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The
measures put into place by the National Assembly because of the war
presented Louis with problems. He was in a difficult position. He completely
disagreed about the expulsion of the priests who would not take
the oath. His opponents were really annoyed with this, and proved to
Louis just how annoyed when, on the 20th of June, they broke into the Tuileries
Palace and started shouting abuse at him.
In July, Louis' problems became worse. The Duke
of Brunswick, and enemy commander, issued a threat to the French people who
opposed Louis. It was known as the "Brunswick" manifesto, and included
appalling punishments if the French people hurt Louis in any way. This was
supposed to protect Louis, but it actually had the opposite effect. News of the
"manifesto" came to Paris. The Assembly soon ordered that weapons were
to be given to the French people, so that they could defend themselves. But
giving angry peasants weapons was maybe not such a good idea. More powerful than
ever before, the now armed people of Paris had one single aim. To destroy the
monarchy and set up a new kind of Assembly -- one in which they had power.
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The peasants
ransacking the Tuileries: a painting by Johann Zoffany in 1795 |
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The Storming of the Tuileries
The 10th of August, 1792, a crowd of 20 000 men
and woman stormed to the Tuileries Palace. They were determined to de-throne
Louis and make him the last monarch France would ever have. Helped by the
National Guards, they broke into the palace. The Swiss Guards, who were
defending the king, tried to stop them but there were just too many angry
people. The mob followed the retreating Swiss Guards, caught up with them,
and massacred 600 of their number using whatever weapons they had. Later, among
many mutilated dead bodies, the crowds ransacked the place.
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