Louis XVI's final testament discovered
Louis XVI's final testament written shortly before his execution has been recovered more than two centuries after it disappeared during the French Revolution.
In the text, Louis accuses revolutionary lawmakers of attacking the "dignity of the French Crown" and defends the king's right to an absolute veto, but he is conciliatory towards demands for social equality.
The manuscript disappeared shortly after his death and although its 16-page contents were known via copies, the original was thought lost.
However, Gérard Lhéritier – a French expert in ancient letters and a history buff – was convinced it still existed. He finally traced it to the US after a tip-off from an expert in Boston that it was in the hands of a private American collector. It came with another text from the king's brother, the Count of Provence.
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)
In the text, Louis accuses revolutionary lawmakers of attacking the "dignity of the French Crown" and defends the king's right to an absolute veto, but he is conciliatory towards demands for social equality.
The manuscript disappeared shortly after his death and although its 16-page contents were known via copies, the original was thought lost.
However, Gérard Lhéritier – a French expert in ancient letters and a history buff – was convinced it still existed. He finally traced it to the US after a tip-off from an expert in Boston that it was in the hands of a private American collector. It came with another text from the king's brother, the Count of Provence.