Frustrated by the lack of influence and the entrenched power of the First and Second Estates, the Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly in June 1789, signaling the beginning of a power struggle between the monarchy and the people. In response, Louis XVI attempted to dissolve the National Assembly, but this move was met with widespread resistance. The famous Tennis Court Oath, where members of the National Assembly vowed not to separate until a new constitution had been established, further solidified the rift between the monarchy and the people.
The Fall of the Bastille and the Revolution Escalates
The summer of 1789 marked a turning point in French history. On July 14, the storming of the Bastille, a symbol of royal tyranny, took place in Paris. This event is now celebrated as Bastille Day, the French national holiday, and is considered the symbolic beginning of the French Revolution.
As revolutionaries gained momentum across the country, Louis XVI was increasingly seen as a figurehead of an outdated and oppressive system. The king and his family were confined to the Tuileries Palace in Paris, where they became virtual prisoners of the revolutionaries. The king attempted to regain control through various measures, including attempting to flee Paris in June 1791, but this flight, known as the Flight to Varennes, ended in failure. The king’s attempt to escape to Varennes only deepened suspicions about his loyalty to the revolution and his commitment to the monarchy.
The End of the Monarchy
By 1792, the revolution had reached its zenith. The monarchy was abolished on September 21, 1792, and Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, were arrested. Louis was tried by the National Convention, which was dominated by revolutionary leaders such as Maximilien Robespierre and Georges Danton. He was accused of conspiring against the revolution and betraying the French people, charges that were widely supported by the increasingly radical atmosphere of the time.
On January 21, 1793, after a trial that lasted just a few days, Louis XVI was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. He was executed by guillotine in the Place de la Révolution (now the Place de la Concorde) in Paris. His execution marked the end of over a thousand years of the Capetian dynasty and the French monarchy. His death was a turning point in the revolution and set the stage for the Reign of Terror, a period marked by extreme violence and repression under the leadership of the revolutionary government. shutdown123