The Abduction of the King: France's Flight to Varennes

In June 1791, King Louis XVI and his family attempted to flee revolutionary Paris in a disguised carriage, heading for the royalist frontier. The Flight to Varennes was a turning point that shattered the myth of a constitutional monarchy and radicalized the Revolution. Lucas and Luna revisit the escape plan, the fateful delays at Sainte-Menehould, the recognition of the king by postmaster Jean-Baptiste Drouet, and the dramatic arrest in Varennes. They explore how this failed escape deepened the divide between revolutionaries and royalists, led to the Champ de Mars massacre, and ultimately paved the way for the Republic. Along the way, they discuss the role of the Marquis de Bouillé, the notorious "Austrian committee" of Marie Antoinette, and the lasting impact of the king's betrayal on French national identity. #FlightToVarennes #LouisXVI #FrenchRevolution #MarieAntoinette #SainteMenehould #Varennes #JeanBaptisteDrouet #MarquisDeBouillé #ChampDeMarsMassacre #NationalAssembly #Jacobins #Cordeliers #ConstitutionalMonarchy #FrenchHistory #18thCentury #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo