Louis XVI

American  

noun

1. 1754–93, king of France 1774–92 (grandson of Louis XV and husband of Marie Antoinette).

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Louis XVI British  

noun

1. 1754–93, king of France (1774–92); grandson of Louis XV. He married Marie Antoinette in 1770 and they were guillotined during the French Revolution

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Louis XVI Cultural  

1. The last king of France before the French Revolution; the husband of Marie Antoinette. He at first accepted a change from absolute monarchy (see ancien régime) to constitutional monarchy in France. Then he tried to flee the country and was brought back a prisoner. Radicals, including the Jacobins, assumed control of the revolution and had Louis and Marie Antoinette beheaded for treason.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Louis XVI

Everything essential to David’s reputation is already present in this body of work, done for the monarchy of Louis XVI.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 29, 2025

Other than Philippe Pétain, the only other former French head of state to have been jailed was King Louis XVI before his execution in January 1793.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2025

He ruled as Louis XVI, and perhaps his finest decision was supporting the rebellious American colonists against France’s oldest enemy, the British.

From Slate ● May 30, 2025

He noted that Ambassador Benjamin Franklin received a diamond-encrusted snuff box from France’s King Louis XVI, but only with the OK from Congress.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2025

But even in the land of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, the people demanded to be heard.

From "Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science" by Marc Aronson