Before he was known as King Louis XVI

• Louis Capet or “Citizen Capet”

• His brother was the true heir to the throne but died as a child

• Ill prepared for throne• Great-grandson of Louis XIV

(the Sun King) • Enjoyed hunting, wrestling

and locksmithing

• Grandfather: King Louis XV• His parents died of tuberculosis• Age 15 married 14 year old

Hapsburg Archduchess Marie Antoinette (second cousin once removed)

• Their marriage was arranged to cement a union of the Hapsburgs and Bourbons- bitter rivals since the 16th century

Marie Antoinette • Mother: Marie Theresa • Father: Holy Roman Emperor Francis I• Had many siblings including Joseph II.

– Viewed as an outsider – High spirited tomboy– Rather lazy, extremely frivolous – Very social – Loved to gamble– Exquisite taste in fashion, furniture,

jewelry

Marie Antoinette:

• Will have four children with Louis XVI (all but one will die as a child)

• Sought refuge at her private domain at Versailles- the Petit Trianon

• Very fancy “peasant cottages”

• “Had the tastes of an actress, not an austerely regal queen”

• Necklace Affair (was innocent but not in the eyes of the French citizens)

King Louis XVI & the Road to Revolution

• Louis became King of France at age of 20 • Very immature and lacked self-confidence• Wanted to be a good king and help his subjects • French Subjects:

– Severe food shortages– Weighed down by taxes– Resentful of royal absolutism – Desired self-government (like the United States) – Estates General had not met since 1614.

• Rising resentment toward King & Queen– Louis= too indecisive– Marie Antoinette: blamed for country’s financial situation