Louis XVI Family Return to Paris, 1791
Entitled: "Retour de Varennes. ArrivÌ©e de Louis Capet ÌÊ Paris, le 25 Juin 1791." Shows a royal coach carrying Louis XVI and his family on their return to Paris after their aborted flight to freedom; three men riding on the front of the coach appear to be under arrest as well; large numbers of militia or national guard accompany them, and the roadway is lined with many citizens. The royal Flight to Varennes during the night of June 20-21, 1791 was a significant episode in the French Revolution in which King Louis XVI of France, his queen Marie Antoinette, and their immediate family attempted unsuccessfully to escape from Paris. They escaped only as far as the small town of Varennes. When the royal family finally returned under guard to Paris, the revolutionary crowd met the royal carriage with uncharacteristic silence and consequently, complete shock rippled throughout the crowd at the sight of their king. The royal family was confined to the Tuileries Palace. From this point forward, the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic became an ever increasing possibility. The credibility of the king as a constitutional monarch had been seriously undermined by the escape attempt. The king's attempted flight provoked charges of treason that ultimately led to his execution in 1793. Etching by Pierre Gabriel Berthault, 1804.
Size: 4500px × 3419px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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