The Resignation of President Patrice de MacMahon and the Stabilisation of the French Republican System: Insights from the Russian Ambassador in Paris

This article explores a pivotal moment in the history of the early Third Republic, when the victory of the Republicans marked the end of their long-standing confrontation with monarchist factions. On 30 January 1879, President Patrice de MacMahon, a leader of the clerical-monarchist reaction, resigned prematurely. On the same day, Jules Grévy, a prominent Republican figure, was elected as his successor, consolidating Republican control over both the executive and legislative branches of government. The dramatic events surrounding these developments are extensively documented in the diplomatic correspondence of the Russian Ambassador to Paris, Prince Nikolai Alekseevich Orloff. His deep understanding of French political realities and extensive connections within the highest political echelons made Orloff one of the most informed observers of the final establishment of the republican system in France. His dispatches and analytical notes to St. Petersburg serve as valuable primary sources for understanding the political history of France in the 1870s. Orloff’s correspondence provides unique insights, revealing the behind-the-scenes dynamics of French political life during this crucial period. Following the adoption of the republican constitution in 1875 and the Republicans’ victory in the subsequent legislative elections, Orloff increasingly saw MacMahon’s resignation as inevitable. However, like many others, he did not anticipate that the resignation would be voluntarily initiated by the Marshal-President himself. In his analysis of the situation, Orloff acknowledged the potential for monarchist attempts to destabilise the republican regime. This article draws upon Orloff’s correspondence during this transformative period in French history, offering a detailed examination of the political context surrounding MacMahon’s resignation and the consolidation of the French Republic.