Events on January 5 in history

Louis XV of France survives an assassination attempt by Robert-François Damiens, the last person to be executed in France by drawing and quartering, the traditional and gruesome form of capital punishment used for regicides.

Louis XV, born on 15 February 1710, and reigning as King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death on 10 May 1774, holds a unique and often debated place in French history. Initially celebrated as Louis the Beloved (French: le Bien-Aimé) following his recovery from a serious illness in 1744, his reign, spanning nearly 59 years, was the second longest in the history of France, surpassed only by his illustrious great-grandfather, Louis XIV. His tenure witnessed significant transformations and challenges that profoundly shaped the future of the French monarchy and set the stage for the tumultuous events of the French Revolution.

Early Life and Regency (1715-1723)

Louis XV succeeded to the throne at the tender age of five, an unusual succession as he was the great-grandson of the Sun King, Louis XIV, who had ruled for an unprecedented 72 years (1643-1715). Given his extreme youth, the kingdom was governed by a regency council. From 1715 until Louis XV officially attained his majority on 15 February 1723 (then defined as his 13th birthday), France was effectively ruled by his cousin, Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, as Regent of France. This period, known as the Regency, marked a significant shift from the austere grandeur of Louis XIV's final years. It was characterized by a loosening of moral strictures, a revival of aristocratic influence through the "Polysynodie" (a system of councils replacing individual ministers), and most notably, the ill-fated financial experiment of John Law's "Mississippi System," which ended in economic collapse and public distrust.

The Era of Cardinal Fleury (1726-1743)

After a brief period of ducal rule, Cardinal André-Hercule de Fleury, Louis XV's former tutor, emerged as the chief minister in 1726. Fleury’s pragmatic and cautious approach largely defined French policy for the next seventeen years until his death in 1743. His administration focused on fiscal stability and maintaining peace, a stark contrast to the costly wars of Louis XIV. Under Fleury, France experienced a period of economic recovery and internal prosperity, consolidating the gains made by previous reforms. Although generally peaceful, France did engage in the War of the Polish Succession (1733-1738), which ultimately secured the future incorporation of Lorraine into the French kingdom, a strategic gain that would solidify France's eastern borders.

Louis XV Takes Sole Control: Challenges and Criticism (1743-1774)

Upon Cardinal Fleury’s death in 1743, King Louis XV famously declared he would rule alone, eschewing a new chief minister. This decision marked a new phase of his reign, characterized by shifting ministerial leadership and increasing personal involvement, though often perceived as indecisive and inconsistent by contemporaries and historians alike. His direct rule was largely influenced by his chief mistresses, notably Madame de Pompadour and later Madame du Barry, who, despite their cultural patronage and political advice, became symbols of royal extravagance and potential corruption for a public increasingly critical of the monarchy.

Key events and criticisms of this period include:

• War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748): Despite significant military victories, such as the decisive Battle of Fontenoy in 1745 where French forces under Marshal Saxe triumphed over the Pragmatic Army, Louis XV's diplomatic decisions at the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748 were widely criticized. He opted to return the strategically important Austrian Netherlands (modern-day Belgium), which had been hard-won, without significant territorial gains for France, leading to the popular saying "as stupid as the peace."
• The Seven Years' War (1756-1763): This global conflict, known as the French and Indian War in North America, proved disastrous for France. Pitched against Great Britain and Prussia, France suffered immense losses across continents. The Treaty of Paris in 1763 forced France to cede vast territories of New France (including Canada and the Ohio Valley) to Great Britain, and Louisiana to Spain, effectively dismantling France's colonial empire in North America and much of its influence in India. This monumental loss significantly damaged France's prestige, strained the royal treasury to breaking point, and fueled widespread public discontent.
• Territorial Acquisitions: Despite the significant losses in the Seven Years' War, Louis XV's reign also saw important territorial additions to France. The Duchy of Lorraine was formally incorporated into the kingdom in 1766, following the death of its Duke, Stanislas Leszczynski (Louis XV's father-in-law). Furthermore, the Corsican Republic was purchased from the Republic of Genoa in 1768 and subsequently conquered by French forces, fully integrating it into France by 1769.
• Internal Dissension and Financial Strain: Louis XV's reign was plagued by chronic financial difficulties, exacerbated by the costly wars and the perceived extravagance of the court. Efforts at financial reform often met with staunch resistance from privileged groups and the powerful Parlements (high judicial courts), which increasingly asserted their political influence by refusing to register royal edicts. This political deadlock, coupled with reports of the king's private life, contributed to a growing erosion of public trust and respect for the monarchy, foreshadowing the challenges faced by his successor.

Historians generally offer a critical assessment of Louis XV's reign, often highlighting a perceived lack of decisive leadership, the debilitating cost of his wars with little tangible gain, and the growing disconnect between the monarchy and its subjects. His inaction on crucial reforms and the perceived moral decay at court are often cited as factors that weakened the Bourbon monarchy and contributed to the volatile political climate that Louis XVI would inherit in 1774, ultimately culminating in the French Revolution of 1789.

The Attempted Assassination of Louis XV

On 5 January 1757, King Louis XV narrowly survived an assassination attempt by Robert-François Damiens, a French domestic servant. This dramatic event, occurring amidst heightened tensions between the monarchy and the Parlements over religious policies (specifically the refusal of sacraments to Jansenists by Archbishop Christophe de Beaumont of Paris, which the King upheld), shocked France and the wider European world.

Robert-François Damiens (9 January 1715 – 28 March 1757)

Robert-François Damiens, whose surname is also sometimes recorded as Damier, was a former soldier and domestic servant with a history of mental instability. Driven by a mixture of religious fanaticism and a misguided belief that he could compel the King to change his policies and reconcile with the Parlements, he attacked Louis XV as the king was entering his carriage at the Palace of Versailles. Using a penknife, Damiens inflicted a shallow, but symbolically significant, wound to the king's side. The injury was minor, causing little physical harm, but the audacity of the act in the heart of the royal court sent shivers through the establishment, highlighting the growing fragility of royal authority.

The Execution of Damiens

The attempted regicide provoked an extreme reaction from the authorities. Damiens was subjected to extensive torture in an attempt to uncover alleged conspirators, though none were ever definitively proven. His public execution on 28 March 1757, in the Place de Grève in Paris, was a spectacle of unparalleled brutality, designed to serve as a fearsome deterrent and reassert the absolute power of the monarch in the face of perceived threats to the Crown.

Damiens holds the grim distinction of being the last person in France to be executed by dismemberment, a traditional and exceptionally cruel form of capital punishment reserved for those convicted of regicide or high treason. The procedure, often referred to as "drawing and quartering," involved a series of agonizing torments:

• He was first publicly tortured with hot pincers, his flesh torn from various parts of his body.
• Molten lead, boiling oil, pitch, and wax were poured into his wounds.
• Finally, his limbs were tied to four horses, which were then driven in different directions to tear his body apart.

Even this proved difficult, requiring executioners to sever some tendons before the horses could complete the dismemberment. His remains were then burned and scattered. This horrific event profoundly impacted contemporary observers, including Enlightenment philosophers like Voltaire and Cesare Beccaria, whose writings subsequently condemned such cruel and unusual punishments, advocating for more humane and proportionate justice. Damiens' execution became a stark symbol of the savagery of the ancien régime and significantly influenced the abolitionist movements that gained traction in the late 18th century.

Frequently Asked Questions about Louis XV's Reign

When did Louis XV reign, and how long was his rule?

Louis XV reigned as King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death on 10 May 1774, a period of almost 59 years. This makes his reign the second longest in French history, after his great-grandfather Louis XIV.

Why was Louis XV called "Louis the Beloved"?

He was initially given the epithet "Louis the Beloved" (le Bien-Aimé) by his people after his recovery from a severe illness in Metz in 1744. His survival and the subsequent victory at the Battle of Fontenoy (1745) were seen as signs of divine favor and led to a temporary surge in his popularity.

Who governed France during Louis XV's minority?

During Louis XV's minority (from 1715 to 1723), the kingdom was governed by his cousin, Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, who served as the Regent of France. This period was marked by significant social and financial experimentation, including the controversial Mississippi System.

What were the major territorial changes during Louis XV's reign?

France made several significant territorial changes under Louis XV: it successfully incorporated the Duchy of Lorraine (in 1766) and the Corsican Republic (in 1768-1769). However, it suffered immense losses in the Seven Years' War, ceding vast territories of New France (Canada and the Ohio Valley) to Great Britain and Louisiana to Spain in 1763.

What was the significance of Robert-François Damiens' assassination attempt?

The attempted assassination of Louis XV by Robert-François Damiens in 1757, though physically minor, was a shocking act of regicide that exposed vulnerabilities in the monarchy's security and authority. Damiens' brutal public execution, the last in France by dismemberment, became a symbol of extreme royal justice and fueled Enlightenment debates on punishment reform, ultimately influencing moves towards more humane legal practices.

How did Louis XV's reign contribute to the French Revolution?

Historians often link Louis XV's reign to the preconditions of the French Revolution due to several factors: chronic financial difficulties exacerbated by costly wars, a growing national debt, a perceived decline in royal authority and prestige, public criticism of court extravagance and perceived corruption, and a persistent inability to implement necessary political and economic reforms due to resistance from privileged classes and the Parlements. These issues collectively created a climate of widespread discontent and weakened the absolute monarchy, paving the way for the radical changes Louis XVI would face.