The fractured memory of the Second Empire during the Paris Commune.

Beyond the 'Second Empire': Unearthing Paris Commune's Perceptions of a Tumultuous Past

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Jordan Keane in Culture & Society December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore how the Paris Commune of 1871 grappled with the legacy of Napoleon III's regime, and how their unique experience reshaped the very concept of time and revolution."


Imagine a city in upheaval, grappling with revolution while still haunted by the ghosts of its immediate past. This was Paris in 1871, during the tumultuous reign of the Commune. But how did the revolutionaries of the Commune perceive the era of Napoleon III, often termed the 'Second Empire'? Did they see it as a bygone era, or a living force shaping their present?

Conventional historical narratives often create neat divisions between periods. However, the reality is far more nuanced. This article delves into the language and expressions used by Parisians during the Commune to describe the 'Empire,' revealing a fascinating struggle to define the past and legitimize the present revolution.

We'll explore how contemporaries wrestled with the legacy of the 'Empire', and how their perceptions challenge our own understanding of this pivotal moment in French history. By examining their words and actions, we can gain fresh insights into the Commune's revolutionary experience and its complex relationship with the past.

Erasing the 'Empire': Language as a Weapon

The fractured memory of the Second Empire during the Paris Commune.

During the Commune, the term 'Second Empire' was notably absent in many official documents and public discourse. Instead, figures and publications of the time typically used 'Empire' to refer to Napoleon III’s regime, with no further clarification needed. When specificity was required, 'Napoleon III' was explicitly mentioned.

This seemingly minor detail holds significant weight. The revolutionaries were actively distancing themselves from the imperial legacy. They sought to delegitimize the regime by refusing to acknowledge its self-proclaimed continuity with the First Empire. This rejection of imperial numbering highlights the Commune's desire for a clean break with the past and establish a new order.

  • 'The bandits of the Empire': Denotes the political actors associated with the previous regime, associating them with criminality and illegitimacy.
  • 'Industrial Feudalism': A critique of the economic system under Napoleon III, portraying it as exploitative and backward.
  • 'The man of December': Refers to Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte and the coup d'état of December 2, 1851, branding the entire regime as founded on violence and illegality.
  • 'Badinguet': A derogatory nickname for Napoleon III, ridiculing his escape from prison and undermining his authority.
These expressions weren't just linguistic flourishes; they were weapons in a battle for historical memory. By associating the 'Empire' with corruption, oppression, and illegitimacy, the Communards aimed to dismantle its symbolic power and solidify their own revolutionary credentials. The term 'Badinguet', by inverting the image of Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, reduces the emperor’s aura to a common man, stripping his sovereignty.

Revolutionizing Time: A New Historical Consciousness

The Paris Commune offers a unique window into the revolutionary experience of time. By examining how the Communards grappled with the legacy of the 'Second Empire,' we can see how revolution disrupts conventional historical narratives and creates new understandings of the past, present, and future.

While the Commune was ultimately suppressed, its redefinition of time and its rejection of the imperial past had a lasting impact on French political culture. The language and symbols employed during this brief but intense period continued to resonate in subsequent decades, shaping how the 'Second Empire' was remembered and interpreted.

By analyzing the chrononyms of the Commune, we gain a deeper understanding of how social and political contexts shape our perceptions of history. The meanings and connotations of terms like 'Empire' are not fixed but are constantly negotiated and redefined in the crucible of social change. As historians, it is essential to look beyond the surface and consider how past readings of time influence what we know of history.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.3917/hes.173.0048, Alternate LINK

Title: Au Temps De Badinguet : Sur Quelques Perceptions De L’« Empire » Sous La Commune De Paris, 1871

Subject: General Medicine

Journal: Histoire, économie & société

Publisher: CAIRN

Authors: Quentin Deluermoz

Published: 2017-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

1

How did the revolutionaries of the Paris Commune view the 'Second Empire'?

The Paris Commune's revolutionaries perceived the 'Second Empire' as a regime they actively needed to distance themselves from. They viewed it as a period of oppression, corruption, and illegitimacy, actively challenging its historical narrative. The Commune's language, particularly the absence of the term 'Second Empire' in official documents, demonstrates their intent to break from the imperial legacy and establish a new revolutionary order.

2

Why was the term 'Second Empire' often absent from the discourse during the Paris Commune?

The absence of the term 'Second Empire' in the discourse of the Paris Commune was a deliberate act. The revolutionaries chose to simply use 'Empire' to refer to Napoleon III's regime, indicating a rejection of any perceived continuity with the First Empire. This simplification was a linguistic weapon, aiming to delegitimize the previous regime and underscore the Commune's radical break with the past, asserting their own revolutionary credentials.

3

What specific language did the Paris Commune use to criticize the 'Second Empire'?

The Commune used various expressions to criticize the 'Second Empire.' Terms like 'the bandits of the Empire' highlighted the regime's perceived criminality. 'Industrial Feudalism' critiqued its economic practices. 'The man of December' and the nickname 'Badinguet' undermined Napoleon III's authority and legitimacy. These phrases were tools to dismantle the symbolic power of the 'Empire' and solidify the revolutionary identity of the Communards.

4

What was the significance of using certain phrases and terms during the Paris Commune to describe the 'Second Empire'?

The phrases used during the Paris Commune like 'the bandits of the Empire,' 'Industrial Feudalism,' 'The man of December,' and 'Badinguet' were significant because they were more than mere insults. They were weapons used to dismantle the symbolic power of the 'Empire' and construct a new historical narrative that legitimized the Commune. These terms reflected the revolutionary's view of the past and their aim to create a new future, free from the perceived injustices of the 'Second Empire'.

5

Why is the Paris Commune's perception of the 'Second Empire' important to understanding the revolution?

The Commune's reinterpretation of the 'Second Empire' is crucial because it demonstrates how revolutions disrupt conventional historical narratives. By examining the language and actions of the Communards, we can understand how they grappled with the past, shaped their present, and envisioned their future. This period offers a unique window into the revolutionary experience and its impact on the understanding of time and history, and how it can shape the future.

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