelling Catholic examinations of the French Revolution ever recorded.

Drawing upon decades of historical scholarship, Davies explores not only the political events of 1789 but also the philosophical roots of the Revolution, its violent persecution of the Catholic Church, and the heroic resistance of the faithful Catholics of the Vendée.

Whether you are a student of history, a Catholic seeking to understand the modern world, or simply interested in one of history’s greatest turning points, this series offers an unforgettable perspective grounded in historical evidence and Catholic tradition.

Part I

The French Revolution: A War Against God

The opening lecture examines the social, political, economic, and religious climate that produced the French Revolution.

Michael Davies dispels many of the popular myths surrounding pre-revolutionary France while demonstrating how Enlightenment philosophy gradually undermined Christian civilization. He examines the reign of King Louis XVI, the Estates General, the Storming of the Bastille, and the Declaration of the Rights of Man, showing how revolutionary ideals increasingly conflicted with the Catholic understanding of society and legitimate authority.

Topics Covered

France before 1789
Louis XVI and attempted reforms
The financial crisis
The Enlightenment
Freemasonry
Thomas Jefferson and the Revolution
The Estates General
The National Assembly
The Tennis Court Oath
Storming of the Bastille
Declaration of the Rights of Man
Catholic political philosophy

▶ Watch Part One

Part II

The War Against the Catholic Church

The Revolution soon moved beyond politics and became an outright assault upon Christianity.

Davies explains how revolutionary leaders confiscated Church property, dissolved religious orders, imposed the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, and demanded that priests swear loyalty to the revolutionary state rather than the Church.

This lecture follows the tragic descent into the September Massacres, the execution of King Louis XVI, the Reign of Terror, the Cult of Reason, and the attempted destruction of Catholic worship throughout France.

Topics Covered

Confiscation of Church property
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
Pope Pius VI
Constitutional priests
September Massacres
Execution of Louis XVI
Reign of Terror
Robespierre
Cult of Reason
De-Christianization
Notre-Dame
Napoleon and the Concordat

▶ Watch Part Two

Part III

The Rise of the Vendée: The Last Crusade

The concluding lecture recounts one of the greatest stories of Catholic heroism in history.

When revolutionary France attempted to eradicate the Catholic Faith, the faithful peasants of western France rose in defense of God, King, and Country.

Known as the War of the Vendée, this extraordinary uprising became a symbol of unwavering Catholic fidelity.

Michael Davies introduces viewers to the remarkable leaders of the Catholic and Royal Army, including Jacques Cathelineau, François de Charette, Bonchamps, d’Elbée, and Henri de La Rochejaquelein. He recounts their victories, sacrifices, acts of Christian mercy, and ultimate martyrdom while documenting the horrific atrocities committed by the Revolutionary government, including the infamous Infernal Columns and the drownings at Nantes.

The lecture concludes by showing how the sacrifices of the Vendée ultimately helped preserve Catholicism in France and inspired generations of faithful Catholics.

Topics Covered

Why the Vendée rose
The Sacred Heart Army
Jacques Cathelineau
François de Charette
Bonchamps
d’Elbée
Guerrilla warfare
Infernal Columns
Drownings at Nantes
Les Lucs massacre
Charette’s martyrdom
Legacy of the Vendée

▶ Watch Part Three

About Michael Davies

Michael Davies (1936–2004) was one of the twentieth century’s most respected Catholic historians and apologists. His extensive research into Church history, the French Revolution, the liturgical reforms, and the crisis within modern Catholicism earned him an international reputation for scholarly rigor and fidelity to the Catholic Faith.

His lectures continue to educate Catholics around the world by presenting history through the lens of authentic Catholic teaching while remaining deeply rooted in primary historical sources.

Why This Series Matters

The French Revolution did not merely change the government of France.

It transformed the relationship between Church and State, introduced new political ideologies that continue to shape the modern world, and became a model for later revolutions across Europe and beyond.

At the same time, it produced countless heroic witnesses whose fidelity to Christ in the face of persecution remains an enduring example for Catholics today.

Michael Davies’ lectures remind us that history is not simply a record of political events but a struggle over ideas, faith, and the destiny of civilization itself.

Explore More from Sensus Fidelium

Sensus Fidelium exists to preserve and share the timeless teachings, history, and spirituality of the Catholic Faith through sermons, conferences, lectures, and traditional Catholic resources.

If this series has deepened your understanding of history and strengthened your appreciation for the sacrifices of those who defended the Faith, please consider subscribing to our YouTube channel and sharing these lectures with family and friends.

“I have not fought for human glory. I have not succeeded in restoring the altars and the throne, but I have at least defended them.”
— General Charles de Bonchamps
Featured Documentary
The Hidden Rebellion
Interview & Discussion
This interview explores the making of The Hidden Rebellion, the acclaimed documentary recounting the forgotten history of the Vendée. Learn about the historical research, the production, and why the story of the Catholic resistance remains so important today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the French Revolution?

The French Revolution (1789–1799) was a period of profound political, social, and religious upheaval in France that overthrew the Bourbon monarchy, abolished the traditional social order, and transformed European history. While many remember it for promoting liberty and democracy, it also witnessed widespread violence, the Reign of Terror, and severe persecution of the Catholic Church.

Why did the French Revolution happen?

The Revolution resulted from multiple factors, including financial crisis, Enlightenment philosophy, social inequality, political instability, and growing hostility toward the Catholic Church and the monarchy. Michael Davies argues that beneath these political causes was a deeper rejection of Christian civilization.

Why did the French Revolution persecute the Catholic Church?

The Revolutionary government viewed the Church as an obstacle to its new political order. Church lands were confiscated, monasteries dissolved, priests forced to swear loyalty to the state, and thousands of clergy and faithful Catholics were imprisoned, exiled, or executed during the Revolution.

What was the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?

Passed in 1790, the Civil Constitution of the Clergy placed the Catholic Church in France under government control. Priests and bishops were required to swear an oath of loyalty to the revolutionary government, creating a division between constitutional clergy and those who remained faithful to the Pope.

What was the Reign of Terror?

The Reign of Terror (1793–1794) was the most violent phase of the French Revolution. Under Maximilien Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety, tens of thousands of people were executed or imprisoned as suspected enemies of the Revolution, including clergy, nobles, and ordinary citizens.

What was the War of the Vendée?

The War of the Vendée was a Catholic and Royalist uprising in western France between 1793 and 1796. Faithful Catholics rose to defend their priests, churches, and traditional way of life against the anti-religious policies of the Revolutionary government.

Why is the Vendée important in Catholic history?

The Vendée stands as one of the greatest examples of Catholic resistance to religious persecution. Ordinary peasants, priests, women, and children endured extraordinary suffering while remaining faithful to Christ and His Church.

Who were the leaders of the Vendée?

Among the best-known leaders were:

Jacques Cathelineau
François Athanase de Charette
Henri de La Rochejaquelein
Maurice d’Elbée
Charles de Bonchamps
Louis de Lescure
Jean-Nicolas Stofflet

These commanders became legendary for their courage, military leadership, and devotion to the Catholic Faith.

What were the Infernal Columns?

The Infernal Columns were twelve Republican military columns sent into the Vendée in 1794 with orders to destroy villages, crops, livestock, churches, and civilians. Their campaign of systematic destruction remains one of the most controversial episodes of the French Revolution.

Was the Vendée a genocide?

Many historians have argued that the Revolutionary government’s campaign against the Vendée constitutes one of the first modern genocides because it sought the systematic destruction of an entire population identified by its religion and political loyalty. The question continues to be debated among scholars, but the scale of the atrocities is well documented.

Who was Michael Davies?

Michael Davies (1936–2004) was a British Catholic historian, author, and lecturer widely respected for his work on Church history, the French Revolution, the traditional Roman liturgy, and modern Catholicism. His lectures continue to educate Catholics worldwide.

Why is Michael Davies’ French Revolution series significant?

Davies combines historical scholarship with a Catholic understanding of history, explaining not only what happened during the French Revolution but also why its religious and philosophical ideas continue to influence the modern world.

What is the Sacred Heart Army?

The Catholic and Royal Army of the Vendée often wore the badge of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on their clothing as a public profession of faith. The Sacred Heart became the defining symbol of the Catholic resistance.

Did Napoleon end the persecution of the Church?

Napoleon Bonaparte partially restored public Catholic worship through the Concordat of 1801 with Pope Pius VII. Although the Church regained legal recognition, many of the Revolution’s political changes remained in place.

Where can I watch all three lectures?

You can watch the complete Michael Davies French Revolution series on the Sensus Fidelium YouTube channel:

Part 1: The French Revolution: A War Against God
Part 2: The War Against the Catholic Church
Part 3: The Rise of the Vendée: The Last Crusade

What books are recommended for further study?

For those interested in learning more, consider:

The French Revolution — Michael Davies
The Great Heresies — Hilaire Belloc
The French Revolution — Nesta Webster
The Old Regime and the Revolution — Alexis de Tocqueville
The French Revolution — Simon Schama
Citizens — Simon Schama
The Oxford History of the French Revolution — William Doyle
The Hidden Rebellion Documentary

Guest Lecture

Dr. Alan Fimister

The Vendée and the Catholic Counter-Revolution

Historian Dr. Alan Fimister expands upon the events of the Vendée, placing them within the broader context of Catholic political thought, monarchy, Christian civilization, and the long struggle against revolutionary ideology.

▶ Watch Lecture