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The Student of History

Execution of Louis XVI.

An armed mob of at least 100,000 men, aided by troops who joined them in whole The judicial murder of Louis XVI was regiments at a time, had not long to con- the climax of the Revolution in France. tend against the old fortress. The Gov- The Convention voted his death at three ernor, De Launay, made such a defence as o'clock on the morning of the twentieth a brave officer might at such a juncture; of January, 1793, and he was taken to exe but his few troops were bewildered and cution in twenty-six hours afterwards. wavering; he received orders from the The guillotine was erected in the mid- Hotel de Ville, which he knew not whether dle of the Place Louis XV, a large open to obey or resist, but no instructions from square, having the Champs Elysées on the court or the ministers; and the mili- one side, and the gardens of the Tuileries tary aid to the mob became stronger than on the other. The Place bristled with any force he could bring to bear against artillery, and every street and avenue them. The chains of three draw-bridges leading to it was crowded with troops and were broken by hatchets; straw, wood, armed multitudes, who had cannon with oil and turpentine were brought and them charged with grape-shot; while the kindled, to burn down the gates; and carriage was surrounded by picked men, after many volleys from the mob had who had orders to despatch the king with been answered by a few from the fortress, their carbines in case of any rescue being De Launay, seeing no hope of succor, attempted. At about half-past ten, the resolved to blow up the place rather than king, who had been engaged in prayer yield. In this he was prevented by the during the ride, arrived at the spot; he Swiss guards, who formed a part of the descended from the coach, and his consmall garrison, and who, after a parley fessor followed him. Three executioners with the insurgents, opened the gates and approached to remove his upper garments, surrendered. but he put them back, and performed that The Bastille was taken. The ruffians, simple office for himself. He resisted heeding nothing but their own furious somewhat the indignity of having his passions, disregarded the honorable rules hands tied, and only yielded on the enof capitulation; they beheaded De Launay treaty of his confessor; and had also to in a clumsy and barbarous manner, and yield on the subject of cutting off his putting his head on a spike, carried it back hair. through the streets shouting, laughing He ascended the steps that led to the and singing; they were prevented only platform with a firm bearing, still folby an accidental interruption from burn- lowed by M. Edgeworth. When on the ing alive a young lady whom they found top, he made a sudden movement toin one of the court-yards; they hung or wards the edge of the scaffold, and exmaltreated many of the Swiss and invalid claimed with a loud and firm voice: soldiers; and they fearfully hacked the "Frenchmen, I die innocent; it is from bodies of three or four officers in the en- the scaffold, and when about to appear deavor to decapitate them. The prisoners before my God, that I tell you so. I parwithin, only seven in number, were liber- don my enemies; I pray that France-" ated, and treated with a drunken revel; Here Santerre, on horseback, raised his while the Châtelet and other prisons be- right hand, and cried: "Drums! Execucame scenes of renewed disorders. tioners, do your duty!" Several drum- The Plague in England.