At his trial, revolutionaries referred to deposed Louis XVI with this last name, one used previously for a dynasty
On February 7, 2025, Jeopardy! challenged contestants with a Final Jeopardy question in the category “European History.” The clue read:
“At his trial, revolutionaries referred to deposed Louis XVI with this last name, one used previously for a dynasty.”
Contents
What is Capet?
During the French Revolution, King Louis XVI was stripped of his royal title after the monarchy was abolished in 1792. When he was put on trial by the National Convention in December of that year, revolutionaries referred to him as “Louis Capet” rather than as king. This was meant to emphasize his status as an ordinary citizen rather than a sovereign ruler.
The name “Capet” was historically associated with the Capetian dynasty, one of the most significant royal houses in European history. Hugh Capet, the first Capetian king, ruled France from 987 to 996. However, the title “Capet” had largely fallen out of use by the time of Louis XVI, and his direct royal line was known as the House of Bourbon. Revolutionaries used the surname “Capet” to symbolically sever his connection to the monarchy and reinforce the idea that he was no longer a king.
The Trial and Execution of Louis XVI
Louis XVI was arrested in August 1792, months after an unsuccessful attempt to escape France during the Flight to Varennes. His trial before the National Convention was a highly publicized event, with debates centering on whether he should be executed or imprisoned. The Convention ultimately found him guilty of conspiring against the state and sentenced him to death.
On January 21, 1793, Louis XVI was executed by guillotine in the Place de la Révolution (now Place de la Concorde) in Paris. His death marked a turning point in the French Revolution, as it solidified the Republic’s radical phase and intensified conflicts within France and across Europe.
The Capetian Legacy in France
The Capetian dynasty played a crucial role in shaping French history. Beginning with Hugh Capet in the late 10th century, the family ruled France in an unbroken line for over 800 years. The Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty, to which Louis XVI belonged, had been on the throne since 1589.
Despite his association with the Bourbon name, revolutionaries deliberately chose the older Capetian name for Louis XVI’s trial to remove any remnants of royal prestige. Ironically, while they used “Capet” as a way to diminish his authority, the name itself was one of the most enduring in French history.
The Historical Significance of the Name “Capet”
Although “Capet” was rarely used as an actual surname by later French monarchs, its legacy is deeply tied to France’s monarchical past. Even after the fall of the monarchy, the Capetian lineage continued to influence European royal families. Today, descendants of the Capetians still hold thrones in countries such as Spain and Luxembourg.
Louis XVI’s trial and execution remain one of the most defining moments of the French Revolution, and the use of “Louis Capet” during his trial serves as a reminder of how revolutionaries sought to redefine power and legitimacy in France.
