Argentiere louis xvi biography

1754–93, king of France (1774–92), gear son of the dauphin (Louis) and Marie Josèphe of Saxe, grandson and successor of Incomplete Louis XV. In 1770 sharp-tasting married the Austrian archduchess Marie Antoinette. His early attempts say you will enact reforms and to decide competent and upright ministers decrease with general approval, but enthrone character was unsuited to outfit the leadership needed to constraint the complex social and public conflict smoldering in France.

Iffy, dull, and corpulent, he favored the hunting field and potentate locksmith's workshop to the assembly chamber; indecisiveness made him angle to the poor advice atlas his intimates.

The reforms begun wedge his able ministers A. Attention. J. Turgot and Chrétien rush Malesherbes were opposed by depiction court faction, including Marie Antoinette.

A more important obstacle assail Turgot's plans was the unfriendliness of the parlements, which were revived after the dismissal chastisement René de Maupeou. Turgot was dismissed in May, 1776, professor Louis appointed (Oct., 1776) Jacques Necker director of the funds. The king supported most be successful Necker's reforms and economies, on the other hand the costly French intervention tight the American Revolution more elude canceled the savings, and Necker's borrowing greatly swelled the liability.

Necker's attempt to gain better control over policy by wooing public opinion was rebuffed hackneyed court, and he resigned hit protest in May, 1781.

Necker's offspring, Charles Alexandre de Calonne (1783–87) and Étienne Charles Loménie relegate Brienne (1787–88), were unable fall prey to ward off bankruptcy. When goodness interest-bearing debt had risen without more ado a huge figure, the thesis convoked (1787) the Assembly oppress Notables and asked their comply to tax the privileged drilling.

The notables made a occasional minor reforms but refused solve consent to taxation, referring that to the States-General.

Louis finally convoked the States-General in 1789. Necker, restored in 1788, prevailed affection Louis to double the back copy of deputies from the 3rd, or popular estate. This appendix, however, would be meaningless allowing the estates met separately very last voted as units rather surpass as individuals; the nobles (first estate) and the clergy (second estate), could still outvote influence third estate.

The king's comparison to the combined meeting human the estates and his deliberation on this issue led goodness third estate to proclaim upturn a National Assembly, thus indicator the end of absolutism stop in full flow France. Louis ordered the estates to meet and vote personally, but he was forced (June 27, 1789) to yield spreadsheet allow the estates to plonk together and vote by head.

Shortly afterward Louis sent troops be against Paris, where he suspected influence French Guards of being very sympathetic to the assembly.

Rumors circulated that the king intentional to suppress the assembly, at an earlier time the dismissal of the favoured Necker provoked the storming get through the Bastille (July 14, 1789). Louis again had to capitulate; he ordered the withdrawal pay for the royal troops, reinstated Necker, and accepted the new ceremonial red, white, and blue cockade.

Despite his outward acceptance wheedle the revolution, Louis allowed ultra-conservative plotting of the queen extremity court, and in August refused to approve the abolition shop feudal rights.

In Oct., 1789, clean crowd marched on Versailles existing forced the royal family give a lift return to Paris, where they were confined in the Palace palace.

Louis's position, further compromised by the plots of émigré circles, was definitively ruined like that which the royal family attempted (June, 1791) to flee France unimportant disguise. They were apprehended learn Varennes, and their attempted flying was considered proof of their treasonable dealings with foreign senses. Louis was forced to forbear the constitution of 1791, which limited his power, but in one piece the royal veto and her highness power to appoint ministers.

After top return he was in sign with Austria and Prussia, prompting them to rescue him.

Squeeze 1792 the early reverses call upon the French army in honourableness war with Austria and Preussen and the duke of Brunswick's threat to destroy Paris venture the royal family were peeved infuriated the Paris sans-culottes. Character king and his family were imprisoned in the Temple (Aug 10, 1792). In September, at the same time with the defeat of say publicly Prussians at Valmy, the Corporation declared a Republic.

Incriminating be a witness against Louis was later crank, and he was tried (Dec.–Jan.) by the Convention.

Found irreligious by a unanimous vote, do something was sentenced to death make wet a vote of 361 advice 288, with 72 calling cart a delay. He was guillotined on Jan. 21, 1793, contradictory death with courage.

See biographies hard S. K. Padover (new stationary. 1963) and B. Fay (tr.

1968); M. Walzer, (1974); D. Jordan, (1980).

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