Louis XVI: a short biography, children

King Louis XVI was born in the Palace of Versailles on August 23, 1754. Then he received the title of Duke of Berry. His father was the Dauphin (successor of the prophet), Louis Ferdinand, who, in turn, was the son of King Louis XV of France .

Childhood

As a child, the child was the second of seven children in the family. His older brother was a namesake who died at the age of 9 in 1761. While Louis grew up in his shadow, his parents did not notice him. He was fond of hunting, which often went with his reigning grandfather. After his father died of tuberculosis in 1765, the title of Dauphin passed to an 11-year-old child. He began his hasty training in order to prepare for the throne, which he was now to inherit from his grandfather.

Heir

In 1770, the future Louis XVI, who was 15 years old, married Marie Antoinette. She was the daughter of the Dauphin cousin on the maternal line, and also was the daughter of the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Franz I. The French public was hostile to the marriage, since more recently the country had already concluded an alliance with the Austrian monarch and suffered a shameful defeat in the Seven Years War (1756 - 1763). At that time, many colonies in North America, given to Great Britain, were lost. Crowned couple for a long time could not acquire offspring, because of which in France even appeared caustic pamphlets, affecting the health of Louis. Nevertheless, from 1778 to 1786, 4 children (2 sons and 2 daughters) were born.

The growing heir was very different in character from the powerful grandfather. The young man was shy, quiet, modest and completely inconsistent with the then royal court.

Reforms

In 1774, Louis XV died and a new king was erected to the throne - Louis XVI. The monarch sympathized with the ideas of the Enlightenment, because of what immediately sent into retirement many odious ministers and advisers of the last reign, which differed in reaction. In particular, Madame Du Barry, the Chancellor, etc. were excommunicated from the court. Reforms aimed at abandoning feudalism were started, royal expenses for the environment were significantly reduced. To all these changes was the request of the French society, which wanted civil liberties and the cessation of domination of the authorities.

The biggest response was made in the sphere of finance. The general controller for this part was Turgot, who in the future was firmly associated with the reforms. He proposed to redistribute taxes, to increase taxes from the upper income groups of society. Internal customs posts were abolished, which seized traders, destroyed monopolies. The sale of bread became free, which greatly facilitated the existence of the estate of peasants, who had the least means to live. In 1774, local parliaments were restored, which acted as judicial and representative bodies.

Conservative resistance

Among the commoners, all these ideas were received with enthusiasm. But the upper strata of French society resisted the innovations initiated by King Louis XVI. The nobility and the clergy did not want to lose their privileges. There were demands to remove the post from Turgot, who was the main inspiration for change. Louis XVI was characterized by an uncertain character and therefore lost to the nobility. Turgot was removed, and in finance a complete anarchy began. New ministers and managers could not do anything with a growing hole in the budget, but only took new loans from creditors. Debts were associated with a decrease in revenue from tax revenues. In addition, intra-country trade could not move to new rails immediately, because of which the economic crisis in the cities, including a lack of bread, began.

Compromise

Against this background, in the 80s, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette tried to maneuver in the changing conditions of French society. The first manifestations of counter-reforms aimed at smoothing the radical changes left after Turgot began.

For the third estate, the positions of officers and judges were again closed. The feudals returned when they paid lower taxes. All this caused ferment in society. All were dissatisfied: noblemen from uncertainty of the king, townspeople from a heavy economic situation, and peasants from that the begun reforms have been curtailed.

At this time, France participated in the War of Independence, which unfolded in North America. The rebel colonies received the support that Louis XVI provided them. The operation to weaken the Great Britain required that we speak on the same side as the revolutionaries. It was completely uncharacteristic for absolute monarchs, one of whom was still Louis XVI. A brief biography of the king says that the king's policy aroused dissatisfaction with his "colleagues" - the rulers of Austria, Russia, etc.

At the same time, the numerous French officers who fought in America returned to their homeland quite different people. They were alien to the old order of the homeland, where feudalism still reigned. Out of the ocean, they felt what freedom is. The most famous officer from this stratum was Gilbert Lafayette.

Financial crisis

The second half of the 1980s was marked by new financial problems throughout the state. Half measures taken by the king and his ministers did not suit anyone because of their inefficiency. A new measure was the convening of the parliament, where a reformed tax was to be introduced. Its initiator was Louis XVI. A photo of the pictures with his image shows us a gorgeously dressed monarch, while in the state the crisis is ripe. Certainly, this set many against the king. The parliament refused to impose new taxes, after which it was dispersed, and some of its members were arrested. This outraged virtually all residents of the country. As a compromise, it was decided to convene the General States.

General States

The first meeting of the new representative body took place in 1789. Inside, there were several opposing groups representing different social strata. In particular, the third estate declared itself to be the National Assembly and invited the nobility and the clergy to join the new faction. It was an attempt on the power of the monarch, who was considered a given god. Violation of the generally accepted traditions that existed in the kingdom for many centuries meant that the National Assembly positions itself as the voice of the people.

Since the third estate had a majority in the General States, it blocked the decrees of the king about restoring the old order. This meant that now Louis was faced with the choice of forcibly dissolving the General States or obeying their decisions. The monarch once again showed his desire for compromise and he himself advised the clergy and nobility to join the coalition. He became a constitutional ruler.

Insurrection

This turn of events was outraged by the conservative part of French society, which was still great and influential. The inconsistent Ludovik began to listen to the dukes and nobles, who demanded the entry of troops into Paris and the resignation of the initiators of radical reforms. That was done.

After this the inhabitants of Paris openly ceased to obey the king and rose up. July 14, 1789 was seized Bastille - prison and a symbol of absolutism. Some officials and nobles were killed. The most seriously-minded began to form detachments of the national guard, which served to protect the success of the Revolution. Before the new threat, Louis again made concessions, withdrawing troops from Paris and coming to the National Council.

At the head of the Revolution

After the victory of the Revolution, cardinal reforms began. First of all, the feudal system that existed in France since the Middle Ages was destroyed. At the same time, every month the king lost his influence on what was happening around him. Power sailed away from his hands. All state institutions were paralyzed both in the capital and in the provinces. One of the consequences of this change was the disappearance of bread from Paris. Chern, who lives in the city, furiously tried to besiege the castle of Versailles, where was the residence of Louis.

The rioters demanded from the king that he move to Paris from the suburbs. In the capital, the monarch became an actual hostage to the revolutionaries. Gradually in their circles there grew supporters of the republic.

The royal family, too, was uneasy. Louis XVI, the children of the monarch and the nearest entourage increasingly depended on Marie Antoinette, who was sharply against the revolutionaries. She urged her husband to turn to the help of foreign rulers, who were also frightened by French freethinkers.

The Flight of the King

Due to the fact that the king remained in Paris, the actions of the revolutionaries received a legal shade. Versailles decided to escape Louis XVI. He wanted to lead an anti-revolutionary force or be abroad, from where he could try to lead the loyal soldiers. In 1791 the entire royal family incognito left Paris, but was identified in Varenna and detained.

To save his life, Louis said that he fully supports the radical changes in the country. At this time, France was already fully prepared for an open conflict with European monarchies, who feared an attempt on the old order on the continent. In 1792, Ludovic, while actually on a powder keg, declared war on Austria.

However, the campaign went wrong from the very beginning. The Austrian units invaded France and were already close to Paris. Anarchy began in the city, and the new rebels captured the royal palace. Louis and his family were sent to prison. September 21, 1792 he was formally deprived of his royal title and became an ordinary citizen with the surname Capet. In France, the First Republic was declared.

Court and execution

The shaky position of the prisoner was finally undermined when a secret safe containing secret letters and documents was found in his former castle. From them it followed that the royal family was intriguing against the Revolution, in particular, appealed for help to foreign rulers. At this time, the radicals were just waiting for an excuse to finally get rid of Louis.

Therefore, the court started and interrogations in the Convention. The former king was charged with encroachment on national security. The Convention decided that the defendant deserved to die. The execution of Louis XVI took place on January 21, 1793. When he was on the scaffold, his last words were the question of the fate of the expedition of Jean-Francois de La Perouse. Marie Antoinette was beheaded a few months later, in October.

The execution of the king led to the fact that the European monarchs finally united against the Republic. The news of the death of Louis became the reason for declaring war on England, Spain and the Netherlands. A little later, Russia joined the coalition.