Varennes barricade stops carriage
Residents and local officials stopped the royal travelers before they could continue through Varennes. Municipal officer Sauce became involved in overseeing the situation once the party was halted.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1791 in France — Page 6
Explore 592 historical events and records for France in 1791.
Historical records for France in 1791
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Varennes barricade stops carriage - Impact on the royal family
Jean-Baptiste Sauce figured in events surrounding varennes barricade stops carriage at Varennes. Municipal officer Sauce became involved in overseeing the situation once the party was halted. It left Louis XVI and his relatives subject to closer political supervision and damaged the prestige of the court.
Varennes news reaches radicals: Constitutional confidence questioned
Robespierre criticized the danger posed by a king who had attempted to leave France during the constitutional experiment. He approached the dispute as a test of popular sovereignty and the accountability of public power.
Varennes news reaches radicals: Journalistic case against the king
Brissot used political writing after Varennes to challenge the assumption that the king should automatically resume office. The unresolved legitimacy of the crown provided a backdrop for later demonstrations at the Champ de Mars.
Varennes news reaches radicals: Suspicion of monarchy spreads
Danton's Cordeliers milieu treated news of the king's failed escape as evidence that monarchy could not be trusted. The crisis encouraged calls for a political settlement beyond simply restoring Louis XVI's authority.
Barnave appointed escort commissioner
The National Assembly designated Barnave among deputies charged with meeting and accompanying the detained royal family. Sending representatives established parliamentary supervision over the king's return.
Barnave appointed escort commissioner - Public reaction
Antoine Pierre Joseph Marie Barnave figured in events surrounding barnave appointed escort commissioner at Paris. Sending representatives established parliamentary supervision over the king's return. Public knowledge of the failed journey encouraged both republican criticism and efforts to defend the remaining monarchy.
Escort
Barnave is sent by the National Assembly to escort the royal family back after the arrest
Escort
Barnave is sent by the National Assembly to escort the royal family back after the arrest.
Escort
Antoine Pierre Joseph Marie Barnave was sent by the National Assembly to escort the royal family back to Paris.
Escort
Sent by the National Assembly to escort the royal family back to Paris
Escort
Charles Cesar La Tour-Maubourg was sent as an Assembly commissioner to return the royal family to Paris.
Escort
Sent as an Assembly commissioner to return the royal family to Paris
Escort
La Tour-Maubourg joins the commissioners charged with returning the royal family to Paris
Escort
La Tour-Maubourg joins the commissioners charged with returning the royal family to Paris.
Escort
Petion is sent as an Assembly commissioner to accompany the royal family back toward Paris
Escort
Petion is sent as an Assembly commissioner to accompany the royal family back toward Paris.
Escort
Jerome Petion was sent as an Assembly commissioner to accompany the royal family back to Paris.
Escort
Sent as an Assembly commissioner to accompany the royal family back to Paris
La Tour-Maubourg assigned to royal party
La Tour-Maubourg joined the deputies entrusted with supervising the return from Varennes. The Assembly used a multi-member escort to assert authority over the politically explosive journey.
La Tour-Maubourg assigned to royal party - Impact on the royal family
Charles Cesar de Fay La Tour-Maubourg figured in events surrounding la tour-maubourg assigned to royal party at Paris. The Assembly used a multi-member escort to assert authority over the politically explosive journey. It left Louis XVI and his relatives subject to closer political supervision and damaged the prestige of the court.
Petion joins royal escort
Pétion was appointed to the parliamentary delegation accompanying Louis XVI and his family back to the capital. His presence gave the mission a deputy associated with more democratic opinion.
Petion joins royal escort - Security consequence
Jerome Petion figured in events surrounding petion joins royal escort at Paris. His presence gave the mission a deputy associated with more democratic opinion. The incident revealed how policing, local officials and transport delays could defeat the royal escape plan.
Barnave converses with royal family
Barnave spent the return journey in close contact with the royal travelers. The experience contributed to his increasingly firm defense of preserving a constitutional monarchy.
Barnave converses with royal family - Constitutional consequence
Antoine Pierre Joseph Marie Barnave figured in events surrounding barnave converses with royal family at Varennes to Paris. The experience contributed to his increasingly firm defense of preserving a constitutional monarchy. The episode undermined confidence in the possibility of governing France through a constitutional monarch who had tried to leave the capital.
Queen faces guarded return
Marie Antoinette traveled back toward Paris under supervision following the failure of the royal flight. Public scrutiny along the route contrasted with the secrecy of the outward journey.
Queen faces guarded return - Political significance
Marie Antoinette figured in events surrounding queen faces guarded return at Varennes to Paris. Public scrutiny along the route contrasted with the secrecy of the outward journey. The crisis intensified the divide between constitutional monarchists and activists who doubted that the king could be trusted.
Return Journey
Barnave travels beside the royal family and begins to favour preserving a constitutional monarchy
Return Journey
Barnave travels beside the royal family and begins to favour preserving a constitutional monarchy.
Return Journey
Petion observes the royal family closely during the guarded return from Varennes
Return Journey
Petion observes the royal family closely during the guarded return from Varennes.
Arrest of Louis XVI
Louis XVI & his family are escorted back to Paris. Louis XVI & his family are arrested during an ill fated escape from France
Arrest of Louis XVI
Louis XVI and his family are escorted back to Paris. Louis XVI and his family are arrested during an ill fated escape from France.
Bailly handles king's guarded return
When the royal family returned from Varennes under escort, municipal authorities confronted volatile crowds. Bailly's administration supported arrangements intended to prevent fresh violence around the Tuileries.
Guard
Lafayette restores strict guard arrangements around the royal family after their return
Guard
Lafayette restores strict guard arrangements around the royal family after their return.
Guard Restored
Restores strict guard arrangements around the royal family after their return
Guard Restored
Restores strict guard arrangements around the royal family after their return.
Guard strengthened at Tuileries
After the royal family's return, Lafayette's National Guard was involved in arrangements for guarding the king at the Tuileries. The monarchy now functioned under close revolutionary supervision.
Guard strengthened at Tuileries - Security consequence
Gilbert du Motier Lafayette figured in events surrounding guard strengthened at tuileries at Paris. The monarchy now functioned under close revolutionary supervision. The incident revealed how policing, local officials and transport delays could defeat the royal escape plan.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.