Responsibility of the French Monarchy for the organization of the French Revolution in 1789 :-
How responsible was the French monarchy or the Bourbon dynasty for the organization of the French Revolution (1789)?
Responsibility of the French Monarchy for the organization of the French Revolution in 1789 :-
Introduction: -
The Bourbon dynasty of France at that time was most responsible for the French Revolution. The dictatorship that began during the reign of Louis XIV, the most powerful bourbon king in France, forced the French to take the path of revolution. In fact, history has blamed the Bourbon monarchy for the French Revolution for not changing itself to the needs of the age. Historian Madela blames the Bourbon monarchy for the French Revolution - "the French monarchy, which made the revolution".
The French monarchy was the name of an absolute monarchy. Although the House of Representatives, the so-called States General Assembly, had a nominal existence, it did not convene for 175 years, and the king became extremely powerful. The French king proclaimed himself a representative of God. As the supremely powerful ruler, supreme judge and legislator, the king became the real controller of the state. Louis XIV says - I am the state - I am the state. The Bourbon dynasty is blamed for the organization of the French Revolution . The causes are -
1. Autocratic monarchy: -
Louis XIV of France proclaimed himself a representative of God. They began to abuse their power by giving it a God-given form. Sixteenth Louis says - What I desire is decree. The French were also forced to accept the king as God's representative. But this authoritarian monarchical ideology was nothing but horror and terror to the people. According to La Martin - the king of the French is God, obeying him is religion.
2. Weaknesses of the monarchy: -
Eighteenth-century France was transformed into a corrupt state by the combined efforts of the ineffective King Louis XV, the incompetent monarch Duke of Orleans, and the weak-minded Louis XVI. The French monarchy pushed various sectors including economy, politics, and society into crisis. Louis XV, known as the Butterfly King, was completely fascinated by his concubine Madame de Pompadour. He felt before his death that France was heading for collapse because of his weakness. He said - After me deluge is coming - ‘’After me deluge’’.
3. Arrogance and tyranny of the elite: -
The aristocracy began to interfere in the administration of the kingdom, taking advantage of the weakness of the French kings' character, moral decay, and inefficiency. Employees called ‘’Attendants’’ establish their authority in the system of governance. The French aristocracy also claimed that they belonged to the king's class. The aristocracy signed the ‘’Lettre de cachet’’ with the king to subdue their personal enemies. The French monarchs also relied so heavily on the aristocracy to govern that they failed to reduce the influence and power of the aristocracy. The lives of ordinary Frenchmen became unbearable due to the chaos and oppression of the aristocracy. According to Hampson, the aristocratic infiltration produces unsavory results.
4. Corrupt Judiciary: -
The French judiciary was rife with corruption. In the name of justice, a farce was going on here. Convicts were held at the Bastille Fortress . The post of Judges could be bought from the government for money. The government did not pay the judges. They used to enjoy all the money from fines. The position of judge was hereditary. The king could reduce or commute the sentence of criminals by exercising the power of Lettre De Grace in the trial of citizens. And Lettre de cachet could wield power to keep any citizen in prison. The equal rights of all were not recognized in the eyes of the law. The punishment of the criminals was much more severe in proportion to the seriousness of the crime.
5. Chaotic Laws: -
The laws of France at that time were incomprehensible and chaotic. There was no such thing as universal law in the whole country. Different types of laws were prevalent in each region of the country. Somewhere German law, somewhere Roman law. At that time there were four hundred different types of laws in force throughout France. The laws were written in Latin. For that reason they were incomprehensible to the French general public. Penalties were not specific and the trial system was extremely expensive.
6. Luxury of the royal family: -
From the reign of Louis XIV of France, Versailles palace became the royal palace of luxury . The luxury and extravagance of the royal family was unimaginable. Queen Mary Antoinette lived in the glass house of the Twilirish Palace in Versailles. Members of the royal family used to wear new clothes every day. Excessive money was spent on banquets. According to the historian Goodwin, of the 18,000 employees of the Versailles royal court, almost 16,000 worked at the palace. The number of personal servants of the queen was 500. On the one hand, while this luxury of the royal family is going on, on the other hand, ordinary French people are suffering from the problem of subsistence. This inequality of life made the French rebel against the monarchy.
7. Failure of French Foreign Policy: -
The failed foreign policy of the French monarchy was also largely responsible for the French Revolution. Louis XV lost the Austrian War of Succession (1855-63) and the Seven Years' War (1856-63), leaving the French colonies of America and India out of reach. Louis XVI also made the French economy miserable by involving France in the American War of Independence. The continued failure of foreign policy tarnished the dignity and image of the Bourbon monarchy with the French.
8. Disadvantages of fiscal policy or revenue policy : -
The fiscal policy of the Bourbon monarchy was flawed. Although the aristocracy and high priests had the power to pay taxes, they were excluded from the list of taxpayers. The difference in administrative expenditure was considerable. The monarchy was in a financial crisis due to the lack of a harmonious economy. The inequality of the revenue system angered the French.
9. Responsibility of Louis XVI: -
The French emperor Louis XVI was most responsible for the French Revolution. He, like his predecessors, followed the policy of dictatorship. But Louis XVI did not have the ability or capacity to revive the declining administration. He created administrative complications by appointing four of his ministers, Turgo, Necker, Callon and Bria, to deal with the financial crisis. At first he undertook various reform programs, but failed to implement most of them in opposition to the clergy and the aristocracy.
Conclusion: -
Comte de Marcy says about the responsibility of the monarchy in the French Revolution, At Court, there is nothing but confusion, scandals and injustice. No attempt has been made to carry out good principles of government, everything has been left to chance.
The French Revolution became inevitable in the eighteenth century when the overall role of the French monarchy ended in failure. According to the historian Fisher - the revolution came when the French monarchy was unable to abolish the rights of the aristocracy - the revolution came because the king failed to solve the question of privilege.
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