King of France from 1774, grandson of Louis XV, and son of Louis the Dauphin. He was dominated by his queen,
Marie Antoinette, and French finances fell into such confusion that in 1789 the
States General (parliament) had to be summoned, and the
French Revolution began. Louis lost his personal popularity in June 1791 when he attempted to flee the country, and in August 1792 the Parisians stormed the Tuileries palace and took the royal family prisoner. Deposed in September 1792, Louis was tried in December, sentenced for treason in January 1793, and guillotined.
© RM 2009. Helicon Publishing is division of RM.