Louis XVI and the French Revolution

Vocabulary review covering key figures, events, treaties, and political terms related to Louis XVI and the French Revolution from the lecture quiz.

Louis Auguste de France

The birth name of Louis XVI, who was born at Versailles in 1754.

Château de Versailles

The birthplace of Louis XVI and the principal residence of the French monarchy.

Marie-Antoinette

Archduchess of Austria who married Louis XVI in 1770 to seal the Franco-Austrian alliance.

Louis XV

Grandfather of Louis XVI whose death in 1774 led to Louis XVI ascending the throne at the age of 20.

Storming of the Bastille (Prise de la Bastille)

Major event on July 14, 1789, targeting a symbol of royal arbitrariness, which marked the beginning of the French Revolution.

Bonnet phrygien (Phrygian cap)

The distinctive headpiece that became the emblem and defining symbol of the French Revolution.

January 21, 1793

The date on which Louis XVI was executed by guillotine following his trial.

Madame Élisabeth

The sister of Louis XVI, recognized for her courage and steadfast loyalty to her family until her death during the Revolution.

National Convention (Convention nationale)

The revolutionary assembly that tried Louis XVI and voted to sentence him to death in January 1793.

Tennis Court Oath (Serment du Jeu de Paume)

The historic pledge taken on June 20, 1789, in a requisitioned sports hall by deputies of the Third Estate, vowing not to separate until establishing a constitution for France.

Louis Capet

The name assigned to Louis XVI following his deposition to emphasize his status as an ordinary citizen during his trial.

Fête de la Fédération

National celebration on July 14, 1790, during which Louis XVI swore fidelity to the nation in a transient display of national unity.

Varennes

The town where Louis XVI and the royal family were recognized and apprehended by local authorities during their attempted flight in 1791.

Jacques Necker

Government minister under Louis XVI whose central function was attempting to restore royal finances through enhanced budgetary transparency.

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

Fundamental text affirming the basic rights of citizens, which Louis XVI was compelled to accept under political pressure in August 1789.

Treaty of 1778

Alliance signed with Benjamin Franklin by which Louis XVI formally committed France to support the American colonies against Great Britain.

Estates General of 1789 (États généraux)

Assembly convoked by the monarchy primarily to approve new taxes in order to close an enormous financial deficit.

Turbos (Turgot)

Economic minister who attempted to resolve grain shortages by liberalizing the grain trade, which ultimately provoked riots.

Cologne (Calonne)

Minister who in 1787 proposed a radical general tax reform aimed at making the nobility pay taxes, triggering a major political crisis.

Qu'est-ce que le Tiers État?

Influential pamphlet published by Abbé Sieyès in January 1789 that denounced the nobility and served as a manifesto for the Third Estate.

Amygio Varennes

The presiding figure at the National Convention during the death penalty vote on January 17 and the execution on January 21, 1793.

361 votes

The exact absolute majority count (out of $721$ voters) at the trial of Louis XVI that condemned him to capital punishment without appeal.

Declaration of Louis XVI (1791)

Document uncovered after his failed flight that exposed the king's rejection of the Revolution and constitutional monarchy, making him suspect to revolutionaries.

Roi des Français (King of the French)

Constitutional title held by Louis XVI from 1791 to 1792, replacing 'King of France' and restricting his role to limited executive power.

Joseph II

Enlightened Emperor and brother of Marie-Antoinette who maintained complex diplomatic relations with revolutionary France.

Secret Memorandum of 1792

Clandestine document drafted by Louis XVI in 1792 calling on European monarchs to intervene militarily to restore the French crown.

Declaration of Pillnitz (Déclaration de Pilnitz)

August 1791 agreement secretly supported by Louis XVI wherein Emperor Leopold II and King Frederick William II of Prussia declared readiness to intervene if European powers united to restore the French monarchy.