Louis XVII of France - Biography

Biography

Louis Charles de France was born at the Palace of Versailles, the second son and third child of his parents. An intimate friend of the Queen, Yolande de Polastron, duchesse de Polignac, was appointed Governess to the Royal Children, Madame Royale, Louis Joseph, Dauphin of France and the young Louis-Charles, Duke of Normandy, the future Louis XVII.

Agathe de Rambaud was chosen by the queen to be the Berceuse des Enfants de France of the Duke of Normandy, who became the new Dauphin at the death of his elder brother Louis-Joseph, in June 1789. Alain Decaux wrote: "Madame de Rambaud was officially in charge of the care of the Dauphin from the day of his birth until 10 August 1792, in other words, for seven years. During these seven years, she never left him, she cradled him, took care of him, dressed him, comforted him, scolded him. Ten times, a hundred times, more than Marie Antoinette, she was a true mother for him".

The queen's friend, the marquise Louise Élisabeth de Tourzel, was the last governess to the children of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

On 6 October 1789 the royal family was forced to move from Versailles to the Tuileries Palace in Paris where they spent the next two years. The family lived a secluded life and Marie Antoinette dedicated most of her time to her children, especially the little Dauphin. On 21 June 1791 they tried to escape from the revolution in secrecy but the attempt failed and they were moved back to Paris. When the Tuileries were stormed by the armed mob on 10 August 1792 the royal family sought refuge at the Legislative Assembly.

On 13 August, the royal family was imprisoned in the tower of the Temple. At first their conditions were not extremely harsh but they were prisoners and were re-styled as "Capets" by the new-born Republic. The king was separated from his family and tried in December.