Victor Noir - Aftermath

Aftermath

A public outcry followed and on 12 January, led by political activist Auguste Blanqui, more than 100,000 people joined Noir's funeral procession to a cemetery in Neuilly. Attendance in this procession was regarded as a civic duty for republicans. When Sadi Carnot endorsed electoral candidates, he often identified them as such attendees. ("Il a été au convoi de Victor Noir.")

At a time when the Emperor was already unpopular, Pierre's acquittal on the murder charge caused enormous public outrage that erupted into a number of violent demonstrations. However a plebiscite was held over a new more liberal constitution and was approved by a crushing majority. The Republican cause appeared to be lost.

Separate events however led to the Franco-Prussian War which resulted in the overthrow of the Emperor's regime on 4 September 1870. In 1891, following the establishment of the Third Republic, the body of Victor Noir was moved to Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.