OCR Specification focus:
‘the Jacobins; the flight to Varennes; the overthrow of the monarchy’
The Jacobins and the Flight to Varennes were pivotal moments in the French Revolution, exposing divisions in revolutionary politics and sealing the monarchy’s eventual downfall.
The Jacobins: Origins and Ideology
Formation of the Jacobin Club
The Society of the Friends of the Constitution, later known as the Jacobins, emerged in 1789 as a political club for deputies of the National Assembly. Initially composed of middle-class reformers and liberal nobles, the club quickly radicalised as the Revolution progressed.
Originally moderate, they supported a constitutional monarchy.
After 1791, poorer members and more radical voices gained influence.
The club became a hub for revolutionary debate, propaganda, and political organisation.
A period engraving of a meeting at the Club des Jacobins in early 1791, showing leading figures debating. It illustrates the club’s role as a forum for revolutionary organisation. Source
Jacobins: A revolutionary political club founded in 1789, initially moderate but later associated with radical republicanism, centralisation of power, and popular democracy.
The Jacobins became the most prominent political society in France, establishing networks in provincial towns and linking local politics to the revolutionary centre in Paris.
Radicalisation of the Jacobins
By 1791, internal divisions weakened unity:
Feuillants: Moderates who supported retaining the monarchy under a constitution.
Jacobins (radical wing): Increasingly republican, opposed compromise with the King.
The Jacobins’ radicalisation was accelerated by:
The influence of Robespierre, who argued for the sovereignty of the people.
Growing distrust of the monarchy after Louis XVI’s evasive actions.
Economic unrest and rising expectations among the urban poor.
The Flight to Varennes, June 1791
Context and Causes
By 1791, Louis XVI felt threatened by the Revolution’s direction. Key causes behind his attempted escape included:
Loss of royal power: The King had accepted the Civil Constitution of the Clergy reluctantly and resented constraints on his authority.
Religious convictions: Louis, a devout Catholic, opposed revolutionary reforms to the Church.
Influence of Marie Antoinette: She maintained contacts with foreign royal families and urged escape.
Foreign support: The royal family believed Austria, led by the Queen’s brother, Emperor Leopold II, would aid them in restoring monarchical authority.
The Escape and Capture
On 20–21 June 1791, the King and his family fled Paris in disguise, intending to reach Montmédy, a royalist stronghold near the Austrian Netherlands.
This map shows the route of the Flight to Varennes, from Paris through Varennes-en-Argonne toward Montmédy. It provides geographical clarity to the failed escape. Source
They travelled slowly in a large carriage, arousing suspicion.
A postmaster at Varennes recognised the King from a coin portrait.
The family was arrested and brought back to Paris under guard.
Flight to Varennes: The failed attempt by Louis XVI and his family to escape Paris in June 1791, aiming to rally royalist support but ending in their capture.
The event became a defining crisis, symbolising the monarchy’s betrayal of the Revolution.
Political Consequences of the Flight
Collapse of Trust in the King
The flight confirmed suspicions that the King was plotting against the Revolution:
Many viewed Louis as a traitor who sought foreign intervention.
His title of ‘King of the French’ lost credibility.
The illusion of a working constitutional monarchy was shattered.
Reaction of the Jacobins
The Jacobins were divided:
Moderates still hoped for compromise with the monarchy.
Radicals demanded a republic.
This division led to the creation of the Feuillant Club, a breakaway group of moderates, leaving the Jacobins more radicalised and dominated by figures such as Robespierre, Danton, and Marat.
Rise of Republican Sentiment
Public opinion radicalised sharply:
The Champ de Mars Massacre (July 1791) saw the National Guard fire on crowds demanding the King’s abdication, deepening hostility.
Revolutionary newspapers portrayed Louis XVI as an enemy of liberty.
Popular demonstrations increasingly demanded the end of monarchy.
The Overthrow of the Monarchy
Events Leading to Abolition
Although Louis XVI remained King after Varennes, his authority was gravely weakened.
Key developments in 1792 led to his overthrow:
Growing war tensions with Austria and Prussia (from April 1792).
The King’s suspected collusion with foreign enemies.
Economic crisis, inflation, and food shortages fuelling urban anger.
Storming of the Tuileries, August 1792
On 10 August 1792, Parisian crowds and National Guard units stormed the Tuileries Palace, where the royal family resided.
Jacques Bertaux’s painting shows the storming of the Tuileries on 10 August 1792, capturing the violence that ended the monarchy’s survival and highlighted revolutionary radicalism. Source
The King’s Swiss Guards were massacred.
Louis and his family sought refuge in the Legislative Assembly but were imprisoned.
The monarchy was formally suspended and later abolished.
Overthrow of the Monarchy: The formal end of the French monarchy on 10 August 1792, marked by the storming of the Tuileries Palace and the King’s suspension.
The overthrow paved the way for the establishment of the First French Republic in September 1792.
Significance of the Jacobins and Varennes
The Jacobins and the Flight to Varennes are inseparable in understanding the Revolution’s radical turn.
The Jacobins’ ideological leadership shaped revolutionary politics.
The Flight to Varennes destroyed any possibility of trust in Louis XVI.
Together, they created the conditions for republicanism, popular radicalism, and ultimately the abolition of monarchy in France.
FAQ
Montmédy was chosen because it was a fortified town close to the Austrian Netherlands and held by loyalist troops under the Marquis de Bouillé. Louis believed it provided both military security and a launching point for restoring royal authority with potential foreign assistance. Its location near Austria also symbolised the monarchy’s hope for external support in reversing revolutionary reforms.
The royal family’s return was humiliating, as crowds lined the streets in silence, a deliberate display of disdain rather than sympathy. Many citizens viewed the King as a betrayer, and the atmosphere was hostile rather than supportive. This public rejection highlighted the collapse of royal prestige and made reconciliation between monarchy and revolution increasingly impossible
Revolutionary presses were crucial in shaping opinion against Louis XVI.
Papers such as Marat’s L’Ami du peuple branded the King as a traitor.
Satirical pamphlets mocked the royal disguise during the flight.
Widespread coverage made Varennes a national scandal, reinforcing republican arguments.
The spread of such material helped radicalise urban opinion and turned mistrust into outright hostility toward the monarchy.
The demonstration of July 1791 demanded the abdication of Louis XVI. Tensions rose when the National Guard, commanded by Lafayette, attempted to disperse the crowds. Stones were thrown, and the Guard fired on demonstrators, killing dozens. This marked a turning point: revolutionary politics became more polarised, and trust in moderate leadership eroded.
Foreign rulers, especially Leopold II of Austria, interpreted the event as proof of Louis XVI’s vulnerability.
Some were sympathetic, viewing the King as a prisoner of revolutionaries.
Others feared revolutionary ideas spreading beyond France.
The episode encouraged monarchs to consider coordinated action, laying groundwork for the Declaration of Pillnitz later in 1791.
Thus, the Flight to Varennes not only destabilised France internally but also influenced European diplomacy.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
In which month and year did Louis XVI attempt the Flight to Varennes?
Mark scheme:
June 1791 (2 marks for correct month and year together)
1 mark if only month or only year is correct
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain two political consequences of the Flight to Varennes for the French Revolution.
Mark scheme:
Award up to 3 marks for each well-explained consequence.
Collapse of trust in the King (up to 3 marks):
1 mark: Identifies collapse of trust in Louis XVI.
2 marks: States that he was viewed as a traitor plotting with foreign powers.
3 marks: Explains how this destroyed faith in constitutional monarchy and shifted opinion towards republicanism.
Division within revolutionary politics (up to 3 marks):
1 mark: Identifies divisions in the Jacobins.
2 marks: Notes moderates broke away to form the Feuillants.
3 marks: Explains how this left the Jacobins dominated by radicals like Robespierre, increasing republican sentiment.
Other valid answers may include:
Growth of popular radicalism (e.g., Champ de Mars Massacre, mass demonstrations).
Strengthening of demands for abolition of monarchy.
Maximum 6 marks.
