2. King Louis XVI
The French monarchy, which ended with King Louis XVI, existed under the idea of the divine right of kings, which is essentially the idea that a king is set in place by God and is effectively above the law. He was not required to be competent to hold the position, and unfortunately, King Louis XVI is remembered for his political incompetence that may have caused the French Revolution.
Effectively funding a proxy war with France’s historical archrival, England, King Louis sent French troops to fight on the side of the American colonies during the American Revolution. Unfortunately, this carried the national debt spiraling out of control, and he refused to raise taxes in order to pay for it. The country found itself in a fiscal crisis, so in May 1789, he convened the Estates-General – a collection of nobility and commoners – to try to address the problems that were facing the country. The meeting didn’t go well for the king, as the members decided to write a new constitution that would limit the powers of the “divinely instated” king.
Ever indecisive and unable to deal with conflicts, the king was unable to stave off the impending revolution. He was taken along with his wife and family, to Paris where the new National Assembly declared him guilty of treason. The king was killed at the guillotine on January 21, 1793.