Identification
Confirms the king's identity at Varennes after being summoned by local officials
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1791 in France — Page 5
Explore 592 historical events and records for France in 1791.
Historical records for France in 1791
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 592 unique records.
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June
Identification
Confirms the king's identity at Varennes after being summoned by local officials.
Journey through Bondy
Louis XVI continued eastward through Bondy as the royal party attempted to reach the frontier without detection.
King detained in Varennes
Louis XVI was prevented from continuing toward Montmedy after the authorities recognized him. His detention turned a secret royal journey into a constitutional emergency in Paris.
King detained in Varennes - Public reaction
Louis Auguste Bourbon figured in events surrounding king detained in varennes at Varennes. His detention turned a secret royal journey into a constitutional emergency in Paris. Public knowledge of the failed journey encouraged both republican criticism and efforts to defend the remaining monarchy.
King suspected at posting station
Louis XVI was suspected of traveling incognito while the carriage halted at Sainte-Menehould. The identification risk undermined a plan whose success depended on reaching loyal troops before an alarm spread.
King suspected at posting station - Public reaction
Louis Auguste Bourbon figured in events surrounding king suspected at posting station at Sainte-Menehould. The identification risk undermined a plan whose success depended on reaching loyal troops before an alarm spread. Public knowledge of the failed journey encouraged both republican criticism and efforts to defend the remaining monarchy.
Lafayette confronts escaped king crisis
Lafayette commanded the National Guard responsible for security in Paris when the royal family disappeared. The escape threatened his credibility as guarantor of the constitutional order.
Lafayette confronts escaped king crisis - Political significance
Gilbert du Motier Lafayette figured in events surrounding lafayette confronts escaped king crisis at Paris. The escape threatened his credibility as guarantor of the constitutional order. The crisis intensified the divide between constitutional monarchists and activists who doubted that the king could be trusted.
Long coach route risks recognition
Marie Antoinette remained with the royal party during the lengthy journey through Champagne. The need to keep the family together made swift and discreet travel difficult.
Long coach route risks recognition - Political significance
Marie Antoinette figured in events surrounding long coach route risks recognition at Chalons-en-Champagne. The need to keep the family together made swift and discreet travel difficult. The crisis intensified the divide between constitutional monarchists and activists who doubted that the king could be trusted.
Marat interprets flight as a warning
Marat used the flight to intensify his claims that court intrigues endangered revolutionary gains. The controversy surrounding varennes flight destroys royal confidence influenced the changing balance among revolutionary factions.
National Guard Searches for Missing Monarch
After Louis XVI fled the Tuileries, armed authorities sought to preserve order and discover his route. The failure of palace security exposed the limits of Lafayette's command.
Pursuit
Drouet rides ahead to warn Varennes and prevent the royal party from continuing toward Montmedy
Pursuit
Drouet rides ahead to warn Varennes and prevent the royal party from continuing toward Montmedy.
Pursuit
Rides ahead to warn Varennes and stop the royal party
Pursuit
Rides ahead to warn Varennes and stop the royal party.
Recognition
Louis XVI is recognised during the stop at Sainte Menehould as suspicion rises along the route
Recognition
Louis XVI is recognised during the stop at Sainte Menehould as suspicion rises along the route.
Recognition
Recognized during the stop at Sainte-Menehould as suspicion rises along the route
Recognition
Recognized during the stop at Sainte-Menehould as suspicion rises along the route.
Recognition
Jean-Baptiste Drouet recognises the king and decides to pursue the royal carriage
Recognition
Jean-Baptiste Drouet recognises the king and decides to pursue the royal carriage.
Recognition
Recognizes Louis XVI and decides to pursue the royal carriage
Recognition
Recognizes Louis XVI and decides to pursue the royal carriage.
Robespierre questions monarchy
The discovery of the king's attempted escape deepened Robespierre's doubts about royal loyalty to the Revolution. The incident intensified debate over whether the constitutional monarchy could still command trust.
Robespierre questions monarchy - Constitutional consequence
Maximilien Robespierre figured in events surrounding robespierre questions monarchy at Paris. The incident intensified debate over whether the constitutional monarchy could still command trust. The episode undermined confidence in the possibility of governing France through a constitutional monarch who had tried to leave the capital.
Royal coach continues east
Louis XVI traveled onward from Bondy toward the chain of posting stations on the road to Montmedy. The heavy carriage and complex timetable reduced the margin for unexpected delays.
Royal coach continues east - Impact on the royal family
Louis Auguste Bourbon figured in events surrounding royal coach continues east at Bondy. The heavy carriage and complex timetable reduced the margin for unexpected delays. It left Louis XVI and his relatives subject to closer political supervision and damaged the prestige of the court.
Royal Flight Intensifies Jacobin Distrust
The failed flight to Varennes led Jacobin members to reassess the king's reliability. Robespierre questioned whether constitutional monarchy could survive the breach of trust.
Royal party brought into town
Sauce accommodated and supervised the detained travelers while their identity was investigated. The local response prevented an immediate continuation toward Bouille's troops.
Royal party brought into town - Political significance
Jean-Baptiste Sauce figured in events surrounding royal party brought into town at Varennes. The local response prevented an immediate continuation toward Bouille's troops. The crisis intensified the divide between constitutional monarchists and activists who doubted that the king could be trusted.
Search
Lafayette sends orders and faces accusations after the royal family escapes from his guard
Search
Lafayette sends orders and faces accusations after the royal family escapes from his guard.
Separation
Fersen leaves the royal party after the early stage of the escape to avoid compromising the plan further
Separation
Fersen leaves the royal party after the early stage of the escape to avoid compromising the plan further.
Separation
Hans Axel Fersen Count Fersen left the royal party after the early stage of the escape.
Separation
Leaves the royal party after the early stage of the escape
Tourzel detained with children
Madame de Tourzel remained with the royal children after the travelers were detained at Varennes. The exposure of the false Baroness de Korff identity undermined the arrangements designed to conceal the family's movement.
Tourzel detained with children - Impact on the royal family
Louise Elisabeth Tourzel figured in events surrounding tourzel detained with children at Varennes. The exposure of the false Baroness de Korff identity undermined the arrangements designed to conceal the family's movement. It left Louis XVI and his relatives subject to closer political supervision and damaged the prestige of the court.
How these records were prepared
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