Chapter 1: Louis XVI As King Flashcards
What was the king advised to peruse?
Why?
‘Gloire’
Respected and admired on world stage
Who did the king’s authority derive from?
What did this mean?
God
Not answerable to any representative body
What was lettres de cachet?
Letter bearing the royal seal or ‘cachet’
What was Louis XVI’s personality like?
Little political education
Shy
Irresponsible
Mostly interested in hunting and telescopes
Only left Versailles twice
Believed in Devine right of kings
What was Marie-Antoinette’s personality like?
Austrian
Marriage to promote diplomatic relations
Quickly admired at court
Party life lover
In what ways did Louis XVI not fit the expected mould of king?
5’6
Stout
Didn’t produce an heir until 8 years after his marriage
No kingly drive
Weak leader, easily led
In what ways did Marie-Antoinette not fit the expected mould of Queen?
Brother criticised her husband
Rumours of sleeping with whole court but Louis, kings brother especially
Rumours of out of control spending
Austrian so hated by rest of France
Louis weak leader so she took control of some political decisions
In why sense did Louis XVI’s behaviour / actions damage the image of the monarchy?
Couldn’t stop enlightenment criticism of his monarchy
Censorship backfired: 1782 stopped a play (The Marriage of Fiargo)- only popularised and spread debate of kings tyranny
Did not better than grandfather in making court work
In why sense did Marie-Antoinette’s behaviour / actions damage the image of the monarchy?
Illegal press printed pamphlets showing Queen as adulterous spendthrift
Urged Louis to support brother in feud with Netherlands, public hated this
Nicknamed “Madame Deficil” (debt)
Crated model village at Versailles
How was Louis XVI’s being cut off from the rest of France emenda he was to blame for the revolution?
Only left Versailles twice
Didn’t understand extend and severity of poverty in France
