1793/10/05

       The Reign of Terror continues—14 Vendemiaire year II: The National Convention, of the Republic of France, adopts the Republican (metric) Calendar:

• Backdating the beginning of the calendar to September 21, 1792, renaming it 1 Vendemiaire Year I—the first full day of the French Republic, and the Autumnal Equinox;
• Renaming the twelve months of the year after natural phenomena, as opposed to Roman gods;
• Dividing each 30-day month into three “decades” of ten-days each; instead of naming the days after Roman gods, they are given French numerical names;
• Each day is divided into ten decimal hours; which in turn are divided into one-hundred decimal minutes; which in turn are divided into one-hundred decimal seconds.

       NOTE: A primary reason for the new calendar was to promote atheism: Catholics would not know which day was Sunday; nor would they be aware of the religious feast days.

       [added 6/20/2026]