Louis Capet
Better
known as King Louis XVI. Born August 24, 1754, Louis Capet would grow
up to replace his grandfather (Louis XV) on the French throne since his own
father had died young. in 1770, at the age of fifteen, he married Marie
Antoinette. the marriage remained unconsummated for several years due to a
sexual disfunction that Louis suffered from, but eventually that was
remedied and they had four children.
At first Louis was
well-loved by his people, but over the years the country dropped further and
further into debt. In 1789 he ordered the first election of the National
Assembly, which was one of the events that begun the Revolution. Although
still a popular king, Louis was prone towards bouts of severe depression
during which time his queen would assume the responsibility of speaking for
the crown. Marie Antoinette was extremely unpopular by the people, and the
king's own popularity soon suffered for it.
As food
shortages ran rampant through France and hostilities from the people grew,
Louis attempted to take his family and escape France in June of 1791.
Captured before he could leave the country, he and his family were returned
to Paris and put under house arrest until August of 1972 when he was
formally arrested by the National Tribunal. Declared as an enemy of the
people and stripped of all his titles, the now-citizen Louis Capet was tried
and found guilty of high treason in December. In January he was sentenced to
death and he was guillotined on January 21, 1793.
