Louis XVI’s Childhood

Louis XVI, born by the name Louis-Auguste was the King of France from 1774 until his death 1792. Louis XVI was born in the year 1754 on 21^st January. During the French Revolution, before the fall of monarchy Louis XVI was the last king of France. He was referred as Citizen Louis Capet during the four months before he was executed.

Louis-Auguste was the second son Louis and thus grandson of Louis XV and Maria Lesczczynska. Louis mother was Marie-Josephe of Saxony, the daughter of Frederick Augustus II Saxony and King of Poland. He had an excellent knowledge on geography, Latin, History, and astronomy, and thus became fluent in English and Italian. He was a neglected child for his parents as his parents favored his elder brother more than him. It is considered that his elder brother Louis, duc de Bourgogne is brighter and more handsome than his little brother. Louis-Auguste in his childhood was a very stronger and healthy but has introvert personality; he was very curios, intellectual and a gifted student.  When his father was on his last breath, Louis-Auguste was made the new Dauphin, but unfortunately he received very strict and conservative education from Duc de La Vauguyon. However he was not prepared for the throne he was supposed to inherit in 1774. Louis-Auguste married at the age of 15, to 14 year old Habsburg Archduchess Maria Antonia, who was the youngest daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Francis I and his wife, Empress Maria Theresa of the Habsburg dynasty.

The Personality of Louis XVI

When Louis XVI succeeded to the throne in the year 1774, he was only 19 years old. In early age he had to hold great responsibility as the government was in great debt and resentment of “despotic” monarchy was on the high rise. He felt very disappointed that he is unable to resolve the situation of the government as King Louis primarily focused on foreign policy and religious freedom. Undoubtedly, Louis had great intellectual skills but he lacked firmness and decisiveness. His desire to be loved by his own people is evident that he is a great leader and also explains that his actions were intended to benefit the population. He was very kind and was always in favor of his public. He always aimed to earn love and trust from his people by reinstating the parliament. Louis always believes that he must confront opinions from his people and it is never wrong. It is mentioned that historians have marked that the king had very dull personality and lacked decisiveness. He has been regarded having very shy and quiet personality but also conventional and unimaginative. His interest in blacksmithing and carpentry as well his curious nature were seen as his hobbies. He is very passionate about his works. He had a unimpressive personality when he did not bear any child for a longer period of time. He was accused of having extramarital affair with another wife as he did not bear any child; this theory was based upon contemporary pamphlets.