Flight to Varennes

• King Louis XVI and his family attempt to escape Paris to reach safety in Varennes.
• The royal family leaves the Tuileries Palace disguised as a common family.
• They travel in a coach, heading towards the eastern border of France.
• They are recognized in the town of Varennes by local citizens and subsequently arrested.
• The royal family's capture marks a significant moment in the French Revolution.

The Flight to Varennes, which took place on the night of 20 June 1791, was a significant event during the French Revolution when King Louis XVI and his family attempted to escape from Paris to the eastern border of France. This escape plan was devised because the royal family felt increasingly threatened by the revolutionary government and the shifting political landscape. Disguised as the servants of a wealthy Russian baroness, the royal family left the Tuileries Palace under the cover of night.

The royal convoy comprised three berlins (horse-drawn carriages) and progressed slowly due to the weight and size of the baggage they carried. The king, dressed as a valet, and Queen Marie Antoinette, posing as a governess, escorted their two children and other members of their entourage. To avoid suspicion, they took an indirect route towards Montmédy, a fortress near the Austrian Netherlands (present-day Belgium), where royalist forces were gathered.

The journey initially proceeded smoothly, but delays and miscommunication plagued the escape. The courier who carried important dispatches that would have expedited their passage miscalculated and failed to coordinate sufficiently with awaiting loyalists. Furthermore, the royal family was recognized en route by several individuals, most notably by Jean-Baptiste Drouet, the postmaster of Sainte-Menehould, who noted the king's likeness to the portrait on assignats (revolutionary currency).

Having identified the king, Drouet alerted the authorities in Varennes-en-Argonne. As a result, when the royal family reached Varennes late on 21 June 1791, they were intercepted by the local officials. Despite Louis XVI's efforts to assert his authority, the National Guard and municipal officers (under orders from the National Assembly) detained the family. They were subsequently forced to return to Paris under heavy guard, being jeered and insulted by the revolutionary populace now deeply distrustful of the monarchy.

The failure of the Flight to Varennes had significant repercussions. It dramatically eroded any remaining support for the monarchy and convinced many French citizens that Louis XVI was untrustworthy and in league with foreign monarchs. This event not only precipitated the king's eventual trial and execution but also radicalized segments of the National Assembly and strengthened the revolutionary cause. The legislative assembly soon began drafting the Constitution of 1791, which would severely limit the powers of the monarchy, marking a definitive shift towards a more republican form of government.

• The Flight to Varennes (a key event during the French Revolution) occurred on 20 June 1791, when King Louis XVI and his family attempted to escape from Paris to initiate a counter-revolution.
• Ironically, the royal family had their escape plan foiled by a mere leaflet that warned revolutionaries about their departure, showcasing the role of information in the Revolution.
• The King wore a disguise as a common man but was easily recognized; the absence of his royal insignias did little to conceal his identity, illustrating social perceptions of monarchy.
• The capture of the royal family at Varennes (approximately 250 kilometers from Paris) fueled widespread resentment against the monarchy, leading to greater radicalization among the revolutionaries.
• This failed escape further eroded the King's authority, culminating in his eventual arrest and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (passed shortly after the event) intensifying revolutionary sentiments.