Execution of Louis Xvi
Essay Preview: Execution of Louis Xvi
Report this essay
What you are about to read is a retelling of the event leading up to what happened on the morning of King Louis execution, from a peasant lady.
The morning would have started like any other except today was the execution of a king and not just any king but King Louis XVI. Many have been waiting for this day to come and some only thought of it in there dreams but indeed it is a reality. I have woken at the crack of dawn to part take in the activities that go about today. I know that many will be delighted with what is about to part take in just a few hours but has seem liked years to me. Waiting for the man to die. Now I am a good hearted woman and wish death on no one but a man like that I believe he need not be alive.
Standing in the town hall was merely an understatement. It seemed more like I was being pushed around but for the occasion at hand I didnt mind. The carriage pulled up, the windows closed and troops stood all around guarding. They opened the door and the king was taken out and placed on the scaffold, he was stripped of all articles of clothing (he doing it himself) and walked the long way to the stage. He stood before the crowd and said “I die innocent of all the crimes laid to my charge; I pardon those who have occasioned my death; and pray to God that the blood you are going to shed may never visit France.” He proceeded talking when a man in a national uniform sounded for the drum beat. The crowd went on egging the executioner to proceed in the execution of the king. They dragged him under the axe of the guillotine,
with one fail swoop his head was severed from his body. The youngest of the guards who was in his late teens picked up the decapitated head and immediately showed it to the people as he walked around the scaffold. He was accompanied by one of the head guards. The ceremony continued with many indecent gestures. For a moment there was a long silence only because we had not believed what our eyes had just partaken upon. Then in the mist of it all there was a cry Vive la R`epublique! The chant grew louder and louder until all were saying it and every hat was in the air.
You would think that a county would be at a lost over a king or queen. But not in this county that endured many hardships from this king and now that his rain was over they were at a great happiness.