Comprehensive Essay on the Death Sentence to Louis XVI of France

There was a great tug of war between the Girondists and the Jacobins on the issue of death sentence to Louis XVI.

The members of the Jacobin party wanted that the king should be hanged without any trial; on the other hand the Girondists desired that the fate of should be decided by the entire people. But Jacobins had already to put the king to death. Danton said:

“The kings of Europe had challenged us. In its reply we would chop off the head of Louis XVI and throw it before them.”

Saint Joust also remarked:

“None of the kings is innocent; therefore, Louis XVI should be hanged without any further hesitation.” Robespierre also shouted:

“The king had done treachery against the Revolution, hence possessed no claim on throne. Now he is only a claimant of death sentence.”

Thus all the members of the Jacobin party wanted to get rid king like in the case of Charles I. At last a false trial was put up which continued for a month. During the course of the trial, the king kept mum and did not reply any question.

A box was also produced at the 11 trial which contained the correspondence between the king and emigres and the foreign kings.

After the charge was proved against the king, the members of the National Convention voted on the issue, whether the king should be hanged or not.

Out of 782 members, only 721 members of the Convention took part in it and 387 including the brother of King Phillip, the Duke of Orleans, voted against the king.

The king was informed on 20th January 1793 that he would be guillotined the next day. Attempts were made to save the life of the king but all ended in smoke and he was guillotined on 21st January 1793. Before his death he said:

“Gentlemen, I am innocent of that of which I am accused. May my blood assure the happiness of France?”

Consequences of the Death Sentence

Though the king had made attempts to crush the Revolution by establishing secret relations with foreign countries, even then he was a benevolent ruler and better than all who so far had ruled over the country.

He was not the chief cause of lawlessness in France. Actually his forefathers were responsible for it that had wasted fabulous wealth on wars. His queen Marie Antoinette and his courtiers were more treacherous than the king.

It terrified the royalists who were becoming a danger to France and the Republic.

The rulers of European countries were shocked at this event. England which was so far the greatest supporter of Revolution turned a deadly enemy and wanted to crush the Revolution. The first coalition was organised against the Republic of France to check its bloody deeds.