Historedia
Person

King Louis XVI

Events
3
Episodes
11
Years
1778–1789

Every event in Historedia whose sources name King Louis XVI, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Treaty of Alliance between the United States and France

    1778

    Role: French monarch whose delegates and approval authorized the treaties

    1. February 6, 1778 · Paris, site of the treaty signingSigning of the Treaty of Alliance and Treaty of Amity and Commerce

      American commissioners and a French envoy signed both treaties in Paris on February 6, 1778, formalizing a defensive alliance and commercial relations.

    2. February 6, 1778 · Paris, where the alliance treaty was concludedTerms of the Treaty of Alliance

      The defensive alliance guaranteed French military support if commercial and diplomatic ties provoked hostilities with Britain, and allowed Spain to join.

    3. February 6, 1778 · Paris, site of the commercial treaty's signingTreaty of Amity and Commerce: recognition and trade rights

      The Treaty of Amity and Commerce established diplomatic and commercial relations, with France the first nation to formally recognize U.S. sovereignty.

    4. March 13, 1778 · Franco-British diplomatic ruptureFrance notifies Britain; Britain declares war

      France informed Britain of the treaties on March 13, 1778; Britain declared war four days later, bringing France into the American Revolutionary War.

    5. May 2 – September 1, 1778 · United States Congress and FranceRatification and congressional action

      Congress received the signed text on May 2, 1778, ratified it unanimously on May 4, and France ratified on July 16, 1778.

  2. French Troop Arrival in Newport

    1780–1781

    Role: French monarch who sent the expedition

    1. July 1780 – July 1781 · Newport, Rhode IslandNewport becomes the French base

      For the remainder of the war, Newport served as the base of the French forces in the United States.

    2. July 10, 1780 · Narragansett Bay off Newport, Rhode IslandFrench expedition arrives off Newport

      A French army of 450 officers and 5,300 men under Rochambeau reached Narragansett Bay off Newport on July 10, 1780.

  3. Tennis Court Oath

    1789

    Role: King of France whose perceived threat prompted the gathering and who later conceded voting by head

    1. May 1789 · Estates-General conveningEstates-General deadlocks over voting procedure

      Convened in May 1789 to address fiscal crisis, the Estates-General stalled over whether to vote by order or by head.

    2. 17 June 1789 · Third Estate deliberationsThird Estate declares itself the National Assembly

      On 17 June 1789 the Third Estate began calling itself the National Assembly and invited the other estates to join against the king's wishes.

    3. 20 June 1789 · Indoor tennis court (Salle du Jeu de Paume) near the Palace of VersaillesDeputies swear the Tennis Court Oath

      Fearing an imminent royal attack, deputies met on Guillotin's suggestion in an indoor tennis court near Versailles and swore not to separate until a constitution was established.

    4. 27 June 1789 · Royal concession on voting procedureLouis XVI concedes voting by head

      After the oath reinforced the Assembly despite royal attempts to thwart it, Louis XVI formally requested voting by head counts on 27 June 1789.

Sources

  1. Treaty of Alliance (1778) Wikipedia, revision of 2026-06-15
  2. Newport, Rhode Island Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-28
  3. Tennis Court Oath Wikipedia