The Young King and Early Promise

Louis-Auguste, Duke of Berry until his father's death made him dauphin, had received an education emphasizing moral duty and practical knowledge. Unlike his grandfather Louis XV, he showed no taste for mistresses or frivolity. His hobbies—locksmithing and geography—suggested a practical, mechanical mind rather than political sophistication. His marriage to Marie Antoinette of Austria, arranged to cement the diplomatic revolution, began coldly but eventually developed into genuine affection, though their failure to consummate the marriage for seven years created dangerous gossip.

The new king's choice of ministers raised hopes for reform. The recall of the parlements, exiled by Maupeou, demonstrated royal willingness to respect traditional institutions while sacrificing potentially beneficial reforms to popularity. The appointment of Turgot as Controller-General signaled serious commitment to economic modernization. Turgot, a philosophe and experienced administrator, embodied Enlightenment hopes for rational reform implemented by enlightened monarchy.

Early actions seemed to confirm the reign's promise. The king's refusal to levy the traditional gift demanded on royal accessions saved subjects 24 million livres. Royal economies reduced court expenses. The abolition of torture in judicial proceedings demonstrated humanitarian principles. Support for American independence, though strategically motivated against Britain, aligned France with liberty's cause. These measures generated genuine enthusiasm for the young monarch, briefly styled "Louis the Desired" in hopeful echo of his predecessor's early popularity.

Yet warning signs appeared immediately. The queen's Austrian origins aroused xenophobic suspicion, exacerbated by her family's requests for French support of Austrian interests. Court factions, temporarily subdued by royal youth, quickly reformed around competing ministers and royal siblings. Most seriously, the financial crisis inherited from previous reigns demanded immediate attention while the recalled parlements stood ready to obstruct any fiscal reform threatening privilege.