fme_789902 - LOUIS XVIII Médaille du général La Fayette

LOUIS XVIII

(06/04/1814-16/09/1824

Louis Stanislas Xavier was born at Versailles in 1755 from the union of the Dauphin Louis (son of Louis XV) and Marie-Josephe Louise of Savoy. He first received the title of Count of Provence and is called Monsieur when his elder brother, Louis XVI, became king in 1774. Married to Louise Marie Josephine of Savoy in 1771, he has no children. Often in opposition to the Court, it does not condemn, in the first instance, the movement of 1789 but the course of events decides to leave Paris with his wife on the day of the flight of Louis XVI at Varennes, but another way. Refugee in Koblenz with his brother, the Comte d'Artois, he took the title of regent after the execution of Louis XVI and then the death of his nephew Louis XVII, the king. He began to work on the restoration despite the low relief it has and must change several times before the domestic victories of the Revolution and Napoleon. With the First Empire, the monarchical cause seems hopeless and Louis XVIII moved to England in a period of exile and financial discomfort. During the first defeats of Napoleon I, Louis XVIII resumed diplomatic activity, at the initiative of Talleyrand and with the English support, allows him to return to France in May 1814. Forced to flee to Ghent during the Hundred Days, Louis XVIII, at the second Restoration, trying to conduct the same policy of reconciliation as defined in his first return to France. After the White Terror (execution of Marshal Ney), the regime relaxes and falls asleep. Duke Decazes replaces Richelieu from 1818. Despite the royalist pressure, Louis XVIII strongly supports the moderate policy in the early years Decazes. France is reintegrated into the community of nations after the Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle. The occupation forces leave France. The censorship law is relaxed in 1819. This year, this Géricault Raft of the Medusa. The appeasement continues after the assassination of the Duke of Berry February 13, 1820 by Louvel. Overwhelmed by the reaction of the ultras after the murder, Decazes resigned on February 20 and the Duke of Richelieu is recalled, marking the triumph of right to the end of the reign and the reign following. The miracle child, Henri, Duke of Bordeaux, posthumous son of Charles Duke of Berry and Marie-Caroline de Bourbon, born September 29, 1820. Napoleon died on St Helena May 5, 1821. Villèle replaces Richelieu December 14, 1821. The reign is marked by the Spanish expedition, commanded by the Duke of Angouleme, organized to restore Ferdinand VII, driven by liberal. The French take Madrid May 23, Fort Trocadero August 31 and September 30, 1823 Cadiz. Louis XVIII, sick and infirm (gout), died September 16, 1824. He is buried in Saint-Denis on September 23.