The Cutting Off Of Absolute Monarchy
With the guillotining of Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette, one might say absolute monarchy was literally cut off after nearly a millenium of kingly succession, “For nearly 1,000 years, the house of Capet furnished France with kings, first as direct-line Capetians and later through the branch of families of Valois and Bourbon” (Washitaw 1). Louis XVI was not only hampered by the French Revolution which dominated his reign, but also because of a complete lack of interest in politics and his inheritance of his grandfather’s reign which was rife with corruption and lavish expenditure at the cost of the common people. Thus, it was a combination of selfish indulgence based on desire and emotion over reason and a lack of political skill which brought about the end of absolute monarchy and the death of Louis XVI to the French Revolution.
As with many politicians, Louis XVI’s problems were of a political and a financial nature. He was slow to address the rising financial crisis in which France was immersed and he made the political mistake of restoring the parliaments which his grandfather had abolished finding them too reactionary. Louis XVI did hire Baron Turgot to be in charge of fiscal reform, but the parliamentary reaction was in such opposition to the choice that he was forced to remove him from the position. Louis XVI’s next financial director was also removed from office mainly because of floating huge loans couples with rising debts from France’s support of the rebels in the American Revolution. Liberty, freedom and equality became the cry of the people, especially in light of the American rebels. Yet, the French Revolution was one based much more on the economic divisions within society and the absolute tyranny of Louis XVI’s absolute monarchy. Louis XVI’s naivete concerning politics made him give into the demands of the people for a popularly elected Estates-...