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France historical figures

Explore important people from France. Read concise biographies, learn key facts, and play a quiz focused on this collection.

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18 figures

Painting of Napoleon Bonaparte in his study

Napoleon Bonaparte

France · 1769–1821

General & Emperor

Medieval coin bearing the image of Charlemagne

Charlemagne

France · 747–814

King of the Franks & Emperor

Medieval miniature depicting Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc

France · 1412–1431

Military leader & saint

Painted portrait of King Louis XIV

Louis XIV

France · 1638–1715

King of France

Painted portrait of Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette

France · 1755–1793

Queen of France

Photograph of Gustave Eiffel

Gustave Eiffel

France · 1832–1923

Civil engineer

Photograph of painter Claude Monet

Claude Monet

France · 1840–1926

Painter

Painted portrait of René Descartes

René Descartes

France · 1596–1650

Philosopher & mathematician

Portrait of Simone de Beauvoir

Simone de Beauvoir

France · 1908–1986

Philosopher and writer

Portrait of Voltaire

Voltaire

France · 1694–1778

Writer and philosopher

Portrait of Louis Pasteur

Louis Pasteur

France · 1822–1895

Chemist and microbiologist

Photograph of Édith Piaf

Édith Piaf

France · 1915–1963

Singer

Photograph of Josephine Baker

Josephine Baker

France · 1906–1975

Entertainer and French Resistance member

Portrait of Blaise Pascal

Blaise Pascal

France · 1623–1662

Mathematician and philosopher

Portrait of Aristide Briand

Aristide Briand

France · 1862–1932

Statesman

Photograph of Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel

France · 1883–1971

Fashion designer

Photograph of Le Corbusier

Le Corbusier

France · 1887–1965

Architect and urban planner

Photograph of Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane

France · born 1972

Footballer and manager