Flight to Varennes
Also called: Varennes crisis, Royal flight
Louis XVI and his family slipped out of Paris to flee to the border but were stopped at Varennes, destroying trust in the king.
Cheur (17..-1... ; graveur). Graveur Prieur, Jean-Louis (1759-1795). Dessinateur du modèle · Public domain · Source
As the Revolution went on to reform the Church (the Civil Constitution of the Clergy), Louis XVI resolved to leave Paris and rely on royalist troops on the eastern frontier. On the night of 20 June 1791 the family left the Tuileries in disguise, heading for Montmédy. Their heavy coach fell behind schedule, and at Sainte-Menehould the postmaster Drouet recognised the king. On the night of 21 June they were stopped at Varennes-en-Argonne, and on 25 June they re-entered Paris through silent crowds.
The Assembly claimed the king had been “abducted” to save the constitutional monarchy, but it was widely known that he had tried to abandon the Revolution and leave the country. Calls to abolish the monarchy and found a republic grew loud for the first time, and in August Austria and Prussia threatened to aid the king in the Declaration of Pillnitz.
