Louis XVI

23 August 1754 – 21 January 1793

Louis XVI (1754-1793) was the last King of France before the fall of the monarchy in the French Revolution, reigning from 1774 to 1792. His reign saw French support for the American Revolution, a deepening financial crisis, and the convening of the Estates-General in 1789. Deposed after the insurrection of August 1792, he was tried by the National Convention and executed by guillotine in January 1793.

Comparing
Compare

Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Louis XVI.

Life events

Born at the Palace of Versailles
23 August 1754

Louis-Auguste was born on 23 August 1754, the second surviving son of the Dauphin Louis and Maria Josepha of Saxony.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Became Dauphin of France
20 December 1765

After the deaths of his elder brother in 1761 and his father in December 1765, Louis-Auguste became heir to the French throne.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Personal ✓
Married Marie Antoinette of Austria
16 May 1770

Louis-Auguste married the Austrian archduchess Marie Antoinette at Versailles on 16 May 1770 to seal the Franco-Austrian alliance.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relationship ✓
Ascended the French throne
10 May 1774

Louis XVI became king on 10 May 1774 upon the death of his grandfather Louis XV.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Allied France with the American revolutionaries
6 February 1778

Louis XVI signed the Treaty of Alliance with the United States on 6 February 1778, committing France to the war against Britain.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Convened the Estates-General at Versailles
5 May 1789

Facing state bankruptcy, Louis XVI opened the Estates-General on 5 May 1789, the assembly that began the French Revolution.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Career ✓
Failed flight to Varennes
20 June 1791 – 21 June 1791

On the night of 20-21 June 1791 the royal family fled Paris in disguise but was recognized and stopped at Varennes, gravely damaging the king's credibility.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓
Deposed after the storming of the Tuileries
10 August 1792

The insurrection of 10 August 1792 overthrew the monarchy; Louis and his family were imprisoned in the Temple, and the republic was proclaimed in September.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓
Tried for treason by the National Convention
11 December 1792 – 17 January 1793

Tried as 'Citizen Louis Capet' in December 1792, he was convicted of conspiracy against public liberty and sentenced to death.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓
Executed by guillotine in Paris
21 January 1793

Louis XVI was guillotined on the Place de la Révolution on 21 January 1793.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓