The Besançon Commune (in French Commune de Besançon) was a short-lived revolutionary movement conceived and developed in 1871, aiming at the proclamation of a local autonomous power based on the Lyon and Paris experiences.[1] It originates from social upheavals which metamorphosed the city[2][1] and with the emergence of unions including a section of IWA in connection with the future Jura Federation.[3][4][5][6][1] The course of events was precipitated by the Franco-Prussian War, the fall of the Second Empire, and the advent of the Third Republic.[7][1] While many notables testify to an insurrectionary context[8] and armed support from Switzerland being organized,[9][10][1] the correspondence left by James Guillaume and Mikhail Bakunin[11][12] attest to a planned release between the end of May and the beginning of June 1871.[1] However, with the start of the Semaine sanglante on 21 May and the pursuit of an internal campaign until 7 June, any attempt was seriously compromised.[1] Despite the hope of a restart, in the following weeks and months the idea of an insurrection was definitively abandoned, later reinforced by the extinction of groups and activities described as "anarchist" from 1875.[1]

Besançon Commune
Part of the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War

Besançon-Battant, in 1860's.
DateApril – June 1871
Location
Besançon, France
Belligerents
France French Republic Communards
National Guards
IWA
Commanders and leaders

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Cordillot, Michel (1990). La naissance du mouvement ouvrier à Besançon - la Première internationale 1869-1872 [The birth of the labor movement in Besançon - the First International 1869-1872] (in French). Besançon: Cahier d'Études comtoises. ISBN 2251604197.
  2. ^ Bernard H. Moss, Aux origines du mouvement ouvrier français : le socialisme des ouvriers de métier, 1830-1914, Presses Universitaires de Franche-Comté, 1985, 236 pages.
  3. ^ Testut, Oscar (1870). Association internationale des travailleurs [International Workers' Association] (in French). Vingtrinier.
  4. ^ Alcan-Lévy, Les Mystères de l'Internationale, etc, British Library, 1871, 120 pages.
  5. ^ Société des études pratiques d'économie sociale, Unions de la paix sociale, Société international de science sociale, Études sociales - volume 10, 1885, 580 pages.
  6. ^ "Séverin Robert". le Maitron. 3 June 2020.
  7. ^ Desfrane, Jean (1990). Histoire d'une ville, Besançon : le temps retrouvé [History of a city, Besançon: time regained] (in French). Cêtre.
  8. ^ Estignard, Alexandre (1872). La République et la guerre à Besançon. Par un patriote comtois, Imprimerie et Lithographie de J. Jacquin [The Republic and the war in Besançon. By a Comtois patriot, Printing and Lithography by J. Jacquin] (in French).
  9. ^ Lehning, Arthur; Bakounine, Michel. Théorie et pratique du fédéralisme anti-étatique en 1870-1871 [The theory and practice of anti-state federalism in 1870-1871] (in French).
  10. ^ Fernand Rude, De la guerre à la Commune, Éditions Anthropos, 1972, 611 pages.
  11. ^ Comité historique du centre-est, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Université de Clermont-Ferrand I, Université des sciences sociales de Grenoble, Université de Lyon II, Université Jean Moulin, Université de Saint-Étienne, Centre universitaire de Savoie, Cahiers d'histoire - volumes 24 à 25, 1979.
  12. ^ Arthur Lehning, Œuvres complètes de Bakounine: Michel Bakounine sur la guerre france-allemande et la révolution sociale en France 1870-1871, Éditions Champ Libre, 1979.