The Comédie Française is an institution founded in 1680 by sun king Louis XIV. He gave two theater troops, including Molière’s the monopoly to perform in Paris. Their repertoire was composed of classic plays by Racine, Corneille, a few other playwrights and of course Molière’s.

During the reign of terror, the most radical period of the French Revolution, the Comédie was shut down, and then reopened by the following government.

In the winter of 1812, while He was retreating from Russia, Napoleon laid down 87 articles reorganizing the statutes of the Comédie Française. Over two centuries later, it still runs on these statues which have remained nearly unchanged.