Execution of Louis XVI

Source: Cornell University, Division of Rare Books and Manuscript Collections 4606.15.J20

The execution of King Louis XVI marked the definitive end of the monarchy in France. After the events of August 10, 1792, Louis XVI and his family were arrested and imprisoned in the temple prison and put on trial for high treason. According to the documents in Baker, Louis was not present all of the days of the trial and ended up being convicted of high treason by a unanimous vote and sentenced to death by a small majority (Baker, 1987, p. 302). A few people thought that it would be fine if the king simply abdicated, but those voices lost to the voices calling for the king’s head. The execution took place on January 21, 1793 and was typical of executions of the day. He was taken to a platform where the guillotine was placed and the platform was surrounded by citizens, the execution was a public spectacle. This can be seen in the image above as the King is on a platform clearly visible to the crowd and soldiers whom are watching. After he was beheaded, the executioner presented the head to the crowd for all to see.

The execution of Louis XVI is presented very interestingly within Assassin’s Creed Unity. In the game, the king was sentenced to death due to the influence that the Templar Order had over the National Convention. Since the Templars are the antagonists of the game, it is almost as if the king is innocent and a pawn whose death will help to advance the causes of the Templar Order. While the developers claim that they tried to take a middle ground with regards to the revolution, this scene could possibly be seen as a royalist viewpoint. Arno is present at the execution although he is there mainly to assassinate the leader of the Templar Order who is watching the execution of the king.The execution itself, is portrayed accurately as to how it happened in history. The king is taken to the guillotine which is surrounded by a chanting crowd, he speaks his last words to the crowd and then has his head placed on the guillotine. The game does not show the blade falling down upon the king’s head, the sound of the blade tearing through flesh is heard and the scene then goes to show the executioner holding the head out towards the crowd similar to how various historical images show.