The Action Française is a French Monarchist movement and periodical founded by Maurice Pujo and Henri Vaugeois and whose principal ideologist was Charles Maurras. Monarchism is the advocacy of the establishment, preservation, or restoration of a monarchy. ... Maurice Pujo (26 January 1872 - 6 September 1955) was a French journalist and co-founder, with Henri Vaugeois in 1898, of the Comité dAction Française which subsequently became the nationalist and monarchist Action Française movement. ... Charles Maurras (April 20, 1868 - November 16, 1952) was a French monarchist poet, critic and leader and principal thinker of the anti-Dreyfusard Action Française movement. ...

It was founded in 1898 during the Dreyfus affair, partly in reaction to the left wing revitalisation that was happening around the defense of the army captain. Originally a Republican organisation which attracted many nationalist figures such as Maurice Barrès, under the influence of Maurras it became monarchist, following the earlier ideas of Joseph de Maistre. Until its dissolution at the end of the Second World War, the Action Française was a prominent proponent of integral nationalism, which regarded the nation as an organic entity of blood and soil. Alfred Dreyfus in an army uniform, wearing a mustache. ... Nationalism is an ideology that creates and sustains a nation as a concept of a common identity for groups of humans. ... Maurice Barrès (September 22, 1862 - December 4, 1923), French novelist and politician, was born at Charmes-sur-Moselle (Vosges). ... Joseph de Maistre (1753- February 26, 1821) was a French writer, who was one of the most influential spokesmen for a counter-revolutionary and authoritarian conservatism, in the period following the French Revolution. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Integralism is a belief that society is an organic unity. ...

Ideology

The ideology of the Action Française was dominated by the thought of Charles Maurras, following his adherence and his conversion of the movement's founders to monarchism. The Action Française supported a restoration of the monarchy and of Roman Catholicism as the state religion even though Maurras was an atheist. It should not be considered that the movement intended to restore real power to the king, merely to set him up as a rallying point in distinction to the Third Republic of France which was considered corrupt and unworkable by many of its opponents, whom they hoped to come to their banner. The movement advocated decentralisation (a "federal monarchy"), with the restoration of pre-Revolutionary "liberties" to the ancient provinces of France (replaced during the Revolution by the departmental system). It aimed to achieve a restoration by means of a coup d'état, probably involving a transitional authoritarian government. Monarchism is the advocacy of the establishment, preservation, or restoration of a monarchy. ... The Roman Catholic Church is the largest religious denomination of Christianity with over one billion members. ... The French Third Republic, (in French, Troisième Republique, sometimes written as IIIème Republique) (1870/75-1940/46), was the governing body of France between the Second French Empire and the Fourth Republic. ... The period of the French Revolution in the history of France covers the years between 1789 and 1799, in which democrats and republicans overthrew the absolute monarchy and the Roman Catholic Church was forced to undergo radical restructuring. ... The départements (or departments) are administrative units of France, roughly analogous to British counties and are now grouped into 22 metropolitan and four overseas régions. ... A coup détat, or simply a coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government, usually done by a small group that just replaces the top power figures. ...

The Action Française was not focused on denouncing one social or political group as the conspiratorial source of ills befalling France. Different groups of the extreme French right had especial animus against either the Jews, Protestants, or Freemasons. To these Maurras added unspecific foreigners residing in France, who had been outside of French law under the ancien regime, and to whom he invented a slur name derived from ancient Greek history: métèques. These four groups of "internal foreigners" Maurras called les quatre états confédérés &ndash and were all considered to be part of "Anti-France." Of course he was also opposed to the Communists, and the left in general, but antagonism against them did not have to be constructed or marshalled. Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... American Square & Compasses Freemasonry is a worldwide fraternal organization. ... Ancien R gime means Old Regime or Old Order in French; in English, the term refers primarily to the social and political system established in France under the Valois and Bourbon dynasties, and secondarily to any regime which shares the formers defining features: a feudal system under the control... This article is about communism as a form of society, as an ideology advocating that form of society, and as a popular movement. ...

1898 - 1926

The movement published a review, the Bulletin de l'Action française, which subsequently became the Revue de l'Action Française and then, in 1908, a daily paper Action Française. It gained large number of readers outside the movement and made Maurras a significant figure in French politics, his influence extending far beyond the extreme right. It was edited by Léon Daudet, son of the writer Alphonse Daudet, and other contributors included the historian Jacques Bainville, the critic Jules Lemaître and the economist Georges Valois, who later left the movement to found the Faisceau. The Camelots du Roi were recruited in 1908 to sell the paper, but they also served as the movement's paramilitary wing, regularly engaging in street violence with political oponents. In this period the Action Française became a significant actor in French politics. However, its rise caused some concern among the Roman Catholic hierarchy. 1908 is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Léon Daudet (1867 – 1942) was a French author and an active Monarchist. ... Alphonse Daudet (May 13, 1840 - December 17, 1897) was a French novelist. ... François Elie Jules Lemaître ( April 27, 1853 - August 4, 1914), was a French critic and dramatist. ... Georges Valois (real name Alfred-Georges Gressent), 1878 - 1945 was a French economist and politician. ... The Faisceau was a short-lived French Fascist party. ...

Papal Condemnation and Decline

In spite of the Action Française's support for Roman Catholicism as state religion and the fact that the vast majority of its members were practising Catholics (indeed, they included significant numbers of clergy), some Catholics regarded it with distrust. Much of this was due to Maurras' influence. Maurras was an agnostic whose advocacy of Catholicism was due to his belief that it was a factor of social cohesion and stability and to its importance in French history. This rather utilitarian view of religion disturbed people who were often in agreement with many of Maurras' ideas. Its influence on young Catholics was also considered problematic. In 1926, Pope Pius XI condemned the Action Française. Several of Maurras' writings were placed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum at the same time. However in 1939, the Pope Pius XII decided to end the condemnation, without couterparts. Since then the Action Française claimed that the condemnation was decided for political purposes. His Holiness Pope Pius XI, born Achille Ratti (May 31, 1857 - February 10, 1939), reigned as Pope and sovereign of Vatican City from February 6, 1922 until February 10, 1939. ... The Index Librorum Prohibitorum (Index of Prohibited Books)—also called Index Expurgatorius—is a list of publications which Roman Catholics were banned from reading, pernicious books, and also the rules of the Church relating to books. ... The Venerable Pope Pius XII, born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli (March 2, 1876 – October 9, 1958 in Rome, Italy), served as the Pope from March 2, 1939 to 1958. ...

This was a devastating blow for the movement. Many of its members left (two Catholics who were forced to look for a different path in politics and life were François Mitterrand and Georges Bernanos) and it entered a period of decline. The condemnation would not be lifted until 1938. François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterand ( October 26, 1916 - January 8, 1996;  pronunciation?) was a French politician and President of France from May 1981, re-elected in 1988, until 1995. ... Georges Bernanos (February 20, 1888 - July 5, 1948) was a French author, and a soldier in the Great War. ...

The Inter-War Revival

Its fortunes revived in the inter-war period. As increasing numbers of people in France (as in Europe as a whole) turned to authoritarian political movements, many turned to the Action Française. It was represented for a time in the Chamber of Deputies, notably by Léon Daudet (for Paris, 1919-1924). By now, however, many younger people considered it to be lacking in dynamism and its monarchism probably discouraged more people than it attracted. It did attract some prominent figures though, such as Robert Brasillach, Thierry Maulnier and Lucien Rebatet, and took part in the massive demonstrations and riots in Paris called the Stavisky Affair, on February 6, 1934. The Chamber of Deputies is the name given to the lower house of the bicameral legislatures of the following states: Argentina – Chamber of Deputies of Argentina (Cámara de Diputados) Bolivia – Chamber of Deputies of Bolivia (Cámara de Diputados) Brazil – Chamber of Deputies of Brazil (Cámara dos Deputados) Chile – Chamber of... The Eiffel Tower has become the symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... Robert Brasillach (March 31, 1909 - February 6, 1945) was a French pro-Nazi author in the Vichy France who was executed for collaboration. ... The Stavisky Affair were a series of demonstrations and riots in Paris, which occurred on February 6, 1936 against the Socialist government in France at the time. ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1934 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The Action Française greeted the appearance of the authoritarian governments of Benito Mussolini in Italy and Francisco Franco in Spain with delight. It was less happy about the Nazi Party's rise to power. The movement - like most French nationalists - regarded Germany as the major threat to France, and advocated an alliance with Italy against Germany. Benito Mussolini created a fascist state through the use of propaganda, total control of the media and disassembly of the working democratic government. ... Francisco Franco, late in life Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco y Bahamonde Salgado Pardo de Andrade (December 4, 1892 - November 20, 1975), abbreviated Francisco Franco Bahamonde and sometimes known as Generalísimo Francisco Franco, was dictator of Spain from 1939 until his death in 1975. ... The Nazi swastika symbol The National Socialist German Workers Party (German: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei), better known as the NSDAP or the Nazi Party was a political party that was led to power in Germany by Adolf Hitler in 1933. ...

Although it scarcely welcomed the German occupation in the Second World War, the establishment of an authoritarian regime under Marshal Philippe Pétain did please many Action Française supporters (Maurras described it as a "divine surprise"). Some thought that Pétain might even restore the monarchy. The Action Française's headquarters were moved from Paris to Vichy. Some of its members became active collaborators, but some joined the Resistance and the Free French Forces. Others, including Maurras, supported the Vichy government while not advocating collaboration. This was sufficient for him to be condemned to death in 1944, though he was reprieved. The Action Française ceased to exist in 1944. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Philippe Pétain Marshal Henri Philippe Pétain (April 24, 1856 - July 23, 1951), generally known as Philippe Pétain or Marshal Pétain, was a French soldier and Head of State of Vichy France. ... Vichy is a spa and resort town in central France, near Clermont-Ferrand and was the capital of Vichy France from 1940 to 1944. ... The French Resistance is the name used for resistance movements that fought military occupation of France by Nazi Germany and the resulting Vichy France during World War II after France surrendered in 1940. ... The Free French Forces (Forces Françaises Libres in French) were French fighters who decided to go on fighting against Germany after the Fall of France and German occupation and to fight against Vichy France in World War II. General Charles de Gaulle was a member of the French Cabinet in... 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Since the Second World War

The Action Française was re-formed by Maurice Pujo in 1947 around the magazine Aspects de la France and the movement la Restauration Nationale. In 1971 a breakaway movement, the Nouvelle Action Française was formed by Bertrand Rouvin. It subsequently became the Nouvelle Action Royaliste and supported François Mitterrand in the 1981 presidential election. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... 1947 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

The movement still exists as the monarchist and anti-European Union Centre royaliste d'Action Française and publishes a magazine Action Française 2000.

Judgement of Political Scientists

In the 1960s, Ernst Nolte, political scientist, considered the Action Française to be the first fascist party, and the most manipulative and duplicitous of them all. But his viewpoint is generally considered extreme, and the movement is not considered as historically important as the fascisms which gained power on their own. Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler Fascism (in Italian, fascismo), capitalized, refers to the right-wing authoritarian political movement which ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943 under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. ...

Fictional accounts

In Harry Turtledove's American Empire alternate history books, the Action Française becomes a popular movement in France following the nation's defeat in the Great War. By the early 1930s it has placed France under the rule of King Charles XI and spends the decade rearming for a rematch with Germany. After Kaiser Wilhelm's death in 1941, Action Francaise declares war on Germany but its offensive by early 1942 has stalled at the Rhine and outside Hamburg. Harry Turtledove (born June 14, 1949), is a historian and prolific novelist who has written historical fiction, fantasy, and science fiction works. ... For other uses, see American Empire (disambiguation) The American Empire is a politically-charged informal term used to describe the current political, economic and cultural influence of the United States on a global scale. ... Wilhelm II of Prussia and Germany, Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert von Hohenzollern (January 27, 1859 - June 4, 1941) was the last German Emperor (Kaiser) and the last King (König) of Prussia from 1888 - 1918. ...

External links

• Official website of Action Française (http://www.actionfrancaise.net) (in French)