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Louis XIV :
King Louis XIV of France, known as the Sun King, lived a lavish lifestyle and built the palace of Versailles. His reign, which lasted from 1643 until his death in 1715, redefined royal opulence and the power of the absolute monarch. -
Marie Antoinette:
Marie Antoinette was an Austrian princess who married Louis XVI, then the Dauphin of France, at the age of 14. Her extravagant lifestyle made her an unpopular figure and symbol of the monarchy's decadence. -
The French Revolution
The French Revolution began in 1789 -
Storming the Bastille:
On July 14, 1789, a group of Parisian revolutionaries seized the Bastille prison in a dramatic act of protest against King Louis XVI. The storming of the Bastille was the symbolic start of the French Revolution. -
Bastille Day Fireworks:
Fireworks burst over Paris' Eiffel Tower during traditional Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, 2009. A military parade and fireworks are held each year to commemorate the 1789 storming of the Bastille prison. -
Louis XVI:
Louis XVI: Louis XVI (1754-1793) became king of France in 1774 at the age of 20. During his reign the country's finances fell into disarray, a contributing factor to the general discontent that brought about the French Revolution of 1789. -
Louis XVI Saying Goodbye to Family:
At the height of the French Revolution, Louis XVI was tried before the National Convention and convicted of high treason. He was executed by guillotine on January 21, 1793. -
Maximilien Robespierre:
Maximilien de Robespierre was a Jacobin leader during the French Revolution. A principal figure during the Reign of Terror, he was executed in 1794. -
Georges Jacques Danton:
Georges Jacques Danton was an early leader of the French Revolution. He was executed by guillotine in 1794 during the Reign of Terror. -
The Execution of Marie Antoinette:
Marie Antoinette was executed in Paris on October 16, 1973, nine months after the death of her husband.