The Canut Revolts: A Timeline of Workers’ Uprisings in Lyon

The canut revolts in 19th-century Lyon are among the most significant events in French social history. These uprisings, which took place primarily in 1831 and 1834, highlight the silk workers’ struggle for better working conditions and fair pay in the face of pressure from silk merchants and the authorities.

At the same time, a persistent rumor has portrayed the canuts as being hostile toward Joseph-Marie Jacquard, the inventor of the famous Jacquard loom. According to legend, the Lyonnais weavers publicly destroyed his machine out of fear of automation and job loss. However, this anecdote is not supported by historical evidence.

This article offers a chronological and in-depth analysis of the two major canut revolts, exploring their root causes, social stakes, and consequences. It also aims to clarify the true relationship between Jacquard and the Lyonnais silk workers.

Lyon and the Silk Industry: A Hotbed of Tensions

At the beginning of the 19th century, Lyon was the nerve center of France’s silk industry. The city owed its prosperity to the booming weaving trade, which employed more than 30,000 workers known as canuts. Working in cramped workshops, often located in the Croix-Rousse district, these highly skilled artisans played a central role in Lyon’s economy.

However, their social situation was precarious. The canuts were not salaried employees; they worked on commission for silk merchants (soyeux), who set the prices and fostered fierce competition. Economic pressure, combined with a lack of wage regulation, pushed many workers into growing poverty—sowing the seeds for the uprisings to come.

The First Canut Revolt (1831)

Economic and Social Context

In 1831, the economic outlook for the canuts was grim. Despite rising demand for silk, weavers’ wages steadily declined due to competition among merchants and the absence of social protections.

Working conditions were harsh:

Canuts often worked 16 to 18 hours a day.
Their income was unstable and depended entirely on orders from merchants.
Rising food prices worsened the workers' hardship.

In response, a key demand emerged: the establishment of a guaranteed minimum wage to ensure a stable and decent income.

The November 1831 Uprising

Tensions reached a boiling point in November 1831. After negotiations with authorities and merchants failed, the canuts marched down from the Croix-Rousse hills to Place des Terreaux, carrying a black flag inscribed with the words:
“Live by working, or die by fighting.”

On November 21, violent clashes broke out between the insurgents and the army. The revolt lasted three days and left nearly 600 people dead or wounded. On November 23, the canuts seized control of City Hall—a temporary victory.

But the government responded with force. On December 3, troops led by Marshal Soult retook the city. Many insurgents were arrested, and the rebellion was crushed—for the time being.

The Second Canut Revolt (1834)

Ongoing Tensions

Following the suppression of the first uprising, conditions for the canuts did not improve. By 1833, employers were already considering another wage cut, reigniting workers’ resentment.

In February 1834, tensions flared again: a general strike broke out. Nearly 6,000 workers from Croix-Rousse, the right bank of the Saône, and the central-southern Presqu’île stopped work, demanding better living and working conditions.

The April 1834 Uprising

In April, the situation reached a breaking point. On April 9, 1834, a second insurrection erupted. The canuts, joined by radical republicans, barricaded the streets and clashed with government forces.

The repression was brutal. The government deployed 12,000 soldiers to Lyon, who retook the city block by block. After six days of intense fighting, the revolt was crushed, leaving more than 600 dead.

This second uprising marked a decisive shift: workers’ movements would now face increasingly militarized and severe repression.

Joseph-Marie Jacquard and the Canuts: A Misunderstood Relationship

The Invention of the Jacquard Loom

Born in 1752 in Lyon, Joseph-Marie Jacquard revolutionized the textile industry in 1801 with the invention of an innovative loom. The Jacquard loom enabled weavers to produce intricate patterns with unparalleled precision, boosting productivity and fabric quality.

The Myth of the Loom’s Destruction

A persistent legend claims that the canuts publicly destroyed Jacquard’s loom, fearing mass unemployment due to automation.

In reality, this anecdote is baseless. While some workers initially expressed concern about technological change, the Jacquard loom gradually became widespread without any recorded public destruction or lasting hostility toward its inventor.

Conclusion

The canut revolts of 1831 and 1834 were among France’s earliest organized labor struggles. They reflect a quest for social recognition and improved working conditions in the face of economic and industrial upheaval.

Although both uprisings were violently suppressed, they marked a major turning point in the history of labor activism in France.

Finally, the relationship between Joseph-Marie Jacquard and the canuts is often misunderstood. Far from being an enemy of the workers, Jacquard was an innovator whose invention helped shape Lyon’s textile industry for generations to come.

Today, the canut revolts remain a powerful symbol of social struggle and worker resistance—an enduring legacy in France’s modern social history.