LOUIS
XVI (1774-1793) age 20 at accession
dissolves Maupeou parlements due to pressure of "Patriot
Party"
parlementaires as defenders of constitutional liberties
MARIE
ANTOINETTE:
Hapsburg daughter of Maria Theresa & Francis of Lorraine
1770 Franco-Austrian alliance against Prussia
Foreign Minister CHOISEUL
1780's withdraws from court life at Versailles to Petit Trianon
1785 AFFAIR OF DIAMOND NECKLACE:
Cardinal de Rohan, Bishop of Strasbourg excluded from
favor by Marie-Ant for opposition to Austrian alliance
Mme de la Motte: forges letters from Queen,
found guilty in trial by parlement;
Rohan found innocent; Queen discredited in public opinion
Economic
Ministers of Louis XVI
impact of American War of Independence 1776-1783
TURGOT 1774-75:
physiocrat, suppression of guilds, tariffs, corvée
NECKER 1776-81:
Genevan banker, borrowing increases national debt
CALONNE 1783-87:
creates Provincial Assemblies to impose general land tax
with no exemptions ("territorial subvention");
fails
BRIENNE 1787-88:
Archbishop of Toulouse, continues Calonne's efforts
1787 lit de justice: forced registration of tax
edict
exile of Duc d'Orleans and parlementaires