The Fall of the Monarchy: The Events Leading to the Execution of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette

The Ancien Régime, the political and social system that governed France for centuries, was built on a rigid hierarchy that concentrated power in the hands of the monarchy and nobility. This structure, deeply rooted in tradition, relied on the divine right of kings, reinforcing the belief that the king’s authority was absolute and unquestionable. King Louis XVI, like his predecessors, ruled with the assumption that his word was law, but by the late 18th century, the very foundations of this system were beginning to crumble. Economic hardship, social inequality, and growing discontent among the people exposed the fragility of a monarchy that had long ignored the demands of change.

At the heart of the Ancien Régime was the Estates System, which divided French society into three distinct groups. The First Estate consisted of the clergy, who enjoyed vast privileges, including exemption from most taxes. The Second Estate was made up of the nobility, who held significant land and influence while also being largely free from taxation. The Third Estate, which comprised the vast majority of the population, included peasants, urban workers, and the emerging bourgeoisie. This group bore the heaviest tax burden while having little political power, a reality that bred resentment and a growing desire for reform.

The economic struggles of France further weakened the monarchy’s stability. Years of extravagant spending by the royal court, particularly under King Louis XV and Louis XVI, had left the country in financial ruin. The lavish expenditures of Queen Marie Antoinette, though exaggerated in popular discourse, became a symbol of royal excess. Additionally, France’s costly involvement in the American Revolution had drained the treasury, deepening the crisis. By the 1780s, the government faced an insurmountable debt, and repeated attempts to impose new taxes on the privileged classes were met with fierce resistance.

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Release date

Audiobook: 29 March 2025