[CatoRenasci]

France would have become a monarchy again after its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War had the then pretender been willing to accept the tricolor, but no, he held out for the fluer d' lis, and the Third Republic was born.....

gives you an idea of the leadership abilities of the French royal families.....

[headsonpikes]

Students of Philosophy will be asking, "So is the present King of France bald, or not?"

;^)

[Pilsner]

France would have become a monarchy again after its defeat in the Franco-Prussian War had the then pretender been willing to accept the tricolor

France held a sort of constitutional convention and the vast majority of delegates were monarchists. The monarchists could not however decide whether to have a Bourbon, Orleanist or Bonapartist King. All three groups compromised on having a Republic, each calculating that they would pull a coup in few years and place their candicate on the throne. No group ever quite got around to pulling a coup and the Third Republic tottered on until Hitler put it to bed in 1940.

[royalcello]

Sorry to bother you long after you'd probably forgotten about this thread, but I didn't see it in time. As you may remember from our previous debate, there is no subject closer to my heart than monarchy. However, for once I have to agree with you: the Compte de Chambord should not have insisted on the fleur-de-lis flag (although I myself have one hanging proudly on my wall). Even Pope Pius IX, not exactly known for his compromises with liberalism, remarked that the French throne seemed like "a lot to give up for a napkin," or something to that effect.

But the French Republic is still wrong, as is any republic which is the direct result of the abolition of a monarchy integral to a country's heritage. And it's interesting to note that the current Count of Paris has said he would accept the tricolor flag.