Ruqayyah Snyder
Louis XVI, the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution, attempted to flee to Austria in 1791. He was dissatisfied with the revolution, particularly its attacks on the Catholic church. He was urged to flee by his entourage, including his brothers, who had already escaped to Austria. The plan was for Louis to join them and organise a military invasion to restore the old regime. On the night of 20-21 June 1791, Louis XVI, his wife, Marie Antoinette, and other members of the royal family attempted to escape Paris in disguise. They were recognised and arrested in the town of Varennes-en-Argonne, just 50km from their destination, the border fortress of Montmédy, where they would have been protected by Austrian troops. 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 |
|---|---|
| Name | Louis XVI |
| Title | King of France and Navarre |
| Birth Date | 23 August 1754 |
| Death Date | 21 January 1793 |
| Spouse | Marie Antoinette |
| Children | Marie Thérèse, Dauphin Louis Charles, Madame Royale, Madame Élisabeth |
| Parents | Louis, Dauphin of France, Maria Josepha of Saxony |
| Escape Plan Date | 20-21 June 1791 |
| Escape Plan Location | Montmédy, a fortress town on the northeastern border of France |
| Escape Plan Protection | Austrian troops |
| Distance to Destination | 50 km |
| Outcome | Unsuccessful |
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What You'll Learn
Louis XVI's escape plan
The plan was arranged by Swedish Count Axel von Fersen, a favourite of Marie Antoinette, with the support of King Gustav III of Sweden. The escape was to be made by coach to Montmédy, a fortress near the German border that was garrisoned by royalists. The plan was hatched over the course of a month, with von Fersen urging the use of two light carriages that could make the 200-mile journey quickly. However, this would have involved splitting up the royal family, which Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette rejected.
The escape attempt took place on the night of 20-21 June 1791. The royal family left the Tuileries Palace at midnight, but their escape was thwarted due to a combination of slow progression, time miscalculations, lack of secrecy, and the need to repair broken coach traces. The family was recognised and arrested in the town of Varennes-en-Argonne, just 50 kilometres 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.
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The arrest of Louis XVI
The goal of the escape attempt was to provide the King with greater freedom of action and personal security than was possible in Paris. The intended destination was the border fortress of Montmédy, where they would be protected by loyal members of the old Royal Army and Austrian troops. However, the escape attempt was thwarted due to a combination of factors, including slow progression, time miscalculations, lack of secrecy, and the need for coach repairs. Despite changing horses and assuming disguises, the royal family was eventually stopped and arrested in Varennes-en-Argonne.
On 10 August 1792, Parisian radicals stormed the Tuileries Palace, where the royal family was residing, leading to the suspension of the king's powers 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 impact on the French Revolution
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, where they would be protected by Austrian troops. This event, known as the "Flight to Varennes", took place on the night of 20-21 June 1791 and marked a significant turning point in the French Revolution. The unsuccessful escape attempt exposed the King's hostility towards the revolution and inspired significant hostility towards the monarchy.
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.
The failed escape attempt alarmed European monarchs, who feared that revolutionary fervour would spread to their countries and cause instability outside France. 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 endangered, further exacerbated the situation. On 10 August 1792, Parisian radicals stormed the Tuileries Palace, resulting in the suspension of the king's powers and the proclamation of the First French Republic on 21 September 1792.
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. The realisation that the King had repudiated the Revolution was a shock for people who until then had seen him as a good king who governed as a manifestation of God's will. Many citizens felt betrayed, and as a result, Republicanism now burst out of the coffee houses and became a dominating philosophy of the rapidly radicalised French Revolution.
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The role of Axel von Fersen
On the night of 20-21 June 1791, King Louis XVI, along with his family, attempted to flee Paris to the royalist fortress town of Montmédy on the northeastern border of France. This event, known as the "Flight to Varennes", was a significant episode in the French Revolution, marking an attempt by the king to escape the growing radicalism of the revolution and its anti-clericalism. The escape plan was devised by Count Axel von Fersen, a Swedish aristocrat, military leader, diplomat, and devoted admirer of Queen Marie Antoinette.
Von Fersen, born in 1755, came from one of Sweden's most illustrious noble families. He was the son of Field Marshal Axel von Fersen the Elder, who was the de facto parliamentary leader of the Hats party and one of the richest men in Sweden. Von Fersen was influenced by French culture due to his father's services to Louis XV of France, and he became fluent in several languages, including French, Latin, English, German, and Italian. He embarked on his first journey abroad in 1770, visiting military academies in Brunswick, Turin, Strasbourg, and Lüneburg. In 1774, he met Marie-Antoinette, then the Dauphine, at a masked ball in the Royal Opera House at Versailles, and the two formed a close friendship.
In 1779, von Fersen moved to Versailles, becoming a part of the Queen's inner circle. He served as a colonel in the German infantry fighting in the American War of Independence and later returned to Sweden, where he served under King Gustavus III. With the onset of the French Revolution, von Fersen remained loyal to Marie Antoinette and her family, assisting with plans to ensure their safety. He played a crucial role in the "Flight to Varennes", urging the use of two light carriages that could have facilitated the 200-mile journey to Montmédy quickly. The plan involved disguises and role-playing by the royal family, with the king and queen disguised as servants and the royal children dressed as girls. However, the escape attempt was thwarted due to various delays, miscalculations, and a lack of secrecy. The family was recognised and arrested in Varennes-en-Argonne, just 50 kilometres from their destination.
Following the failed escape attempt, von Fersen continued his efforts to save the Queen's life, making diplomatic overtures to foreign powers. He was deeply affected by the execution of Marie Antoinette in 1793 and returned to Sweden, where he died in 1810, murdered by a mob during a period of unrest.
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The consequences for the monarchy
King 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 date was the night of 20–21 June 1791, and the event became known as the Flight to Varennes. The plan was to escape to the border, 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. The failed escape attempt also alarmed European monarchs, who feared that revolutionary fervour would spread to their countries and cause instability outside France. As a result, 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, resulting in the suspension of the king's powers and the proclamation of the First French Republic on 21 September 1792. The monarchy was abolished, and the former king became a desacralized French citizen, addressed as Citoyen Louis Capet. 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.
The consequences of the Flight to Varennes were thus severe and far-reaching for the monarchy. The failed escape attempt accelerated the move towards a republican form of government in France and ultimately led to the downfall and death of the king.
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Frequently asked questions
Louis XVI, also known as Louis-Auguste, fled to Austria in 1791.
Louis XVI fled to Austria to escape the French Revolution. He was dissatisfied with the revolution's attacks on the Catholic church and wanted to restore the old monarchy.
Louis XVI was accompanied by his wife, Marie Antoinette, and their children.
