The Siege of Paris 1870: Starvation, Rats, and Defiance

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War, from September 1870 to January 1871. They discuss how Prussian armies encircled the city, the collapse of the Second Empire after Sedan, and the formation of the Government of National Defense. The conversation covers the desperate measures Parisians took to survive — eating horses, cats, dogs, and even rats from the Paris sewers — as well as the use of balloon mail and pigeon post to communicate with the outside world. They touch on the role of Léon Gambetta, who escaped the city in a hot air balloon to organize resistance in the provinces, and the failed sorties that led to eventual capitulation. The episode sets the stage for the Paris Commune, which broke out shortly after the siege ended. Lucas contrasts the siege with other key moments in French history, providing a vivid picture of a city under extreme duress. The episode ends with a reflection on how this defeat shaped French national identity and the desire for revenge that simmered until World War I. #SiegeOfParis #FrancoPrussianWar #LéonGambetta #Paris1870 #BalloonMail #PigeonPost #GovernmentOfNationalDefense #Prussia #OttoVonBismarck #NapoleonIII #Sedan #Starvation #Rats #FrenchHistory #19thCentury #War #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo