Profile of King Louis XVI of France

 

Full Name: Louis XVI (Louis-Auguste) Date of Birth: August 23, 1754
Date of Death: January 21, 1793
Cause of Death: Executed by guillotine

Family and Relationships
King Louis XVI was the last absolute monarch of France before the French Revolution. He was the grandson of King Louis XV and the son of Louis, Dauphin of France, and Maria Josepha of Saxony.

In 1770, he married Marie Antoinette, the Austrian archduchess and daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I. They had four children, but only one, Marie Thérèse, survived into adulthood.

How He Died
Louis XVI was executed by guillotine on January 21, 1793, at the height of the French Revolution. He was convicted of conspiracy and high treason against the French Republic after the monarchy was abolished in 1792. His execution took place at the Place de la Révolution (now Place de la Concorde) in Paris.

Interesting Facts

• Louis XVI was known for his indecisiveness and lack of political skill, which contributed to the fall of the monarchy.
• He attempted to reform France’s financial system, but his efforts were blocked by the nobility.
• He and Marie Antoinette tried to escape France in 1791 during the Flight to Varennes, but they were caught and brought back to Paris.
• His reign saw the beginning of the French Revolution (1789), a period of radical social and political upheaval in France.
• He was the first French king to be officially tried and executed by his own people.
• His wife, Marie Antoinette, was executed nine months later, on October 16, 1793.

How History Has Depicted Him

• Louis XVI is often portrayed as a weak and indecisive ruler, overshadowed by the events of the Revolution.
• Some historians argue that he was a well-meaning but ineffective king who failed to manage France’s economic and social crises.
• His execution marked a turning point in world history, symbolizing the end of absolute monarchy in France.
• He has been depicted in literature and films as a tragic figure, caught in the storm of a revolution he could not control.
• His reign and downfall remain one of the most studied periods in history, illustrating the dangers of poor leadership in times of crisis.

Louis XVI’s legacy is one of revolution and transformation, as his death paved the way for the rise of the French Republic and the modern political landscape of France.