# Kingdom of France (1791–92)

The Kingdom of France (the remnant of the preceding absolutist Kingdom of France) was a constitutional monarchy from 3 September 1791 until 21 September 1792, when it was succeeded by the French First Republic.
On 3 September 1791, the National Constituent Assembly forced King Louis XVI to accept the French Constitution of 1791, thus turning the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy.
After the 10 August 1792 Storming of the Tuileries Palace, the Legislative Assembly on 11 August 1792 suspended the constitutional monarchy. The freshly elected National Convention abolished the monarchy on 21 September 1792, thus, ending 203 years of consecutive Bourbon rule over France.

## Background

Since 1789, France underwent a revolution in its government and social orders. A National Assembly declared itself into being and promulgated their intention to provide France with a fair and liberal constitution. Louis XVI moved to Paris in October of that year, but grew to detest Paris, and organised an escape plot in 1791. The plot, known as the Flight to Varennes, ultimately failed to materialise and severely damaged any positive public opinion for the monarchy. Louis XVIi's brothers-in-exile in Koblenz rallied for an invasion of France. Austria and Prussia responded to the royal brothers' appeals and released the Declaration of Pillnitz in August. The declaration stated that Prussia and Austria wished to restore Louis XVI to absolute power but would only attempt to do so with the assistance of the other European powers.

## Constitution

Louis XVI was forced to submit to the Constitution of 1791 by the National Assembly in the aftermath of his Flight to Varennes. The Constitution of 1791, which established the Kingdom of the French, was revolutionary in its content. It abolished the nobility of France and declared all men to be equal before the law. Louis XVI had the ability to veto legislation that he did not approve of, as legislation still needed Royal Assent to come into force.

## Republic

Louis XVI reluctantly declared war on Austria on 20 April 1792, bowing to the Assembly's wishes. Prussia allied with Austria and therefore France was at war with Prussia as well. The Duke of Brunswick, Commander of the Austrian and Prussian military, issued the Brunswick Manifesto in 1792; it brought about the Storming of the Tuileries on the 10th of August. The manifesto explicitly threatened the people of Paris with dire repercussions if they in any way harmed Louis XVI or his family. The Legislative Assembly was inundated with requests for the monarchy's demise. The President of the National Assembly responded by suspending the monarchy on 11 August, pending the outcome of elections for another assembly. The newly elected National Convention, elected under universal male suffrage, abolished the monarchy on 21 September 1792 and proclaimed a republic. Louis was executed by guillotine on 21 January 1793.
| Portfolio | Minister | Took office | Left office | Party |
| King of the French | Louis XVI | 6 September 1791 | 2 September 1792 | N/A |
| Minister of Finances | Louis Hardouin Tarbé | 29 May 1791 | 24 March 1792 | Feuillant |
| Minister of Finances | Étienne Clavière | 24 March 1792 | 13 June 1792 | Girondins |
| Minister of Finances | Antoine Duranton | 13 June 1792 | 18 June 1792 | Girondins |
| Minister of Finances | Jules de Beaulieu | 18 June 1792 | 29 July 1792 | Independent |
| Minister of Finances | René Delaville-Leroulx | 29 July 1792 | 10 August 1792 | Independent |
| Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | Claude Antoine de Valdec de Lessart | 29 November 1791 | 15 March 1792 | Feuillant |
| Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | Charles-François Dumouriez | 15 March 1792 | 13 June 1792 | Girondins |
| Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | Pierre Paul de Méredieu | 13 June 1792 | 18 June 1792 | Independent |
| Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | Victor de La Garde de Chambonas | 18 June 1792 | 23 July 1792 | Girondins |
| Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs | François Joseph de Gratet | 23 July 1792 | 1 August 1792 | Feuillant |
| Secretary of State for War | Louis de Narbonne-Lara | 7 December 1791 | 9 March 1792 | Feuillant |
| Secretary of State for War | Pierre Marie de Grave | 9 March 1792 | 9 May 1792 | Feuillant |
| Secretary of State for War | Joseph Servan | 9 May 1792 | 13 June 1792 | Girondins |
| Secretary of State for War | Charles-François Dumouriez | 13 June 1792 | 18 June 1792 | Girondins |
| Secretary of State for War | Pierre August Lajard | 18 June 1792 | 23 July 1792 | Feuillant |
| Secretary of State for War | Charles d'Abancour | 23 July 1792 | 10 August 1792 | Feuillant |
| Secretary of State of the Navy | Claude Antoine de Valdec | 18 September 1791 | 7 October 1791 | Feuillant |
| Secretary of State of the Navy | Bertrand de Molleville | 7 October 1791 | 16 March 1792 | Feuillant |
| Secretary of State of the Navy | Jean de Lacoste | 16 March 1792 | 21 July 1792 | Independent |
| Secretary of State of the Navy | François Joseph de Gratet | 21 July 1792 | 10 August 1792 | Feuillant |
| Keeper of the Seals | François Duport-Dutertre | 21 November 1790 | 23 March 1792 | Feuillant |
| Keeper of the Seals | Jean-Marie Roland | 16 March 1792 | 14 April 1792 | Girondins |
| Keeper of the Seals | Antoine Duranton | 14 April 1792 | 4 July 1792 | Girondins |
| Keeper of the Seals | Étienne Dejoly | 4 July 1792 | 10 August 1792 | Feuillant |