The Commune suspends debt collection proceedings

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.

The Commune authorized artist Gustave Courbet to restore the museums of Paris and reopen their galleries. Artists later organized to administer cultural institutions through an elected federation.

Trade-union and workers’ organizations were asked to identify workshops abandoned by their owners and prepare plans for their operation by cooperative associations. The decree became one of the...

Voters filled seats left vacant by resignations, multiple elections and deaths. Turnout was lower than in March, reflecting warfare, political division and population flight.

The Commune postponed payment deadlines for commercial bills to protect debtors affected by the siege and civil war.

The declaration set out a programme of autonomous communes united in a democratic republic. It called for local control of administration, education, police and finances while affirming the unity of...