Past Present Future Politics on Trial: Louis XVI vs the People
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Jul 24, 2025 The podcast delves into the gripping trial of Louis XVI, juxtaposing it with Charles I's fate during the French Revolution. It explores Louis's strategic defense and the fierce political clash between the Girondins and Jacobins. An intriguing debate unfolds over whether he was judged as a king or a dethroned monarch. The chaotic nature of the trial reveals the complexities of revolutionary justice. Tune in to uncover how one crucial vote changed history and what this trial tells us about power dynamics and ideology.
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Comparing King Trials
- The trials of Charles I and Louis XVI are often conflated but fundamentally different in legality and political context.
- Charles' trial never truly happened; Louis' was a formal legal proceeding with defense and deliberation.
Kingship Status at Trial
- Charles I was still king during his trial; Louis XVI was a citizen when tried after abdication.
- Louis recognized the court's authority and defended himself, unlike Charles who refused to plead or acknowledge the court.
Assembly Dynamics Matter
- The French Assembly trying Louis XVI was not purged and included diverse opinions.
- This made Louis' trial a genuine political struggle unlike the purged Parliament that judged Charles I.