Seize Mai

Seize Mai (16th of May) is a name for the political crisis in France on May 16, 1877, involving a struggle for supremacy between the French President, Marshal MacMahon, and the republican-controlled Chamber of Deputies.

MacMahon, a monarchist, forced the resignation of the republican Prime Minister, Jules Simon, and appointed monarchists to the cabinet. The crisis dragged on until December, when MacMahon finally accepted defeat; he resigned in January 1879.