The execution of louis xvi, 1793 eyewitness to history. Louis xvi was executed in 1793 for a number of reasons, one of the most significant and most immediate being the party in power. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Jul 24, 2019 in december 1792, he successfully argued in favor of louis xvis execution, and in may 1793 he encouraged the people to rise up in insurrection over military defeats and a food shortage. Explain why louis xvi was executed in 1793 there are various factors that contributed to louis death. The beginning of the french revolution, 1789 eyewitness to history. John robson reports, on january 23rd 1793, frances king louis xvi was executed for treason by guillotine. King louis xvi of france was the unfortunate monarch executed during the 1789 french revolution. Books concept maps graphics historiography historians maps. Whatever can be said of louis xvis performance during his reign and the early parts of the french revolution, there can be no doubt he died bravely and like a king. The political and confidential correspondence of lewis xvi, with observations on each letter 3 volumes.
Three weeks after his execution, a revolutionary journal called thermometre du jour published an inaccurate account claiming the king was led to the scaffold with a pistol to his temple, the guillotine struck his neck instead of his head, and the king died without courage. Hes been portrayed in the history books as a wishywashy king who satisfied neither royalists nor reformers and who. Realizing that no matter what he said or did would change the minds of those who were there to end his life, he apparently said in english translation. How did the folling prepared for louiss excecution. Jan 21, 2011 on 21 january 1793 the french king, louis xvi was executed in paris. What was the main reason for the execution of king louis. January 21, 1793 in paris from the house of bourbon was first duke of berry as louis auguste and became dauphin after the death of his father in 1765 and finally king of france and navarre after the death of his grandfather in 1774. Eyewitness to history provides an account of his death. He had arranged for the assassination of robespierre, the leader of the committee of public safety.
During the american revolution louis granted financial and military aid that was instrumental in the colonies gaining independence from great britain. The attack launched the nation down a pathway that would eventually lead to the destruction of the monarchy and the execution of louis xvi. Report on the execution of louis xvi by jacques roux 1793. France history louis xvi, 17741793 the political and confidential correspondence of lewis xvi, with observations on each letter 3 volumes. The book contains many long quotes from other historians and at parts it reads more like a term paper than an actual biography. In 1789, when king louis xvi summoned the states general, an assembly of nobles, clergy, and citizens that had not convened since 1614, to address a huge. Apr 26, 2012 louis attempted escape in 1791 but was captured and returned to paris. Kings had been assassinated, overthrown and toppled by military defeat but for a reigning monarch to be tried and executed in public by his own people was almost unparalleled englands charles i, beheaded in 1649, was one notable exception. Jan 21, 2016 john robson reports, on january 23rd 1793, frances king louis xvi was executed for treason by guillotine. The good part of this book is that it is a clear and concise history of the french revolution and louis xvi. The trial and execution of louis xvi caused a sensation across france and around the world. They were the people he had once called his subjects. The french national convention sentenced him to death.
On january 20, 1793, the national convention condemned louis xvi to death, his execution scheduled for the next day. This story is fascinating and adds a human dimension to the history of the. Since earning his doctoral degree in international. The national convention had convicted the king 17 january 1793 in a nearunanimous vote while no one voted not guilty, several deputies. Asses why was louis xvi executed in 1793 crest essays. The executioners account of louis xvis execution geri walton. Jan 21, 2018 on 21 january 1793 an event occurred which sent spasms of shock through europe and still echoes through western history. Jun 14, 2016 a thoughtprovoking, authoritative biography of one of historys most maligned rulers louis xvi of france, who was guillotined in 1793 during the revolution and reign of terror, is commonly portrayed in fiction and film either as a weak and stupid despot in thrall to his beautiful, shallow wife, marie antoinette, or as a cruel and treasonous tyrant. Louis utterances in the witness chair, like many of his utterances on the. A thoughtprovoking, authoritative biography of one of history s most maligned rulers louis xvi of france, who was guillotined in 1793 during the revolution and reign of terror, is commonly portrayed in fiction and film either as a weak and stupid despot in thrall to his beautiful, shallow wife, marie antoinette, or as a cruel and treasonous tyrant. The execution of louis xvi henry essex edgeworth 1793 eyewitness to history primary source on january 20, 1793, the national convention condemned louis xvi to death, his execution scheduled for the next day. No one could have seemed more out of place than he did. In 1789, in the last attempt to resolve his countrys financial crisis, louis assembled the statesgeneral, a national assembly that represented the. The official executioner, charleslouis sanson, said.
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. The national convention had convicted the king 17 january 1793 in a nearunanimous vote while. Picture of louis xvi s execution french revolution posters. 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. On january 20, 1793, the national convention ordered that louis xvi be executed the following day. It happened one day after, the king was convicted of conspiracy with foreign powers. Eyewitness on the execution of king louis xvi essay. The trial and execution of louis xvi alpha history. Henry edgeworths observations on the execution of louis xvi.
We have just given you an exact account of what occurred. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. These people were used to seeing 60 people a day get killed and to see king louis xvis execution was a big thing. Because the newspaper story was so inaccurate, the executioners account. During the reign of louis xvi france suffered from constant economic troubles. His wife, marie antoinette, openly mocked commoners and the national assembly. Louis xvi august of france august 23, 1754 in versailles. I presented him with my breviary, the only book i had with me, and he seemed to. The execution of louis xvi henry essex edgeworth 1793. Louis xvi execution 1793 stock photos and images alamy. There we announced to the tyrant that the hour of execution had arrived. On 21 january 1793 the french king, louis xvi was executed in paris. In this essay i will be analysing the different factors and how they effected the outcome of louis death. Louis ascended to the french throne in 1774 and from the start was unsuited to deal with the severe financial problems that he had inherited from his grandfather, king louis xv.
King louis xvi executed 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. The national convention had convicted the king 17 january 1793 in a nearunanimous vote. Today the machine invented for the purpose of decapitating criminals sentenced to. King louis xvi biography birthday, trivia french royalty who2. The condemned person is secured with stocks at the bottom of the frame, positioning the neck directly below the. Proceedings of the french national convention on the trial of louis xvi. This was the only difference to any other execution.
Louis attempted escape in 1791 but was captured and returned to paris. Start studying the trial and execution of louis xvi. These people were used to seeing 60 people a day get killed and to see king louis xvi s execution was a big thing. On january, 21, 1793 king louis xvi was guillotined, after being tried for treason and being proven guilty. The device consists of a tall, upright frame with a weighted and angled blade suspended at the top. Whether he was guilty of disloyalty is questionable but what really has my attention on. Why louis xvi was executed in 1793 essay 602 words. By an express which arrived yesterday morning we learn the following particulars of the kings execution. He refused to accept the declaration of the rights of man and citizen.
Portrait of louis xvi, king of france and navarre, c. The whole carefully collected from authentic documents, and republished with additions, from the paper of the. The trial and execution of louis xvi took place before the national. How are the major course themes evident in our examination of the french revolution. People were impatiently waiting for the family to be executed you can tell it in their eyes. A british report on the execution of louis xvi 1793. Louis himself realised this and often wished, even before the revolution, that he were a common man. When he arrived at the place of his execution, louis xvi spoke to the gathered crowd. As we all know louis was essentially the wrong man, in the wrong place, at the wrong time. I have only praise for the armed force, which was extremely obedient. On january 21st 1793, louis capet, as he was then officially known, was carted to the. In 1792, the newly elected national convention declared france a republic and brought louis to trial for crimes against the people. See more ideas about louis xvi, french revolution and marie antoinette.
Alongside louis xvi as he was driven to his death, was an english catholic priest. Many people suspected that he was committing treason by working with the kings of austria and prussia. A guillotine execution in napoleonic times shannon selin. Because the newspaper story was so inaccurate, the executioners account of. To which are added, several interesting occurrences and particulars attending the treatment, sentence, and execution of the illfated monarch. Eyewitness account of the execution of louis xvi in paris during the french. Picture of louis xvis execution french revolution posters. Today the machine invented for the purpose of decapitating criminals sentenced to death will be put to work for the first time. However, it does not offer any new insights into either. Jan 20, 2017 louis xvi was executed on 21 january 1793. A thoughtprovoking, authoritative biography of one of historys most maligned rulers louis xvi of france, who was guillotined in 1793 during the revolution and reign of terror, is commonly portrayed in fiction and film either as a weak and stupid despot in thrall to his beautiful, shallow wife, marie antoinette, or as a cruel and treasonous tyrant.
French king louis xvi, just 38 years old and the leader of one of the worlds most modern and powerful countries, had been executed by what was seen as a revolutionary rabble. From module 1, we can certainly see some major changes. Was king louis xvi partially responsible for his own downfall awkward and timid, no man appeared less like a king than louis xvi, he was merly 20 years old when he succeeded his grandfather louis xv and came in to the throne. The execution of louis xvi, 1793, eyewitness to history. The executioners account of louis xvis execution geri. Georg heinrich sieveking, execution of louis xvi 1793. A british report on the execution of louis xvi 1793 this report in the london times from late january 1793 describes the execution of louis xvi. Bbc world service witness history, execution of louis xvi. Execution of louis xvi while searching the internet for an interesting topic regarding the french revolution, i stumbled upon an eyewitness account of the execution of louis xvi.