- Also called (until 1795):
- Louis-Stanislas-Xavier, Comte (count) de Provence
- Born:
- Nov. 17, 1755, Versailles, Fr.
- Died:
- Sept. 16, 1824, Paris (aged 68)
- Title / Office:
- king (1814-1824), France
- House / Dynasty:
- house of Bourbon
- Notable Family Members:
- brother Louis XVI
- brother Charles X
- sister Elizabeth of France
Louis XVIII
-
Who was Louis XVIII?
Louis XVIII was the king of France in title from 1795 and in fact from 1814 to 1824, except for the Hundred Days when Napoleon attempted to recapture his empire.
After the deaths of his elder brothers and the accession of another brother as Louis XVI in 1774, Louis became heir presumptive. Facing the French Revolution, he fled France in 1791. Following the execution of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Louis declared himself regent for his nephew, Louis XVII, and then king in 1795 after his nephew's death.
After years of wandering through Europe promoting the royalist cause, Louis XVIII returned to France after Napoleon's defeat in 1814. He promised a constitutional monarchy but fled again during Napoleon's return in 1815, before returning again after Waterloo. His reign saw France's first experiment in parliamentary government since the Revolution, but was later thwarted by ultraroyalists. Louis XVIII was succeeded by his brother, Charles X.
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When did Louis XVIII rule France?
Louis XVIII was the King of France by title from 1795 but in fact from 1814 to 1824, except for the Hundred Days when Napoleon attempted to regain his empire.
Between 1795 and 1814, Louis traveled throughout Europe promoting the royalist cause. After Napoleon's defeats in 1813, Louis promised to recognize some of the results of the Revolution if the Bourbon regime was restored. When the Allied armies entered Paris in March 1814, Talleyrand negotiated the restoration, and on May 3, 1814, Louis was welcomed by Parisians.
On May 2, Louis XVIII promised a constitutional monarchy. This experiment was cut short by Napoleon's return from Elba. After Marshal Michel Ney defected to Napoleon on March 17, 1815, the King fled to Ghent, returning on July 8 after Waterloo.
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Why did Louis XVIII become king after the French Revolution?
Following Napoleon's defeat in 1814, Louis XVIII became king of France as part of the Bourbon Restoration. Allied armies entered Paris in March 1814, leading to negotiations for the restoration of the Bourbon regime.
Louis XVIII was seen as a compromise between those who wanted to restore the old regime and those who supported the French Revolution. France returned to its starting point, receiving the constitutional monarchy it desired in 1789.
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What challenges did Louis XVIII face during his reign?
During his reign, Louis XVIII faced numerous challenges, including navigating France's first experiment with parliamentary government since the Revolution. Although he promised a constitutional monarchy, he had to deal with a strong right-wing, royalist majority in the legislature.
After 1820, the "ultras" gained increasing control, hindering Louis's attempts to reconcile the Revolution's wounds. The Bourbon Restoration saw France return to its starting point after the First French Empire, with Louis XVIII establishing a constitutional monarchy based on bourgeois dominance.
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How did Louis XVIII try to balance old royal traditions with new ideas from the Revolution?
Louis XVIII aimed to reconcile royal traditions and revolutionary ideas through the Charter of 1814. This French constitution, issued after his restoration, established a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament, mirroring some representative elements of the Revolution. The Charter guaranteed civil liberties, proclaimed religious toleration, and acknowledged Catholicism as the state religion, reflecting a balance between revolutionary principles and traditional values.
However, Louis faced challenges from royalist majorities in the legislature who aimed to eliminate all traces of the Revolution. Although he initially opposed their extremism, these ultra-royalists gained increasing control after 1820, thwarting Louis's efforts to fully heal the wounds of the Revolution.
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What was the significance of the Charter of 1814 during Louis XVIIIās rule?
The Charter of 1814, issued by Louis XVIII after the Bourbon Restoration, was highly significant as it established a constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament. It preserved many liberties gained from the French Revolution, such as guaranteed civil liberties and religious toleration, while also acknowledging Catholicism as the state religion. The charter, which remained in effect until 1848 with a revision in 1830, represented France's initial experiment with parliamentary government post-revolution. Despite Louis XVIII holding executive powers, the parliament, though largely advisory, could vote on laws and approve the budget.
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Louis XVIII (born Nov. 17, 1755, Versailles, Fr.ādied Sept. 16, 1824, Paris) was the king of France by title from 1795 and in fact from 1814 to 1824, except for the interruption of the Hundred Days, during which Napoleon attempted to recapture his empire.
Louis was the fourth son of the dauphin Louis, the son of Louis XV, and received the title comte de Provence; after the death of his two elder brothers and the accession of his remaining elder brother as Louis XVI in 1774, he became heir presumptive. The birth of two sons to Louis XVI, however, temporarily put a stop to his royal ambitions. When the Revolution broke out in 1789, he remained in Paris, possibly to exploit the situation as a royal candidate; but he fled the country in June 1791.
With little concern for the safety of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, who were held captive in Paris, the Comte de Provence issued uncompromising counterrevolutionary manifestos, organized ƩmigrƩ associations, and sought the support of other monarchs in the fight against the Revolution. When the King and Queen were executed in 1793, he declared himself regent for his nephew, the dauphin Louis XVII, at whose death, in June 1795, he proclaimed himself Louis XVIII.
Between 1795 and 1814 Louis wandered throughout Europe, sojourning in Prussia, England, and Russia, promoting the royalist cause, however hopeless it seemed after Napoleonās proclamation as emperor in 1804. Although financially hard pressed, he refused to abdicate and accept a pension from Bonaparte. After Napoleonās defeats in 1813, Louis issued a manifesto in which he promised to recognize some of the results of the Revolution in a restored Bourbon regime. When the Allied armies entered Paris in March 1814, the brilliant diplomatist Talleyrand was able to negotiate the restoration, and on May 3, 1814, Louis was received with jubilation by the war-weary Parisians.
On May 2, Louis XVIII officially promised a constitutional monarchy, with a bicameral parliament, religious toleration, and constitutional rights for all citizens. The resulting Charte Constitutionnelle was adopted on June 4, 1814. Louisās constitutional experiments were cut short, however, by the return of Napoleon from Elba. After Marshal Michel Ney defected to Napoleon on March 17, 1815, the King fled to Ghent. He did not return until July 8, after Waterloo.
Louis XVIIIās reign saw Franceās first experiment in parliamentary government since the Revolution. The King was invested with executive powers and had ālegislative initiative,ā whereas a largely advisory parliament voted on laws and approved the budget. The legislature, though, had a strong right-wing, royalist majority. Influenced by his favourite, Ćlie Decazes, who became prime minister in 1819, the King opposed the extremism of the ultras, who were determined to wipe out every vestige of the Revolution, and he dissolved the parliament in September 1816. After 1820, however, the ultras exercised increasing control and thwarted most of Louisās attempts to heal the wounds of the Revolution. At his death he was succeeded by his brother, the comte dāArtois, as Charles X.