v44_0361 - LOUIS XVI Demi-écu dit "aux branches d'olivier" 1791 Paris

LOUIS XVI

(05/10/1774-01/21/1793)

The Girondin ministry, formed on March 23, 1792, declared war on April 20 on the King of Bohemia and Hungary, Leopold II. Rouget de Lisle composes the Marseillaise on April 25th. The Fatherland is declared "in danger" on July 11. The Parisians and the Marseillais take the Tuileries and massacre the defenders of the castle, Swiss and noble, the king and his family take refuge near the Assembly. Louis XVI was stripped of his functions and interned in the Temple on August 12. In early September, massacres took place in Parisian prisons, including the Carmelites, and claimed thousands of victims, including the Princess of Lamballe, Marie-Antoinette's friend. Dumouriez and Kellermann won the victory of Valmy over the Prussians on September 20, 1792. The news was quickly known thanks to Chappe's telegraph. The following day, the republic was proclaimed and royalty abolished at the first meeting of the Convention. Dumouriez defeated the Austrians at Jemmapes on November 6 and occupied Brussels. The King's trial begins on December 10. On January 17, he was sentenced to death by a majority vote and was guillotined on January 21, 1793..