The Commune decrees the separation of church and state

Before a large crowd at the Hôtel de Ville, the elected Commune was formally proclaimed. The red flag became the symbol of the new revolutionary municipal government.

The Council organized its administration through commissions responsible for war, finance, justice, security, labour, public services, education, food, external relations and executive coordination.

The Commune declared that the National Guard, composed of armed citizens, would replace conscription and the permanent army. This measure expressed its conception of popular self-government.

To relieve households affected by the siege and economic crisis, the Commune remitted the final three quarters of rent owed since October 1870. It also suspended sales of pledged goods at the...

Government troops opened a military offensive west of Paris and attacked National Guard positions near Courbevoie. The clash marked the beginning of open warfare between the Commune and Versailles.

National Guard columns moved toward Versailles through Rueil, Bougival and Châtillon. Poor coordination and government artillery fire broke the offensive, after which prisoners including Émile Duval...

In response to summary executions by government forces, the Commune authorized the detention of people suspected of aiding Versailles and threatened reprisals if captured Communards continued to be...

Patrice de MacMahon was appointed commander of the reorganized government army. Released prisoners of war strengthened the force preparing to retake Paris.

The Polish revolutionary Jarosław Dąbrowski was appointed commander of the Paris military district. He became one of the Commune’s most important battlefield commanders.

Élisabeth Dmitrieff and Nathalie Lemel helped establish a citywide women’s organization. It mobilized women for nursing, defence, paid work and demands for social and economic equality.