Biography:King of France at the time of the French Revolution, Louis presided over a time of financial crisis that directly contributed to the outbreak of revolution in 1789.
In that year he convened the Estates-General. Discontent among the upper and middle class led to a revolt against the monarchy. His flight to Varennes in 1791 significantly undermined the credibility of the monarchy as an institution.
In 1792 Louis was arrested after an insurrection in August. The monarchy was abolished the following year, a republic was proclaimed and he, along with his unpopular wife Marie Antoinette, were executed by guillotine on 21 January 1793.
Born:August 23, 1754 Birthplace:Palace of Versailles, Versailles, France Star Sign:Virgo
1777-07-23 American Revolution: Louis XVI of France and his Foreign Minister clandestinely agree to supply US with munitions
1781-12-28Comte de Rochambeau and Nicolas Luckner are the last generals to be made Marshal of France by Louis XVI before the Revolution
1785-08-01 French naval scientific expedition ordered by Louis XVI, led by La Pérouse with 220 men departs Brest (lost in the Pacific 1788)
1788-08-08 French King Louis XVI convenes the Estates-General, held in May 1789
1789-01-24 Louis XVI of France issues edict calling for the convocation of the Estates-General, a general assembly not called since 1614
1789-05-05 French Estates General meets for the first time since 1614 at Versailles, summoned by King Louis XVI
1789-06-23 French King Louis XVI rejects the demands of the Third Estate, calling itself the National Assembly, during the opening stages of the French Revolution
1789-06-27French Revolution: King Louis XVI orders the nobility and clergy of the Estates-General to meet with the Third Estate, by then called the National Assembly
1789-07-11 French King Louis XVI dismisses finance minister Jacques Necker, sparking riots in Paris
1789-07-16 French King Louis XVI reinstates Jacques Necker as finance minister following riots at his dismissal
1789-10-05French Revolution: Women of Paris march to Versailles in the March on Versailles to confront Louis XVI about his refusal to promulgate the decrees on the abolition of feudalism, demand bread, and have the King and his court moved to Paris
1789-10-06French Revolution: Louis XVI returns to Paris from Versailles after being confronted by the Parisian women on 5 October
1789-10-12French Revolution: King Louis XVI writes secretly to the King of Spain about complaining of harsh treatment; the Count of Artois writes to the Austrian king requesting military intervention in France
1791-06-20 King Louis XVI and the French royal family are caught during an attempt to flee Paris during the French Revolution, severely undermining their credibility
1791-06-21 Fleeing French King Louis XVI and family captured at Varennes-en-Argonne
1791-09-13 France's King Louis XVI accepts constitution
1792-06-13 King Louis XVI dismisses French government
1792-08-10 Revolutionaries storm the Tuileries Palace, in Paris, residence of the royal family
1792-12-11 French King Louis XVI goes on trial, accused of high treason and crimes against the state
1792-12-26 Trial of French King Louis XVI, court hears the kings defense brought by Raymond Desèze
1793-01-21 Louis XVI of France is executed by guillotine in Paris, following his conviction for "high treason" by the newly created French Parliament (Convention nationale), during the French Revolution
Alfonso V of Aragon
Cnut the Great
Ferdinand I
Gustav III
James II
Louis XI