Malcolm Rivera
Louis XVI was the last king of France before the monarchy was abolished during the French Revolution. He was forced to accept the French Constitution of 1791, thus turning the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy. However, he was insincere when it came to accepting the Constitution and remained opposed to the Revolutionary process. He was unwilling to cede his royal power to the Revolutionary government and was found guilty of treason. He was guillotined on 21 January 1793.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Unwillingness to cede royal power | Refusal to communicate with deputies assembled at Versailles |
| Incapacity to rule | Indecision |
| Irresolution | Distracted by personal hobbies and the death of his eldest son |
| Surrender to reactionary influences | Refusal to follow secret advice from the Comte de Mirabeau |
| Lack of self-confidence | Abdication of responsibilities |
| Failure to address serious fiscal problems | Attempts to escape from the capital |
| Immaturity | Refusal to compromise |
| Alienation from the new democratic government | Imprisonment of the royal family |
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What You'll Learn
- Louis XVI was immature, indecisive, and lacked self-confidence
- He was reluctant to cede his royal power and was found guilty of treason
- He was insincere when accepting the Constitution and remained opposed to the Revolution
- He was alienated by the new democratic government and its treatment of his family
- He was influenced by his queen, who was blamed for the court's political duplicity
Louis XVI was immature, indecisive, and lacked self-confidence
Louis XVI was the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution. He was the son of Louis, Dauphin of France, and Maria Josepha of Saxony. Louis XVI's reign was marked by attempts to reform the French government in accordance with Enlightenment ideas, including efforts to increase religious tolerance and abolish the death penalty for deserters. However, he was unsuccessful in implementing these reforms due to opposition from the French nobility.
Louis XVI's personality has been described as immature, indecisive, and lacking in self-confidence. These traits may have contributed to his inability to accept a constitutional monarchy and adapt to the changing political landscape in France during the Revolution. Here are some reasons why:
Immaturity
Louis XVI's immaturity may have stemmed from his upbringing and the loss of his parents at a young age. He became the new Dauphin at eleven years old when his father died in 1765, and his mother died shortly after in 1767. This early responsibility, coupled with a strict and conservative education, may have contributed to a sense of immaturity as he lacked the guidance and support of his parents during his formative years.
Indecisiveness
Louis XVI's indecisiveness is well-documented. He struggled with making firm decisions and often tried to please everyone, which made him appear weak and uncertain. His instructors, Abbé Berthier and Abbé Soldini, may have influenced this trait by teaching him that timidity was a virtue in strong monarchs and that he should keep his thoughts hidden. This indecisiveness had real consequences, such as during negotiations between the Crown and moderate politicians, which failed due in part to Louis XVI's indecision.
Lack of Self-Confidence
The lack of self-confidence in Louis XVI could be attributed to his personality and the challenges he faced as a king. He desired to be loved by his people and often explained the good intentions behind his actions. However, his inability to make firm decisions and stand by them may have contributed to a sense of self-doubt, especially as his attempts at reform were met with opposition and hostility.
In conclusion, Louis XVI's immaturity, indecisiveness, and lack of self-confidence may have been interrelated and contributed to his inability to accept a constitutional monarchy. His upbringing, education, and personal traits shaped his approach to kingship, but ultimately, he could not adapt to the changing political landscape and the growing demands for reform during the French Revolution.
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He was reluctant to cede his royal power and was found guilty of treason
Louis XVI's reluctance to cede his royal power was evident in his refusal to acknowledge the abolition of feudalism and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. Despite appearing publicly to accept his new role as a constitutional monarch, he privately believed that the French Revolution would burn itself out. This fundamental weakness in his character, coupled with his incapacity to rule, irresolution, and surrender to reactionary influences, made him unable to establish a limited constitutional monarchy in France.
Louis's unwillingness to cede his royal power was also influenced by his queen, Marie-Antoinette, who encouraged him to reject the advice of moderate constitutionalists and commit to subterfuge and deception. The king's attempt to escape from the capital in June 1791 further damaged his credibility as a constitutional monarch.
The trial of Louis XVI, officially known as "Citizen Louis Capet" after being dethroned, began before the National Convention in December 1792. He was charged with high treason and other crimes, including conspiring with counter-revolutionaries and planning an escape. Louis's defence team included Raymond Desèze, François Denis Tronchet, and Guillaume-Chrétien de Lamoignon de Malesherbes, who had only two weeks to prepare their arguments.
During the trial, Louis was accused of disbursing millions to "effect this corruption" and planning an escape. He responded by stating, "I felt no greater pleasure than that of relieving the needy." He also denied knowledge of the Champ de Mars Massacre in July 1791 and claimed he never intended to spill blood when he ordered an army to march against the citizens of Paris.
Louis XVI was ultimately found guilty of treason and condemned to death. He was guillotined on January 21, 1793, along with his wife, Marie-Antoinette, nine months later. Their son, Louis XVII, died at the age of 10 while imprisoned by the Revolutionary government.
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He was insincere when accepting the Constitution and remained opposed to the Revolution
Louis XVI's insincerity in accepting the Constitution and his opposition to the Revolution can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, he was reluctant to embrace the changes brought about by the Revolution and clung to the idea of absolute monarchy. This is evident in his dismissal of Necker in July 1789, which sparked popular demonstrations and ultimately led to the storming of the Bastille. Despite publicly appearing to accept his new role as a constitutional monarch, he privately continued to believe that the Revolution would fizzle out.
Furthermore, Louis XVI's character flaws, such as his indecision, irresolution, and lack of political insight, contributed to his insincerity. He was unable or unwilling to adapt to the changing political landscape and compromised only when forced to do so by circumstances or the National Assembly. For example, he refused to follow the secret advice of the Comte de Mirabeau, which could have helped him navigate the political situation more effectively.
The king's resistance to popular demands and his attempts to restore his absolute power also highlight his insincerity. He organised an escape plot in 1791, known as the Flight to Varennes, which failed and further damaged public opinion of the monarchy. After being forced to accept the Constitution, Louis XVI continued to pursue counter-revolutionary measures, such as encouraging a policy of war with Austria in the hope that a French military disaster would pave the way for his authority's restoration.
Lastly, Louis XVI's personal feelings of alienation from the new democratic government and his dissatisfaction with being confined in the Tuileries Palace also played a role in his opposition to the Revolution. He regarded his actions during his constitutional reign as provisional and even referred to his palace as a prison. These factors indicate that Louis XVI's acceptance of the Constitution was not genuine, and he remained opposed to the fundamental changes brought about by the French Revolution.
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He was alienated by the new democratic government and its treatment of his family
Louis XVI was ultimately unwilling to cede his royal power to the Revolutionary government, and this stance led to his condemnation for treason and subsequent death by guillotine on 21 January 1793. His wife, Marie-Antoinette, was also put to death, and their son Louis (XVII) died while imprisoned.
Louis XVI was alienated by the new democratic government and its treatment of his family for several reasons. Firstly, he was kept as a virtual prisoner in the Tuileries Palace, which he described as a "prison". He was also irked by the new regime's refusal to allow him to have a confessor. The new democratic government was also negatively reacting to the traditional role of the monarch, which would have been a concern for Louis XVI, given his reluctance to cede power.
The new government's treatment of his family was also a significant factor in his alienation. On 5 October 1789, an angry mob of Parisian men and women, incited by revolutionaries, marched on the Palace of Versailles, where the royal family lived. They infiltrated the palace and attempted to kill the queen, Marie-Antoinette, who was associated with a frivolous and decadent lifestyle. This event forced the royal family to relocate to the Tuileries Palace in Paris, where Louis XVI felt imprisoned.
The revolutionary government's increasing radicalism and the masses' growing uncontrollability also likely contributed to Louis XVI's alienation. As the Revolution progressed, several of its leading figures, including Honoré Mirabeau, secretly plotted with the Crown to restore its power in a new constitutional form. However, these schemes were ultimately unsuccessful and exposed.
Louis XVI's own actions and indecision also played a role in his alienation from the new democratic government. He refused to follow the secret advice tendered to him by the Comte de Mirabeau, abdicating his responsibilities and attempting to escape from Paris in 1791. This escape attempt, known as the Flight to Varennes, severely damaged any positive public opinion for the monarchy and further alienated Louis XVI from the new democratic government.
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He was influenced by his queen, who was blamed for the court's political duplicity
Louis XVI was the last king of France before the French Revolution of 1789. He was ultimately found guilty of treason and condemned to death by guillotine in 1793. His wife, Marie Antoinette, was executed nine months later.
Louis XVI was forced to accept a constitutional monarchy by the National Assembly in the aftermath of his failed Flight to Varennes. However, he was still unwilling to cede his royal power to the Revolutionary government. One reason for this could be the influence of his queen, Marie Antoinette, who was blamed for the court's political duplicity.
Marie Antoinette was initially unpopular among the general public due to events such as the Flour War of 1775, where her reputation was damaged by a series of riots caused by the high prices of flour and bread. She was also blamed for France's financial crisis, with the country's inability to pay off its debt blamed on her lavish spending. This resulted in her being nicknamed "Madame Deficit" in 1787.
Marie Antoinette's influence on the king is evident in his refusal to follow the advice of the comte de Mirabeau, his abdication of responsibilities, and his disastrous attempt to escape from Paris in 1791. The queen's political choices were often viewed as attacks on the Revolution and attempts to reinstall the Old Regime, with her actions blamed for Louis XVI's resistance to the new constitution.
The queen's foreign identity as an Austrian also played a role in the narrative of her political duplicity. She was accused of sympathizing with France's enemies and was seen as a symbol of Austrian conspiracy, further reinforcing her role as the anti-hero of the French Revolution.
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Frequently asked questions
Louis XVI was immature and lacked self-confidence, and while he wanted to be a good king, he faced enormous debt and rising resentment towards a despotic monarchy. He was also indecisive, which weakened negotiations between the Crown and moderate politicians.
Louis XVI's inability to rule, his irresolution, and his surrender to reactionary influences were partially responsible for the failure to establish a limited constitutional monarchy in France.
Yes, on 14-25 September 1791, Louis XVI accepted the French Constitution of 1791, turning the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy. However, he was insincere when it came to accepting the Constitution and remained opposed to the Revolutionary process.
