The unsuccessful endeavour to escape to Varennes of King Louis XVI, alongside his wife Marie Antoinette and their immediate family on June 20, 1791 was an attempt at a counter-revolution in the north-eastern part of France to assemble forces and to retrieve his royal authority. This was because he resented and hated the treatment of the National Assembly towards him and his family. They had hoped to escape to Austria and to the protective hands of the Queen's relatives. Disguised as a butler and a maid to a Russian baroness, their plan to flee was actually hatched by several people and royal supporters, including Axel Von Fersen who had supposedly once been a lover of Marie Antoinette. Unfortunately, they were recognized and therefore arrested. The incident was a turning point after which popular hostility towards the French Monarchy as an institution, as well as towards the king and queen as individuals, became much more pronounced. The King’s attempted escape provoked charges of treason and soon led to his execution in 1793 as followed also by his wife Marie Antoinette after 9 months.
http://lizzyjanea.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-failed-escape-of-king-louis-xvi.html
http://suite101.com/article/louis-xvi-marie-antoinette-a88163
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/louis.htm
http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674016422&content=reviews
http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/349122/Louis-XVI/4302/Attempt-to-flee-the-country
Image: chmn.gmu.edu/revolution
http://lizzyjanea.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-failed-escape-of-king-louis-xvi.html
http://suite101.com/article/louis-xvi-marie-antoinette-a88163
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/louis.htm
http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674016422&content=reviews
http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/349122/Louis-XVI/4302/Attempt-to-flee-the-country
Image: chmn.gmu.edu/revolution