how did the flight to varenne chang ethe course of the revolution

by Prof. Ocie Hintz 7 min read

The flight to Varennes was a turning point in the French Revolution because it exposed the untrustworthiness of the king and the unworkability of the newly implemented constitution. Contents 1 Overview

The flight to Varennes was a turning point in the French Revolution because it exposed the untrustworthiness of the king and the unworkability of the newly implemented constitution.Sep 30, 2019

Full Answer

Why was the flight to Varennes a major Journee?

The Flight to Varennes, June 20, 1791. The Flight to Varennes served as a major journee because it showed the National Assembly as well as the French people, that Louis XVI could no longer be trusted. While the Assembly had every intention of creating a limited or constitutional monarchy, after June 1791,...

Why did King Louis XVI go to Varennes?

In late June 1791, King Louis XVI appeared before a special committee of the National Constituent Assembly. He gave the following statement to explain his flight to Varennes the week before: “The reasons for my leaving were the insults and threats given against my family and myself on April 18th.

What happened to the royal family at Varennes?

An 1854 depiction of the royal family’s arrest at Varennes in June 1791. The flight to Varennes refers to the royal family’s failed attempt to escape Paris in June 1791.

Why did Guevara leave Varennes?

He gave the following statement to explain his flight to Varennes the week before: “The reasons for my leaving were the insults and threats given against my family and myself on April 18th.

Why was there a change in the course of the French Revolution?

Rising social and economic inequality, new political ideas emerging from the Enlightenment, economic mismanagement, environmental factors leading to agricultural failure, unmanageable national debt, and political mismanagement by King Louis XVI have all been cited as laying the groundwork for the Revolution.

Do you think the attacks on the queen contributed to the revolution?

Peasants destroyed and burned nobles houses and attacked Versailles and demanded the king and queen move back to Paris. She contributed to the French Revolution because she was the queen of France during that time.

What was the Flight to Varennes French Revolution?

The royal Flight to Varennes (French: Fuite à Varennes) during the night of 20–21 June 1791 was a significant episode in the French Revolution in which King Louis XVI of France, Queen Marie Antoinette, and their immediate family unsuccessfully attempted to escape from Paris in order to initiate a counter-revolution at ...

Why was the Flight to Varennes important?

The Flight to Varennes served as a major journee because it showed the National Assembly as well as the French people, that Louis XVI could no longer be trusted. While the Assembly had every intention of creating a limited or constitutional monarchy, after June 1791, such an idea became increasingly suspect.

What are the causes of revolution?

There are five elements that create an unstable social equilibrium: economic or fiscal strain, alienation and opposition among the elites, widespread popular anger at injustice, a persuasive shared narrative of resistance, and favorable international relations.

Was the French Revolution successful?

Although it failed to achieve all of its goals and at times degenerated into a chaotic bloodbath, the French Revolution played a critical role in shaping modern nations by showing the world the power inherent in the will of the people.

How did the French Revolution end?

The French Revolution lasted 10 years from 1789 to 1799. It began on July 14, 1789 when revolutionaries stormed a prison called the Bastille. The revolution came to an end 1799 when a general named Napoleon overthrew the revolutionary government and established the French Consulate (with Napoleon as leader).

In what ways did the end of the old order move the revolution toward a more radical phase?

In what ways did the end of the old order move the revolution toward a more radical phase? The National assembly seized and sold the Church lands. Catholics were looked at enemies of the revolution. People began having food riots because of the rising price of food and took the king captive.

What are the three ideals of the French Revolution?

A legacy of the Age of Enlightenment, the motto "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité" first appeared during the French Revolution. Although it was often called into question, it finally established itself under the Third Republic.

What became the symbol of the French Revolution?

In addition to the fasces a strong symbol of the Revolution is the liberty cap. Although not proper to France itself the liberty cap was adopted to denote adherence to the new regime and their solidarity. It became a national symbol of the revolution and even today can be found on the head of national symbol Marianne.

Who escaped the French Revolution?

émigréémigré, any of the Frenchmen, at first mostly aristocrats, who fled France in the years following the French Revolution of 1789.

What was the great fear during the French Revolution?

Great Fear, French Grande Peur, (1789) in the French Revolution, a period of panic and riot by peasants and others amid rumours of an “aristocratic conspiracy” by the king and the privileged to overthrow the Third Estate.

What was the name of the flight that the French royal family attempted to escape during the French Revolution?

Jump to navigation Jump to search. Attempted escape by the French royal family during the French Revolution. The route from Tuileries Palace to Varennes-en-Argonne (approximately 250 km) The royal Flight to Varennes ( French: Fuite à Varennes) during the night of 20–21 June 1791 was a significant episode in the French Revolution in which King Louis ...

Why did Louis XVI move the royal family to the Tuileries?

Louis XVI's indecisive response was one of the causes of the forcible transfer of the royal family from the Palace of Versailles to the Tuileries in Paris on 6 October 1789 after The Women's March on Versailles. The relocation seemed to have emotionally paralyzed the king, which left many important decisions to the politically untrained queen. On 28 February 1791, while the Marquis de Lafayette was handling a conflict in Vincennes, hundreds of royalists came to the Tuileries to demonstrate in support of the royal family, only to be expelled from the palace by National Guards.

What was Marie Antoinette's goal?

The long-term political objectives of the royal couple and their closest advisors remain unclear. A detailed document entitled Declaration to the French People prepared by Louis for presentation to the National Assembly and left behind in the Tuileries indicates that his personal goal was a return to the concessions and compromises contained in the declaration of the Third Estate on 23 June 1789, immediately prior to the outbreak of violence in Paris and the storming of the Bastille. Private correspondence from Marie Antoinette takes a more reactionary line looking to a restoration of the old monarchy without concessions; though referring to pardons for all but the revolutionary leadership and the city of Paris "if it does not return to its old order".

What did Marie Antoinette give to the royal party?

Louis himself chatted with peasants while horses were being changed at Fromentieres and Marie Antoinette gave silver dishes to a helpful local official at Chaintrix. At Châlons townspeople reportedly greeted and applauded the royal party.

What was the goal of the unsuccessful flight?

The intended goal of the unsuccessful flight was to provide the king with greater freedom of action and personal security than was possible in Paris. At Montmédy General François Claude de Bouillé, the marquis de Bouillé, had concentrated a force of 10,000 regulars of the old royal army who were considered to still be loyal to the monarchy. De Bouillé himself had shown energy in suppressing a serious mutiny in Nancy in 1790. The troops under his command included two Swiss and four German mercenary regiments who were perceived as being more reliable in a time of general political unrest than their French counterparts. In a letter drafted for presentation to the Diet of the Swiss Cantons at Zurich, the royalist baron de Breteuil stated that "His Majesty desires to have such imposing forces at his disposition, that even the most audacious rebels will have no other option than to submit". The court expectation was that "numerous faithful subjects of all classes" would then rally to demand the restoration of the rights of the throne and that order would be restored without the need for civil war or foreign invasion.

Why did Drouet recognize the King?

Drouet recognized the king thanks to his profile on an assignat. Due to the cumulative effect of slow progression, time miscalculations, lack of secrecy, and the need to repair broken coach traces, the royal family was thwarted in its escape attempt after leaving Paris.

How many horses did Marie-Antoinette use to travel to Montmédy?

This would have involved the splitting up of the royal family, however, thus Louis and Marie-Antoinette decided on the use of a heavy and conspicuous coach drawn by six horses.

Purpose of flight

The intended goal of the unsuccessful flight was to provide the king with greater freedom of action and personal security than was possible in Paris. At Montmédy General François Claude de Bouillé, the marquis de Bouillé; had concentrated a force of 10,000 regulars of the old royal army who were considered to still be loyal to the monarchy.

Consequences

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.

Further reading

Dunn, Susan. The Deaths of Louis XVI: Regicide and the French Political Imagination (1994).

External links

Works related to Déclaration de Louis XVI à tous les Français, à sa sortie de Paris at Wikisource

What was the reason for Louis XVI's departure?

He gave the following statement to explain his flight to Varennes the week before: “The reasons for my leaving were the insults and threats given against my family and myself on April 18th. Since then, provocative writings inciting violence ...

Why was the passport I carried necessary?

The passport I carried was necessary to facilitate the journey. It was drawn up for a foreign country, only because the bureau of foreign affairs does not issue them for the interior of the kingdom. The route indicated on the passport was for Frankfurt, and was not even used during the trip.

Description

After a late start, the royal family followed a circuitous route through a series of small towns in the countryside. However, things started to go awry near the city of Châlons, where the loyal soldiers due to escort the royal family were not to be found.

Source

Georges Pernoud and Sabine Flaissier, The French Revolution, translated by Richard Graves (New York: Capricorn Books, 1970), 87–90.

Text

Gentlemen, my name is Jean-Baptiste Drouet, and I am the Posting-Master at Sainte-Menehould. On Tuesday the 2nd at half-past seven, after dinner, I saw two carriages in front of my door, namely a coach with six passengers and a cabriolet with two.

Overview

The royal Flight to Varennes (French: Fuite à Varennes) during the night of 20–21 June 1791 was a significant episode in the French Revolution in which King Louis XVI of France, Queen Marie Antoinette, and their immediate family unsuccessfully attempted to escape from Paris in order to initiate a counter-revolution at the head of loyal troops under royalist officers concentrated at Mo…

Background

Louis XVI's indecisive response was one of the causes of the forcible transfer of the royal family from the Palace of Versailles to the Tuileries in Paris on 6 October 1789 after The Women's March on Versailles. The relocation seemed to have emotionally paralyzed the king, which left many important decisions to the politically untrained queen. On 28 February 1791, while the Marquis de Lafayette was handling a conflict in Vincennes, hundreds of royalists came to the Tuileries to dem…

Objectives of flight

The intended goal of the unsuccessful flight was to provide the king with greater freedom of action and personal security than was possible in Paris. At Montmédy, General François Claude de Bouillé, the marquis de Bouillé, had concentrated a force of 10,000 regulars of the old royal army who were considered to still be loyal to the monarchy. De Bouillé himself had shown energy in suppressing a serious mutiny in Nancy in 1790. The troops under his command included two Swiss and …

The flight attempt

Prodded by the queen, Louis committed himself and his family to a disastrous escape attempt from the capital to the eastern frontier on 21 June 1791. With the dauphin's governess, the Marquise de Tourzel, taking on the role of a Russian baroness, the queen and the king's sister Madame Élisabeth playing the roles of governess and nurse respectively, the king a valet, and the royal childr…

Unmasking and arrest

Due to the cumulative effect of slow progression, time miscalculations, lack of secrecy, and the need to repair broken coach traces, the royal family was thwarted in its escape attempt after leaving Paris. Louis himself chatted with peasants while horses were being changed at Fromentieres and Marie Antoinette gave silver dishes to a helpful local official at Chaintrix. At Châlons townspeopl…

Confinement to Tuileries Palace

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-increasin…

Abolishing the monarchy

The king's failed escape attempt alarmed many other European monarchs, who feared that the revolutionary fervor would spread to their countries and result in instability outside France. Relations between France and its neighbors, already strained because of the revolution, deteriorated even further with some foreign ministries calling for war against the revolutionary government.

Further reading

• Dunn, Susan. The Deaths of Louis XVI: Regicide and the French Political Imagination (1994).
• Loomis, Stanley, The Fatal Friendship: Marie Antoinette, Count Fersen and the Flight to Varennes, Avon Books, 1972. ISBN 0-931933-33-1
• Timothy Tackett, When the King Took Flight, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2003.