Birth of Sophie-Francoise Trébuchet, Victor Hugo's mother

Birth of Léopold-Sigisbert Hugo, Victor Hugo's father

French Revolution begins

First French Republic proclaimed

The republican 'Convention,' ending in Robespierre's terror

Louis XVI executed. The 'Chouans' (royalist Breton insurgents) begin their full-scale civil war against the republican French government. Léopold-Sigisbert Hugo, an officer in the republican army, is posted to Britanny as part of the repressive peace-keeping force.

“Le Directoire”, the first post-revolution Government

Léopold-Sigisbert, on patrol, meets Sophie-Francoise Trébuchet, a Royalist, verifies her identity papers, searches her parents’ farm, and falls in love with her

Marriage in Paris of Sophie Trébuchet and Léopold-Sigisbert Hugo

Birth of Abel Hugo, Victor Hugo’s elder brother (who dies, insane, 1855)

The ‘Consulat.’ Bonaparte takes command

Birth of Victor-Marie Hugo

Léopold-Sigisbert Hugo posted to Elba in disgrace, remains there with his three small sones (Eugene, the youngest, is born in 1803) while Sophie Hugo remains in Paris, and is befriended by General Victor Lahorie, her husband’s former commanding officer. Léopold and Sophie drift apart; he takes up with Catherine Thomas (a nurse), and begins living with her. Sophie Hugo finally rejoins her husband in Elba briefly, but they quarrel constantly.

French Empire; rise and fall of the Napoleonic Empire, ending with the battle of Waterloo

Napoleon crowns himself at Notre Dame; French Empire proclaimed. Sophie and her three children return to Paris, settling at 24 rue de Chichy. General Lahorie, now retired and wanted by the police for plotting against Napoleon, lives at no.19

Léopold Hugo promoted colonel and posted to Naples, where he makes a favourable impression on Napoleon’s younger brother Joseph

Joseph Bonaparte is made King of Spain by Napoleon. Léopold Hugo follows the French King to Spain and gets a lucrative staff appointment

Sophie Hugo makes one last attempt to resume marital relations with Léopold, and joins him, with her family, in Spain. Léopold hears of his wife’s affair with Lahorie and sues him for divorce. Sophie and her children return to Paris a few months later.