To what extent was louis XVI responsible for his own downfall?

I think Louis XVI played a mayor role in his downfall, which lead to trial and finally execution
the 21 of January of 1793. Firstly, Louis Xvi was an indecisive and weak king. He was easily
manipulated by those around him, making him doubt his decisions and lack will to persist
reform. This is made clear in the Opening of th eEstates Generls , in whuch he could make a
final decision about the taxation privileges. He offered weak support to the privileged anf
failed to make any firm decision. Actually, the first 7 weekd of the Assembly were spend
discussing only how they were going to vote, while the Third Estate continued to live in
deplorable conditions. This is what caused the Third Estate to create the National Convention,
which was the first challenge of the king’s royal authority that finally led to hid downfall.
Nevertheless, his flight to Varennes in 1791 also played a mayor role in his downfall. The 20 th
of June he fled Pairs together with the royal family in order to ask for Austria’s support in
ending the revolution and restoring his power. Before this, Louis XVI had managed to accept
some reforms and he was still supported by some people, such as the Girondings who wanted
a monarchical constitution. However this act was a symbol of betrayal and disloyality: He was
looking to unite himself with a country France’s was currently having a lot of tension with. This
was the act that caused the Assembly to finally supend his functions until further notice.
Finally, when the tension with other country’s started, the king was clearly keen not only od
involving Themselves with a war with Austria, but he also wanted France to be defeates so that
the monarchy could be re established. This was proven before his execution, when they found
in the Tuilleries Palace an iron chest or “armorie de fer containing correspondence between
him and counter revolutionaries of France and of external countries.

On the other hand, there were some external factors that incentivated Louis XVI downfall.
Firstly, Louis XIV and Louis XV had governed France for more than 130 years, before the throne
was passed to Louis XVI. This extended rule discorauged reform at a time of greta change in
the rest of the world. The first 2 Estas also played an important role in his downfall. When
Finance Ministers like Necker or Calonne tries imposing higher takxes on the wealthiest, the
privileged opposed this reforms as they didn’t wanted to give up their privileges. Despite his
authoritity, tradition prevented the king on imposing higher taxes without the agreement if
these influential institutions like the Church. So when Louis XVI tries carrying out the tax
reformation of Calonne in the Estas generals, thelarge ministerial opposition prevented this
and increased the French people discontent on the long term. Furthermore, Louis XVI was
given a nation that was in crisis and deeply emerged in financial debts. The Seven YearsWar
and financing America’s independence meant a huge financial debit to France

- Marie Antoniette