Execution of Louis XVI (January 21, 1793)

 

“‘a Slight Freshness on the Neck’: Prints Depicting the Execution of Louis XVI (ca. 1793),” The Public Domain Review, accessed September 12, 2023, https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/execution-by-guillotine-of-louis-xvi/.

The Print Collector/Heritage Images/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY, “Execution of Louis XVI of France, Paris, 21st January 1793 - Stock Image - C042/3902,” Science Photo Library, accessed September 12, 2023, https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/980409/view/execution-of-louis-xvi-of-france-paris-21st-january-1793.


On the foggy morning of  January 21, a carriage traversed a two mile route without the slightest bit of urgency.¹ Some say it was probably to take in the sights one last time. The unlucky occupant of that carriage was the king himself, King Louis XVI. Having endured almost 4 years of revolution in his nation and being accused of high treason, the king could see the end in sight. The final destination of the carriage was the Place de la Revolution, formerly known as the Place Louis XV. This was the location of the proud statue of King Louis XV, which in August of the former year was torn down.² Ever since then the pedestal on which it stood on was vandalized and destroyed in an attempt to relieve the country of any resemblance of monarchs.

When the carriage arrived, the king stepped out and was approach by three executioners. They attempted to removed the king's coat, which the king repelled and with dignity took off himself.³ Additionally, the executioners attempted to bound the king's hands which he abruptly negated. After a brief back and forth, the king allowed the executioners to bound his hands and they begun their ascent onto the guillotine platform. Once on the platform, the king proudly stepped forth trying to gather the attention of the crowd and exclaimed "I die innocent of all the crimes imputed to me. I pardon the authors of my death, and pray God that the blood you are about to shed will never fall upon France." Soon after they positioned the king in the pillory and guillotined him, with his head falling at 15 minutes after ten.⁴ Afterwards, the executioner grabbed his head by the hair and exhibited it to the crowd. To this they replied, "Long live the Republic! Long live the Republic! Long live the Republic!"

1. Doyle, William. "The Execution of Louis XVI and the End of the French Monarchy." History Review, March 2000, 21. Gale In Context: U.S. History (accessed September 7, 2023). https://link-gale-com.eznvcc.vccs.edu/apps/doc/A61586543/UHIC?u=viva2_nvcc&sid=bookmark-UHIC&xid=17301671.
2 Doyle, The Execution of Louis XVI and the End of the French Monarchy.
3. De Firmont, Henry, Edgeworth. “The Execution of Louis XVI (January 21, 1793),” The trial and execution of Louis XVI, accessed September 7, 2023, https://web.archive.org/web/20190929061803/http:/www.historyguide.org/intellect/louis_trial.html.
4.De Firmont, The Execution of Louis XVI (January 21, 1793).

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