"Well listen. Execution of Louis XVI. Louis was officially arrested on the … Louis XVI was executed in January 1793, and Marie Antoinette was executed by the guillotine on October 16 of that year. In the end, there was a revolution in France and a vast amount changes to the society and the government of France. Suspended and arrested following an abortive attempt to flee from the radical agitation of revolutionary Paris in 1792, he was tried by the National Convention, found guilty of treason, and executed on 21 January 1793. Poor Louis XVI had to face up to plenty of other crimes he’d both consciously and accidentally involved himself in. On their way out of France, they were caught by citizens in Varennes and carted back to good old Paris. His royal seal was to go to the Dauphin and his wedding ring to the Queen. On the cold, foggy morning of January 21, 1793—225 years ago—French King Louis XVI made the hour and a half journey through the city of Paris from the Temple, the fortified medieval monastery where he was imprisoned, to the Place de la Révolution, where the scaffold for his execution was assembled. Why French King Louis XVI was executed by guillotine. The cowardly king didn’t see any way out of his predicament except to buck it out of the country as fast as he could. The story spread widely and the phrase remains in use today to indicate the triumph of reason and logic over "religious superstition".[5]. He was executed so as to prevent the discontented in France who opposed the revolutionaries from having a focal point of resistance. Vive la République!" Edgeworth, Louis' Irish confessor, wrote in his memoirs: The path leading to the scaffold was extremely rough and difficult to pass; the King was obliged to lean on my arm, and from the slowness with which he proceeded, I feared for a moment that his courage might fail; but what was my astonishment, when arrived at the last step, I felt that he suddenly let go my arm, and I saw him cross with a firm foot the breadth of the whole scaffold; silence, by his look alone, fifteen or twenty drums that were placed opposite to me; and in a voice so loud, that it must have been heard at the Pont Tournant, I heard him pronounce distinctly these memorable words: "I die innocent of all the crimes laid to my charge; I Pardon those who have occasioned my death; and I pray to God that the blood you are going to shed may never be visited on France. Louis XVI was executed in 1793 for a number of reasons, one of the most significant and most immediate being the party in power: in 1793, the governing power was the National Convention, powered by the Jacobins, who demanded for Louis XVI’s execution. At a trial on 17 January 1793, the National Convention had convicted the king of high treason in a near-unanimous vote; while no one voted "not guilty", several deputies abstained. After receiving the priest's blessing, he went to meet Antoine Joseph Santerre, Commander of the Guard. Share 4. And when he tried to burden them with the responsibility of fixing the economy, the commons snapped— and their protests quickly turned violent. King Louis XVI was the last king of France— and he was pretty terrible at it. For more than an hour the carriage, preceded by drummers playing to drown out any support for the King and escorted by a cavalry troop with drawn sabres, made its way through Paris along a route lined with 80,000 men-at-arms (soldiers of the National Guard and sans-culottes). It was enough to try him with treason. [citation needed]. Relevance. History, 22.06.2019, aubreyfoster. For the deputies to the National Convention, now regicides, there could be no turning back. 0 0. At a trial on 17 January 1793, the National Convention had convicted the king of high treason in a near-unanimous vote; while no one voted "not guilty", several deputies abstained. Why was Louis XVI executed in 1793? So, timid little Louis XVI was forced out to the guillotine on January 21st, 1793, and executed by his people. Unfortunately, their vacation to Marie’s homeland didn’t exactly pan out. He had been accused of instigating the invasion of France by the other monarchies of Europe like Austria in order to destroy the Revolution and regain his power. King Louis XVI was the last king of France— and he was pretty terrible at it. The National convention struggles with the command of the French army which is slowly … These three qualities led to his … After dressing with the aid of his valet Jean-Baptiste Cléry, he went to meet with the non-juring Spanish priest Henry Essex Edgeworth to make his confession. Louis was found guilty of treason and executed at the guillotine on 21 January 1793. Two curates who had sworn fealty to the Revolution held a short memorial service at the church. …any event, the former king Louis XVI, now known simply as “Citizen Capet,” was executed on January 21, 1793, in an act of immense symbolic importance. A few weeks later the monarchy in France was abolished and Louis XVI was executed in 1793. He assembled the States-General, which represented the three tiers of citizens in society: the nobles, the clergy, and the commons. 1 decade ago . Not-so-surprisingly, this didn’t exactly work out in his favor. ", Henri Sanson was appointed Executioner of Paris from April 1793, and would later execute Marie Antoinette. De Molay (died 1314), the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, had reportedly cursed Louis' ancestor Philip the Fair, after the latter had sentenced him to burn at the stake based on false confessions. Narration by Dr. Nicholas B. Breyfogle. She was charged with aiding the enemy and inciting civil war. The French Revolution of 1789 saw the overthrow of the King Louis XVI, and a Republic put in its place based on the ideals of ‘liberté, égalité, fraternité’ (the French for liberty, equality and brotherhood).This ground-breaking event shocked nations across the world. In Paris, the guillotine was located at the Place de la Révolution (now the Place de la Concorde), located between the Champs-Elysées to the west and the Tuileries Garden to the east in Paris, France. Louis XVI was executed on January 21, 1793. A series of unfortunate events led to the deposition and ultimate execution of Louis XVI in January 1793. After donning the crown, things only got worse. Just a year later, Marie was convicted and issued the same punishment. Of course, after this event, Louis XVI hardly blinked an eye. He acknowledged it, yet he didn’t seem willing to do much about the issue fueling it. Louis XVI awoke early in the morning. On January 21, he walked steadfastly to the guillotine and was executed. The account of Sanson states: Arriving at the foot of the guillotine, Louis XVI looked for a moment at the instruments of his execution and asked Sanson why the drums had stopped beating. Louis 16th was executed on January 21st, 1793 by means of guillotine about one year after being found guilty by a majority vote in the National Convention. On Father Edgeworth's advice, Louis avoided a last farewell scene with his family. Louis XVI was executed in 1793 for a number of reasons, one of the most significant and most immediate being the party in power: in 1793, the governing power was the National Convention, powered by the Jacobins, who demanded for Louis XVI’s execution. It was then that my father approached and said, in the most respectful tone of voice imaginable, 'With a handkerchief, Sire'. In his letter, published along with its French mistakes in the Thermomètre of Thursday, 21 February 1793, Sanson emphasises that the King "bore all this with a composure and a firmness which has surprised us all. On January, 21, 1793 King Louis XVI was guillotined, after being tried for treason and being proven guilty. The carriage left the Temple at approximately 9 o'clock. Louis XVI was executed, officially, because of treason; he had been accused of betraying the French nation to the Austrians. Ultimately, they condemned him to death by a simple majority. In his Causeries, Alexandre Dumas refers to a meeting circa 1830 with Henri Sanson, eldest son of Charles-Henri Sanson, who had also been present at the execution. arose and an artillery salute rang out which reached the ears of the imprisoned Royal family. You guessed it—Louis XVI decided to flee. Regards . It was his great-grandson, Louis XVI, who was executed by guillotine in 1793. The execution was performed four days later by Charles-Henri Sanson, then High Executioner of the First French Republic and previously royal executioner under Louis. Three of them were killed, but de Batz managed to escape. Execution of Louis XVI; Credit – Wikipedia. Whatever can be said of Louis XVI's performance during his reign and the early parts of the French Revolution, there can be no doubt he died bravely and like a king. We chanted Vespers and the service for the dead. and pushed back the man holding the rope. The chapel narrowly escaped destruction on politico-ideological grounds during the violently anti-clerical period at the beginning of the 20th century. He was also charged with other things (the accusation were made in public and are available online): stealing public funds, initiating massacres against the Revolution, conspiracy, and murder. Often viewed as a turning point in both French and European history, Louis' death inspired various reactions around the world. By Staff writer. In 1792, both Louis XVI and Marie were arrested by the sans-cullottes—and the National Convention (formerly the National Assembly) abolished the monarchy altogether. He met his fate only a day after the National Convention condemned him to death and only hours after saying goodbye to his queen Marie … It didn’t take much evidence for the majority of the National Convention to find him guilty and convict him to death. At a trial on 17 January 1793, the National Convention had convicted the king of high treason in a near-unanimous vote; while no one voted "not guilty", several deputies abstained. 21 January 1793. Whatever can be said of Louis XVI's performance during his reign and the early parts of the French Revolution, there can be no doubt he died bravely and like a king. Example Responses AICE Free Response Questions France, 1789–1804 (a) Why was Louis XVI executed in 1793? Includes the September Massacres and the Girondins-Montagnards split. On January, 21, 1793 King Louis XVI was guillotined, after being tried for treason and being proven guilty. After weeks of testimony and argument, the Convention’s deputies voted in favour of Louis’ guilt and condemned him to die. The Constitution of 1791 marks the end of the first stage of the revolution, this constitution includes: the legislative assembly, this was a lawmaking group, to vote for representatives you must be a male and … The Baron leaped forward calling "Follow me, my friends, let us save the King! On hearing these unexpected words, at the unexpected sight of that rope, Louis XVI made an involuntary gesture of repulsion. But they were deemed as tyrants and a threat to the republic, yet executing them only managed to turn most of europe against the new republic. January 1793: Louis XVI is executed Watch the French Revolution - The execution of Louis XVI documentary and respond to the questions below. French King Louis XVI, just 38 years old and the leader of one of the world’s most modern and powerful countries, had been executed by what was seen as a revolutionary rabble. (usually translated as, "Jacques de Molay, thou art avenged"). The Constitution of 1791 marks the end of the first stage of the revolution, this constitution includes: the legislative assembly, this was a lawmaking group, to vote for representatives you must be a male and … There were three main reasons that help asses why King Louis XVI was executed in 1793; the Jacobins gained more power, Austria and Prussia threatened to attack France, and the Vendee revolt. Louis XVI's head was placed at his feet. King Louis XVI executed 21-January One day after being convicted of conspiracy with foreign powers and sentenced to death by the French National Convention, King Louis XVI is executed by guillotine in the Place de la Revolution in Paris. Now, in fairness, Louis XVI had pretty clearly tried to flee Paris in order to organize a counter-revolution. When his citizens stormed Versailles in 1789, Louis XVI snatched up his extremely unpopular wife, Marie Antoinette, and made a break for Austria where she was from. The Mass requisites were provided by special direction of the authorities. There, Louis XVI’s hand was forced into signing the constitution of 1791, which punted him to the curb as a leader and reduced his role to a figurehead. She was particularly disappointing to her brother, the Holy Roman Emperor, … Louis XVI, king of France, arrived in the wrong historical place at the wrong time and soon found himself overwhelmed by events beyond his control. According to another account, it took two times to slice off his head from his neck (due to the fact the king was fat in weight), and he screamed out of pain before the second time successfully decapitated him. Yet, ignoring the voices of his citizens is likely what cost him his life. Ascending the throne in 1774, Louis inherited a realm driven nearly bankrupt through the opulence of his predecessors Louis XIV and XV. "I know, that's why it is you I'm asking." 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Speaking to Victor Hugo in 1840, a man called Leboucher, who had arrived in Paris from Bourges in December 1792 and was present at the execution of Louis XVI, recalled vividly: Here are some unknown details. Paul and Pierrette Girault de Coursac have written a number of works on Louis XVI, including: Significant civil and political events by year, Journey from the Temple prison to the Place de la Révolution. The monarchy was abolished on September 21, 1792; later Louis and his queen consort, Marie-Antoinette, were guillotined on charges of counterrevolution. At the foot of the scaffold we decided to tie his hands, but less because we feared that he might defend himself than because we thought he might by an involuntary movement spoil his execution or make it more painful. Much, much worse. The executioners fastened him to the guillotine's bench (bascule), positioning his neck beneath the device's yoke (lunette) to hold it in place, and the blade swiftly decapitated him. But by the time that the French Revolution was in full swing, it was too late to make a decision—all he could do was accept his consequences, or run. The Execution of King Louis XVI. He came forward to speak, but there were shouts to the executioners to get on with their work. … Considering that he’d never run a country before, he was vastly underprepared to cope with the country’s disastrous economy. Narration by Dr. Nicholas B. Breyfogle. She was particularly disappointing to her brother, the Holy Roman Emperor, for her … The area where Louis XVI and later (16 October 1793) Marie Antoinette were buried, in the churchyard of St. Mary Magdaleine's, is today the "Square Louis XVI" greenspace, containing the classically self-effacing Expiatory Chapel completed in 1826 during the reign of Louis's youngest brother Charles X. Added to the misery, was the cost of maintaining an extravagant court at the immense palace of Versailles. To some, his death at the hands of his former subjects symbolised the long-awaited end of an unbroken thousand-year period of absolute monarchy in France and the true beginning of democracy within the nation, although Louis would not be the last king of France. He heard his last Mass, served by Cléry, and received Communion. Only 20 years old at the time, Louis XVI was immature and lacked self-confidence. Unfortunately, Louis XVI didn’t seem to consider the consequences that his decision would have on his citizens. I remained strongly convinced that he derived this firmness from the principles of the religion by which he seemed penetrated and persuaded as no other man.". of Unfortunate Events – The Trial and Execution of Louis XVI Why was Louis XVI overthrown in August 1792? Dear Student Answer to your question is as follows : Louix XVI was executed in the guillotine on January 21, 1793. On the other, royalists wanted him to defend the divine right of kings and queens until his dying breath. He tried to give an extensive speech, but a drum roll was ordered and the resulting noise made his final words difficult to understand. Long years of war had drained the financial resources of France. He also wasn’t open to listening to the citizens’ suggestions about how to wrap up the revolution in a non-violent way. He was the only king of France to be executed. In Paris, the guillotine was located at the Place de la Révolution (now the Place de la Concorde), located between the Champs-Elysées to the west and the Tuileries Garden to the east in Paris, France. The body of Louis XVI was immediately transported to the old Church of the Madeleine (demolished in 1799), since the legislation in force forbade burial of his remains beside those of his father, the Dauphin Louis de France, at Sens. He was charged with treason due to his attempt to flee the country, which was viewed as him abandoning his country. It was 10:22 am. Louis was to be hidden in a house in the rue de Cléry belonging to the Count of Marsan. There were different reasons for Louis’s downfall: social, economic, political conditions. The executioners numbered four; two only performed the execution; the third stayed at the foot of the ladder, and the fourth was on the wagon which was to convey the King's body to the Madeleine Cemetery and which was waiting a few feet from the scaffold. July 03, 2019 . Add your answer and earn points. Legacy . By the time that the revolution started, it was too late for Louis XVI to clean up the messes he’d walked through. Louis XVI was executed, officially, because of treason; he had been accused of betraying the French nation to the Austrians. His execution … When Louis XVI of France was deposed in September 1792, the radicals led by Robespierre argued that the people had already condemned Louis and he only needed to be executed. He was Guillotined. Yet, how exactly did trying to implement new taxes lead him to get his … So, the guy’s power is gone, he’s publicly humiliated, and everyone hates him. That is the explanation of the moment of confusion interpreted after their fashion by the historians. The crypt altar stands above the exact spot where the remains of the Royal couple were originally laid to rest. The … Other questions on the subject: History ... Why did reagan have the united stars invade grenada... the answer is c.i hope this ....Read More. Answer Save. Written by Dr. Elizabeth Bond. 21 January 1793. "Now then, you were saying you wanted something, Monsieur Dumas?" The issues which divided republicans over his fate the Royal couple were originally laid to rest in with... 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