The royal family’s attempted escape from Paris in June 1791 is a pivotal moment in the French Revolution. This event, occurring during a period of intense political upheaval, involved King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and their immediate family seeking refuge with royalist troops stationed near the eastern French border.
This nocturnal journey holds immense historical significance. It dramatically altered the perception of the monarchy, transforming Louis XVI from a constitutional monarch navigating turbulent times into a perceived traitor actively conspiring against the revolution. The failed escape attempt solidified republican sentiment within France, fueling radicalization and accelerating the shift towards the abolition of the monarchy and the eventual establishment of the First French Republic. The specific timing of this event within the revolutionary timeline is crucial for understanding its impact on subsequent events, including the radicalization of the Jacobin Club and the September Massacres.
