Leslie Massey
The Flight to Varennes, also known as the 'fuite de Varennes', refers to the night of 20-21 June 1791, when King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and their family attempted to flee Paris in disguise. Their plan was to escape to the border fortress of Montmédy, where they would be protected by Austrian troops. However, they were recognised and arrested in the town of Varennes-en-Argonne, just 50km from their destination. This incident marked a significant turning point in the French Revolution, exposing the King's hostility towards the revolution and inspiring significant hostility towards the monarchy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of escape attempt | Night of 20-21 June 1791 |
| People involved | King Louis XVI, Queen Marie Antoinette, the Dauphin Louis Charles, Marie-Thérèse, Madame Royale, Madame Élisabeth, the marquise de Tourzel, the baron de Breteuil, Axel von Fersen the Younger, Jean-Baptiste Drouet |
| Destination | Montmédy, a fortress near the border with Germany and the Austrian Netherlands |
| Reason for escape attempt | Louis XVI's lack of faith in the revolution and the Constitution of 1791, his personal religious beliefs, advice from Mirabeau, urging from his wife |
| Outcome | Failed; the royal family was arrested in the town of Varennes-en-Argonne and returned to Paris |
| Impact | The king lost credibility as a constitutional monarch, and the escape attempt was a turning point for the French Revolution as it exposed the king's hostility towards it |
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What You'll Learn
Louis XVI's escape plan
On the night of 20-21 June 1791, King Louis XVI, along with his family, attempted to flee Paris in what became known as the "Flight to Varennes". The plan was to escape to the royalist fortress town of Montmédy on the northeastern border of France, where they would be protected by Austria. The voyage was planned by Axel von Fersen, a Swedish officer in the French army and a devoted admirer of Queen Marie Antoinette, with support from Baron de Breteuil and King Gustav III of Sweden.
The escape plan involved disguises and role-playing by the royal family. The Dauphin's governess, the Marquise de Tourzel, played the role of a Russian baroness, while the Queen and the King's sister, Madame Élisabeth, disguised themselves as a governess and a nurse, respectively. The King dressed as a valet, and the royal children were dressed as girls. The group left the Tuileries Palace around midnight, aiming to reach Montmédy, which was about 200 miles away.
However, the escape attempt was plagued by delays and a lack of secrecy. Louis XVI chatted with peasants while changing horses, and Marie Antoinette gave silver dishes to a local official. Despite these setbacks, they were able to reach the town of Varennes-en-Argonne, just 50 km from their destination. Unfortunately, they were recognised and arrested after being identified by Jean-Baptiste Drouet, the postmaster of Sainte-Menehould, who had seen the King's portrait on a currency note.
The failed escape attempt alarmed European monarchs, who feared the spread of revolutionary fervour, and it further strained France's relations with its neighbours. The incident also sparked protests and calls for the abolition of the monarchy, as it exposed the King's hostility towards the revolution. Upon their return to Paris, the National Assembly agreed to let the King remain in power if he accepted the Constitution. However, this incident marked a turning point, as the King's credibility as a constitutional monarch was severely damaged.
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The royal family's arrest
On the night of 20-21 June 1791, Louis XVI, along with his family, attempted to flee Paris to the royalist fortress town of Montmédy on the northeastern border of France. The voyage was planned by Swedish nobleman and assumed secret lover of Queen Marie Antoinette, Axel von Fersen. The plan was for the royal family to escape by coach to Montmédy, a fortress near the German border that was garrisoned by royalist troops.
The escape plan was thwarted due to slow progression, time miscalculations, lack of secrecy, and the need to repair broken coach traces. The family was recognised by the postmaster of Sainte-Menehould, Jean-Baptiste Drouet, and arrested in the town of Varennes-en-Argonne, 50 km from their destination. This incident humiliated the king and the moderates who supported a constitutional monarchy, and it triggered a wave of crude propaganda that ridiculed the royals and their escape attempt. The royal family was returned to Paris and reinstalled at the Tuileries Palace, this time under a more visible guard.
The failed escape attempt alarmed European monarchs, who feared that revolutionary fervour would spread to their countries and cause instability outside France. Relations between France and its neighbours deteriorated, with some foreign ministries calling for war against the revolutionary government. The outbreak of war with Austria in April 1792 and the publication of a manifesto by the Duke of Brunswick, threatening the destruction of Paris if the safety of the royal family was again endangered, further exacerbated the situation.
On 10 August 1792, Parisian radicals stormed the Tuileries Palace, leading to the suspension of the king's powers by the Legislative Assembly and the proclamation of the First French Republic on 21 September 1792. Louis XVI was put on trial for treason and executed by guillotine on 21 January 1793, bringing an end to over a thousand years of continuous French monarchy.
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The king's loss of credibility
On the night of 20-21 June 1791, King Louis XVI, along with his family, attempted to flee Paris in what became known as the Flight to Varennes. Their goal was to reach the border fortress of Montmédy, where they would be protected by royalist troops. However, their escape attempt was thwarted, and they were arrested in the town of Varennes-en-Argonne, just 50 kilometres from their destination. This incident had significant consequences and marked a turning point in the French Revolution, leading to a loss of credibility for the king as a constitutional monarch.
The failed escape attempt exposed the king's hostility towards the revolution, which had previously been concealed. Louis XVI's rejection of the revolution contributed to the failure of the Constitution of 1791 and inspired significant hostility towards the monarchy as an institution. The king's attempt to flee undermined his credibility and led to calls for his dethronement and the establishment of a republic. The Flight to Varennes demonstrated the king's lack of faith in the revolution and his disagreement with the Constitution, influenced by his religious beliefs and advice from counter-revolutionary figures.
The escape plan, devised by Count Axel von Fersen and supported by Marie Antoinette, involved disguises and a covert departure from the Tuileries Palace. Despite the planning, the royal family encountered several delays and was ultimately recognised and arrested before reaching their destination. The king's attempt to flee contradicted his role as a constitutional monarch and indicated his resistance to the changes brought about by the French Revolution. This dissonance between the king's actions and his role further eroded his credibility in the eyes of the public and the National Assembly.
The loss of credibility for the king had far-reaching implications. It fuelled the flames of revolutionary fervour and empowered those seeking more radical changes. The king's failed escape attempt also had international repercussions, alarming European monarchs who feared that the revolutionary ideals might spread beyond France's borders. The subsequent discovery of Louis XVI's secret dealings with counter-revolutionary figures further damaged his reputation and led to his trial and execution for treason.
In conclusion, the Flight to Varennes, King Louis XVI's attempt to flee Paris in 1791, resulted in a significant loss of credibility for the king. This loss of credibility had profound impacts on the course of the French Revolution, the king's own fate, and the perception of monarchy in France and beyond. The king's attempt to escape the revolution ultimately sealed the fate of the French monarchy and ushered in a new era of republican ideals and political transformation.
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The outbreak of war with Austria
The Flight to Varennes was planned by Swedish nobleman Axel von Fersen, a devoted admirer and friend of Queen Marie Antoinette, with the support of King Gustav III of Sweden. The plan involved the royal family escaping in two light carriages, with the king and queen disguised as servants and the royal children dressed as girls. However, the family was recognised and arrested in the town of Varennes-en-Argonne, just 50 kilometres from their destination. This incident sparked outrage and suspicion among the French public, who believed that the Austrians had organised the royal escape.
Upon their return to Paris, Louis XVI's credibility as a constitutional monarch was severely damaged, and he became increasingly dependent on foreign intervention for political salvation. The king encouraged the Girondin faction in the Legislative Assembly to pursue a policy of war with Austria, hoping that a French military disaster would pave the way for the restoration of royal authority. This led to the declaration of war on Austria on 20 April 1792, after a list of grievances was presented to the Assembly by foreign minister Charles François Dumouriez.
The war with Austria further escalated tensions and led to the publication of a manifesto by the Duke of Brunswick, threatening the destruction of Paris if the safety of the royal family was endangered. This prompted Parisian radicals to storm the Tuileries Palace on 10 August 1792, resulting in the suspension of the king's powers and the proclamation of the First French Republic on 21 September 1792. The outbreak of war with Austria was thus a critical event that further destabilised the monarchy and accelerated the move towards a republican form of government in France.
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The proclamation of the First French Republic
On the night of 20-21 June 1791, Louis XVI, along with his wife, Marie Antoinette, and other members of the royal family, attempted to flee Paris for the royalist fortress town of Montmédy on the northeastern border of France. The escape attempt was unsuccessful, and the royal family was arrested in the town of Varennes-en-Argonne, just 50 km from their destination. This incident marked a turning point in the French Revolution, as hostility towards the monarchy and the king and queen intensified.
Following the escape attempt, Louis XVI's credibility as a constitutional monarch was damaged, and the National Assembly agreed that he could remain in power only if he accepted the Constitution. However, the king's hopes for political salvation rested on foreign intervention, and he encouraged the Girondin faction in the Legislative Assembly to pursue a policy of war with Austria. On 20 April 1792, the Legislative Assembly, supported by Louis XVI, declared war on Austria, after a list of grievances was presented by the foreign minister, Charles François Dumouriez.
The outbreak of the war with Austria, along with the publication of a manifesto by the Duke of Brunswick, which threatened the destruction of Paris if the safety of the royal family was endangered, led to the insurrection of 10 August 1792. On this date, citizens stormed the Tuileries Palace, resulting in the suspension of the king's powers by the Legislative Assembly. The proclamation of the First French Republic took place on 21 September 1792, marking the official end of the monarchy and the beginning of a new republican constitution.
The former king, now referred to as Citizen Louis Capet, was put on trial for high treason and found guilty. On 21 January 1793, Louis XVI was executed by guillotine, bringing an end to over a thousand years of continuous French monarchy. The proclamation of the First French Republic was a significant event in French history, as it marked the end of the absolute monarchy and the establishment of a new democratic constitution, which granted universal suffrage to all French males over the age of 21. The First French Republic lasted until 1804 when Napoleon proclaimed himself Emperor, thus establishing the French First Empire.
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Frequently asked questions
Louis XVI attempted to flee to Austria on the night of 20-21 June 1791.
The escape attempt involved the entire French royal family, including Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, the Dauphin Louis Charles, Marie-Thérèse, Madame Royale, and Madame Élisabeth. Loyal members of their retinue also accompanied them.
The royal family was planning to escape from Paris to the royalist fortress town of Montmédy on the northeastern border of France.
The royal family wanted to escape due to their lack of faith in the French Revolution and the Constitution of 1791, as well as their personal religious beliefs. They hoped to regain their freedom and be protected by royalist troops in Montmédy.
After being recognised and arrested in the town of Varennes-en-Argonne, the royal family was sent back to Paris. Louis XVI lost credibility as a constitutional monarch, and there were calls for the abolition of the monarchy and the formation of a republic.
