Notes

- 1775 LouisXVI coronated. Spent his 20yrs there but felt unprepared to rule like Austrian Antoinette (privately). Things to expect from hopefully glorious reign w/ beautoful wife. Wants to live up to XIV to be popular
- 1 of his 1st decisions so modern terrified his courtiers. Inocculated whole family w smallpox (experimenta; & dangerous method). Didnt die sp shpwed he could lead w the times & promising start to rule.
- XVI couldn't/wouldn't/didn't try to consummate marriage. Spread all over XVI. No heirs so bad. Truth unknown. Sexual roblem - dpnt have, not enough, or didnt know, or illness (hurt more than pleasure? surgeries?) Struggled to father heir.
- XV left national finances dire so Turgot = XVI's minister who covered these w/ ambitious modernising reforms. Tried to teach ppl ab price of bread. Louis eager to learn and pass reform but most courtiers contested this; powerful landed aristocrats in Versailles (many of whom were his relatives) wld have to pay taxes for 1st time.. Poll tax...........
- V conservative council, threatened conservative strcuture of society (3 Estates).
- King's brother, known as "Monsieur" in court, one of these who wanted trad order. Paris goss + strong vocal opp inside Versailles undermind XVI's faith in Turgot & reform. Lost confidence & willingness to support him ot bitter end, so dismissed him tho he was meant to save Fr. economy

- Made him look weak and indecisive which were labels which stuck w him. After 8yrs, started family, daughter then son. So w heir Antoinette fuffilled duty. Baby = saviour & miracle whod save France. Louis sought to fill National Treasury thru Necker, one of wealthiest Euro men. Genevan banker. places ersonal vredit to benefit o f state. est financial confidence state can boom.
- Secretly helped Americansfight off Brits attempting to reclaim rebellious colonies. But needed emergench loans from banking friends. i.e. democratic (American) nrevoluton financed by one of the least euro democratuc nations
- Battle of Saratoga won after 2yrs so publiclaly announced allyship. Welcomed Franklin at Versailles despite him Democrat cuz rlly wna crush Br. War successfuo but costing more each yr. Necker RLLY struggling w royal spending. Tax rich problem!!
- Necker published plan to eradicate unnecessary profitable jobs for courtiers but caused conflict. XVI promised to back Necker up, which Antoinette agreed but XVI eavered again so dismissed Necker. AAnother complete failure to confront nobility.
- Americans won war but Fr. didnt get econ. boost from it. American conntinued trading w ENglnad. Terrible impact on Fr. econ

- Necker successor = de Calonne. Proposed XVI shld spend even more to boost economy.
- Antoinette alr unpopular as Austrian but has econ situation became more dire she was viewed as a symbol of aristocratic elite selfishness. Easy to blame. Her xtravagant court w parties and balls while every1 else was starving. Libells ab her having a wild sex life e.g. involving XVI's brothers. SMall fat stupid clumsy drunk dirty minded XVI depicted too
- Normandy XVI still so popular there during visit.
- de Calonne realised his method wrong so repeated same prevous advis e and nobles protested against taxation again. But finally follows throiugh. Assembly of Notables, turns into absolute dogfight. INevtibably tjeected it, so CAlonne's failure to convince elite causes his sacking
- Stuck between econ. disorder & adamant so mental breakdowns ab visions stumbling all over palace. Deep depression. Unable to marriage coourt. Really lost control & be king to dominate political agenda.
- Some1 snuck in porytait of CHarles I execution, an ancestor who levied war against ubjects. But called meeting of all 3 states Aug 1788 (Estate General)...... Political deadlock.

-Deatj pf e;dest spn brings king and nobility closer together as they gave him support. Sympathy for nobles again meant 3rd Estate thought he was never gna he;[ hem. His world is noble & htheir interests & never rlly sees other subjevts i.e. 3rd Estate and Antoinette shares this regard.
- 3rd Esttate sent grp to asl for LOuis' help and he refuses to meet them so National Assembly forms...................... Refused to fight National Assembly/Paris w Force of arms to repeat history CHarles I against his own subjevts.................
- Storming of Versailles. Guard killled near Antoinette but narrowly escapes... really dangerous for them so dcide to takealll fmaily to Paris.taken as prisoners never to see Versailles again