Louis+XVI

__ **L o u i s X V I ** __ = = = Early Life: =

__Birth:__
Born on August 23, 1754 Louis Auguste, with one older brother he wasn't destined to receive the throne as king.

__ Childhood: __
Orphaned at the age of twelve when his mother Marie-Josèphe, died of [|Tuberculosis]. His older brother and father had both died of this disease earlier in his childhood, making him the next to receive the throne.

__ Young Adulthood: __
Louis Auguste became well educated in physics, foreign language, math, and map-making. he also developed his deeply religious views that he held onto throughout his term as The Last King Of France. ===

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** Marriage: **
Louis Auguste's marriage to the 14 year old Archduchess of Austria, Marie Antoinette was viewed as a "political engagement", so that the Austrian empire and the French could form an alliance and strengthen the bond between the two nations.Their marriage was viewed by the public as both extravagant and frivolous in the early years, the couple's spending seamed to outweigh there negligence of producing a heir to the throne. While France was literally starving and freezing in the streets, the royal couple was throwing large banquets with piles of food and plenty of warm beds to sleep in. The common people grew angry with the King and Queen for their vanity and selfishness.



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__ Early Years: __
Louis XVI succeeded his grandfather as king of France in 1791. During the early years of his reign he attempted to adapt the kingdom to suit ideas of The Enlightenment. He abolished torture and serfdom. However, overall he failed to modernize the French monarchy and he lacked authority.

__ Fall From Power: __
On July 14, 1789, citizens of Paris, fed up with Louis XVI's incompetent rule, stormed the

Bastille prison as an act of rebellion. Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette were later forced from their home by an angry mob of peasant woman who stormed the Royal Couple's home at the Palace of Versailles demanding bread. Louis, Marie, and their children were ordered to live in Tuileries. They were nearly imprisoned. The National Assembly gradually granted the king less and less power. On the 21st of June 1791 Louis and his family attempted to flee to join Marie's family in Austria. They were spotted in the town of Sainte-Menehould and were forced to return to Tuileries and put under strict house arrest. Louis was convicted of High Treason for plotting to abandon his kingdom. Louis was officially imprisoned on August 13, 1792. All of Louis' ruling powers were taken away the following month. On December 11th he faced trial in front of the convention.

Death:
A final verdict for Louis XVI was announced in January, 1793. The former King was sentenced to death. He was executed by a guillotine on January 21st. He attempted to make one last speech to the crowd before his death, but was unable to finish as people called out for blood and the drums began to drown out his words. Louis XVI was the first and only French king to ever face execution. His wife, Marie, was executed by the same method shortly after.

= = = = = = = = Works Cited:

Pandover, Saul K. __The Life and Death of Louis The XVI__. Book

Goodwin, Albert, and Jeremy David Popkin. "Louis XVI (king of France). " __Encyclopedia Britannica Online__. Encyclopedia Britannica. 03 Apr. 2012.

Tackett, Timothy. "270 pp." __When the king took flight__. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2003.