Louis XVI

Louis XVI, born on 23 August 1754, ascended to the French throne in 1774 following the death of his grandfather, Louis XV. His reign was marked by a series of financial crises exacerbated by France's involvement in the American War of Independence, which strained the already depleted royal coffers. Louis's decision to support the American colonies against Britain added significantly to France's debt burden.

In an effort to remedy the fiscal state, Louis XVI summoned the Estates-General on 5 May 1789. This assembly had not been convened since 1614 and was composed of representatives from the three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners. The meeting was intended to address the financial turmoil but quickly turned into a broader demand for political change, leading to the formation of the National Assembly by the Third Estate (representatives of the common people) on 17 June 1789. This body took a bold step by swearing the Tennis Court Oath on 20 June 1789, pledging not to disband until a new constitution had been established.

Louis XVI's reaction to the growing unrest was indecisive. He initially attempted reforms by appointing financial advisors such as Jacques Necker, who were popular among the common people but often met resistance from the nobility. Following the fall of the Bastille on 14 July 1789—an event symbolizing the collapse of royal authority—Louis XVI reluctantly accepted the tricolor cockade (a symbol of the Revolution) and formally recognized the National Assembly, although he maintained his absolute power in practice.

The situation further deteriorated with events such as the Women's March on Versailles on 5 October 1789, where a crowd of Parisian women demanded bread and forced the royal family to relocate to the Tuileries Palace in Paris. This move aimed to bring the king closer to the revolutionaries and under their watchful eye.

Louis XVI continued to lose popularity, especially after the failed Flight to Varennes on 21 June 1791, when he and his family attempted to escape to Austria. This event, perceived as an act of betrayal, resulted in the king being viewed as a prisoner of the Revolution. Consequently, the monarchy's power weakened further, leading to Louis's reluctant acceptance of the Constitution of 1791, which established a constitutional monarchy.

The French Revolution entered a more radical phase with the declaration of war against Austria on 20 April 1792, which exacerbated domestic issues and fueled revolutionary fervor. During this period, known as the Reign of Terror, revolutionary leaders such as Maximilien Robespierre gained influence. Louis XVI was arrested on 10 August 1792 following the insurrection at the Tuileries and was suspended from power by the National Convention.

Accused of conspiracy and high treason, Louis XVI was tried and found guilty by the National Convention. On 21 January 1793, he was executed by guillotine in the Place de la Révolution (now Place de la Concorde). His execution marked the end of the monarchy and the rise of the First French Republic.

• Louis XVI was only 20 years old when he ascended to the throne in 1774, inheriting a financially troubled kingdom that would soon be embroiled in revolution.
• Despite his attempts at reform (such as convening the Estates-General in 1789), Louis XVI's indecisiveness and lack of political acumen contributed significantly to the unrest.
• He was executed by guillotine on 21 January 1793, making him one of the first reigning monarchs in Europe to be tried and put to death by his own citizens.
• Historians note that Louis XVI was more interested in hunting and papermaking than in ruling; he even had a workshop created at Versailles for his hobby of woodworking.
• Interestingly, Louis XVI's execution sentence was based largely on his perceived betrayal of France, especially after he attempted to flee the country in June 1791, an event known as the Flight to Varennes.