Kingdom of France (1791–92)
The Kingdom of France (the remnant of the preceding absolutist Kingdom of France) was a constitutional monarchy from 3 September 1791 until 21 September 1792, when it was succeeded by the French First Republic.
Kingdom of FranceRoyaume de France (French)
20–21 June 1791
3 September 1791
10 August 1792
21 September 1792
3 September 1791
21 September 1792
King Louis XVI
King Louis XVI
5
19
24
Independents, Feuillants, Moderate Jacobins (1792)
Georges Couthon, Pierre Victurnien Vergniaud and others
6 September 1791 – 2 September 1792
On 3 September 1791, the National Constituent Assembly forced King Louis XVI to accept the French Constitution of 1791, thus turning the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy.
After the 10 August 1792 Storming of the Tuileries Palace, the Legislative Assembly on 11 August 1792 suspended this constitutional monarchy.[1] The freshly elected National Convention abolished the monarchy on 21 September 1792, ending 203 years of consecutive Bourbon rule over France.
Background[edit]
Since 1789, France had been undergoing a revolution in its government and social orders. A National Assembly declared itself into being and promulgated their intention to provide France with a fair and liberal constitution.[2] Louis XVI moved to Paris in October of that year, but grew to detest Paris, and organised an escape plot in 1791. The plot, known as the Flight to Varennes, ultimately failed to materialise and severely damaged any positive public opinion for the monarchy.[3] Louis XVI's brothers-in-exile in Koblenz rallied for an invasion of France. Austria and Prussia responded to the royal brothers' appeals and released the Declaration of Pillnitz in August. The declaration stated that Prussia and Austria wished to restore Louis XVI to absolute power but would only attempt to do so with the assistance of the other European powers.[4]
Constitution[edit]
Louis XVI was forced to submit to the Constitution of 1791 by the National Assembly in the aftermath of his Flight to Varennes.[5] The Constitution of 1791, which established the Kingdom of the French, was revolutionary in its content. It abolished the nobility of France and declared all men to be equal before the law. Louis XVI had the ability to veto legislation that he did not approve of, as legislation still needed Royal Assent to come into force.[6]