Louis XVII of France

Reign: 1793 – 1795
Life: 1785–1795

His older brother, Louis Joseph, Dauphin of France, died in June 1789, a little over a month before the start of the French Revolution. At his brother's death he became the new Dauphin (heir apparent to the throne), a title he held until 1791, when the new constitution accorded the heir apparent the title of Prince Royal. When his father was executed on 21 January 1793, during the middle period of the French Revolution, he automatically succeeded as King of France, Louis XVII, in the eyes of the royalists. France was by then a republic, and since Louis-Charles was imprisoned and died in captivity in June 1795, he never actually ruled.

During Louis XVII of France's reign, Frederick William II of Prussia ruled Prussia, George III of Great Britain ruled Great Britain, and Selim III ruled Ottoman Empire.

Want to learn more? Further reading

The Lost King of France by Deborah Cadbury

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The World During Their Reign

The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

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The Lost King of France

Deborah Cadbury

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