|
KF5JRV > TODAY 16.05.23 08:05l 30 Lines 2017 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 3891_KF5JRV
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - May 16
Path: IZ3LSV<ED1ZAC<LU4ECL<VE2PKT<N2NOV<K5DAT<KF5JRV
Sent: 230516/0652Z 3891@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA BPQ6.0.23
At Versailles, Louis, the French dauphin, marries Marie Antoinette, the daughter of Austrian Archduchess Maria Theresa and Holy
Roman Emperor Francis I. France hoped their marriage would strengthen its alliance with Austria, its longtime enemy. In 1774,
with the death of King Louis XV, Louis and Marie were crowned king and queen of France.
>From the start, Louis was unsuited to deal with the severe financial problems he had inherited from his grandfather, King Louis
XIV. In addition, his queen fell under criticism for her extravagance, her devotion to the interests of Austria, and her oppos
ition to reform of the monarchy. Marie exerted a growing influence over her husband, and under their reign the monarchy became
dangerously alienated from the French people.
At the outbreak of the French Revolution, Marie and Louis resisted the advice of constitutional monarchists who sought to refor
m the monarchy in order to save it, and by 1791 opposition to the royal pair had become so fierce that the two were forced to a
ttempt an escape to Austria. During their trip, Marie and Louis were apprehended by revolutionary forces at Varennes, France, a
nd carried back to Paris. There, Louis was forced to accept the constitution of 1791, which reduced him to a mere figurehead.
In August 1792, the royal couple was arrested by the sansculottes and imprisoned, and in September the monarchy was abolished b
y the National Convention. In November, evidence of LouisāÖ counterrevolutionary intrigues with Austria and other foreign nati
ons was discovered, and he was put on trial for treason by the National Convention. The following January, Louis was convicted
and condemned to death by a narrow majority. On January 21, he walked steadfastly to the guillotine and was executed. Nine mont
hs later, Marie Antoinette was convicted of treason by a tribunal, and on October 16 she followed her husband to the guillotine
.
73 de Scott KF5JRV
Pmail: KF5JRV@KF5JRV.#NWAR.AR.USA.NA
Email KF5JRV@gmail.com
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |