Yesterday, January 21, 1793 a weak-willed king was killed, made to die by guillotine. King Louis was accused and convicted of treason, or disloyalty; a traitor to France during the French Revolution.
King Louis XVI was born into royalty and fame on August 23, 1754. Louis was born of Dauphin Louis and Maria Josepha. Grandson and successor of the late King Louis XV of France, who died on May 10, 1774, King Louis XVI took over the throne of France at the death of his father. Louis enjoyed being quiet, hunting and complete privacy. He got married on May 16, 1770 to Marie Antoinette, who was the daughter of Maria Teresa and Francis I as well as the empress of Austria. They were married when he was fifteen and she was fourteen. Her mother, Maria Teresa, put together the wedding just so Austria can improve their relationship with the French. Louis and Marie were never quite content with the marriage; they had different likes and dislikes. .
Louis's first act as king was to reinstate the political power of the reactionary parliaments. The way he started this action was to assign Baron Turgot as controller-general of finance. Baron was a financial reformer when he was appointed this position. However, Louis eventually got rid of him when he demonstrated parliamentary disagreement. Louis later appointed Jacques Necker in charge of finance. Later he was discharged as well. .
Because of all the problems France was having with financial advisors, when the American Revolution came along and France got involved, the government was soon pressed with many debts. France later filed for a state of bankruptcy on August 16, 1777. The next controller-general, Charles Alexandre de Calonne, took the position in 1783. He was later unsuccessful as well. Etienne Charles Lomenie de Brienne, cardinal of Roman Catholic Church, succeeded Calonne after he worked against the leader of finance, Calonne, in the Assembly of the Notables.