The king and the flight to varennes

Question 1

why did he flee

Answer 1

• In a difficult position ever since the establishment of a national assembly
• Authority had been questioned
• Lost support of the army
  Increasing lack of respect

Question 2

By june 1791 he found his situation intolerable, why ?

Answer 2

• He was a prisoner in the tuileries
• The CCC had challenged his deepest conviction
  Political clubs were becoming more radical
• 2 April 1791 Mirabeau died,a constitutional monarchist, acting as kings go between
• 18 april 1791 royal family were prevented from leaving the tuileries by the national guards to get mass from a refractory priest at the palace of saint cloud,
  Louis wife and sister urged him to take action

Question 3

foreign help

Answer 3

• The king and queen were in contract with some emigres who were willing to help him assert his power
• Marie’s brother Leopold was also willing to help
  Took place on the 20/21s june

Question 4

when was the flight to verennes

Answer 4

• Took place on the 20/21s june

Question 5

why did the flight to varennes fail

Answer 5

• Louis rejected his advisers choice of routh and suggestion that the royal family should travel separately instead of in a large 6 horse carriage
• Departure was delayed as it took 1 and ½ hours to load and the weight slowed the journey down, so the troops waiting for louis at challon left after 2 hours of waiting meaning the royal family continued without protection

Question 6

end of the flight to varennes

Answer 6

• Louis was recognised at sainte menehould by jean baptiste who rode to the next village to stop the coach
• Representatives from the nation assembly hurried to escort the royal family back to paris

Question 7

The outcome of the flight to varennes

Answer 7

• Sowed new doubts about the kings sincerity
• Before his flight louis had written a letter voicing his opposition to the assemblies decrees
• National assembly put louis in a temporary suspension on the 16th july 1791
• 290 deputies abstained from voting to suspend the king’s powers since that believed suspending went too far
• Radical clubs called for the king’s abdication