King Louis XVI of France
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King Louis XVI of France
Louis XVI, a well-meaning but somewhat bumbling man, was not an
effective king.
Louis’ wife, Marie Antoinette (left), was intensely unpopular in France for two reasons: she was Austrian and her total lack of concern for the French people.
Capable or not, Louis XVI was the absolute monarch of France, a position he had inherited from his grandfather, Louis XV (an educated, aggressive, and involved ruler who established France as a top European power).
Louis’ wife, Marie Antoinette (left), was intensely unpopular in France for two reasons: she was Austrian and her total lack of concern for the French people.
Capable or not, Louis XVI was the absolute monarch of France, a position he had inherited from his grandfather, Louis XV (an educated, aggressive, and involved ruler who established France as a top European power).
According to the widely accepted theory of the divine right of kings, God had made Louis the King of France, and any questioning of him would be like challenging God. This meant several things:
Louis XVI was an inept ruler. He simply was not interested in ruling like his grandfather, Louis XV, who had been much more autocratic. A quiet-living, religious, family man, he preferred to go hunting instead of addressing affairs of state. When a ruler with absolute power does not rule with the nation and its people in mind, the nation seems bound to fall into disarray.
- Louis spent public money as he pleased without having to justify the reasons.
- Simply by writing an official letter, Louis could imprison anyone who objected for as long as he wished without charge or trial.
- Louis issued laws at will, usually with little or no debate or argument.
Louis XVI was an inept ruler. He simply was not interested in ruling like his grandfather, Louis XV, who had been much more autocratic. A quiet-living, religious, family man, he preferred to go hunting instead of addressing affairs of state. When a ruler with absolute power does not rule with the nation and its people in mind, the nation seems bound to fall into disarray.
