In 1781, Louis XVI, under pressure, dismissed his reform-minded Protestant Director-General of Finance, Jacques Necker. He was replaced by Calonne, a protege of Vergennes, the Foreign Minister. Calonne, with a reputation as a lavish spender, disastrously tried to spend the nation out of debt.
But what if Louis had had 'an ounce of firmness' and appointed his own man, even if that man was still on good terms with the nobility? The obvious choice would be Armand Marc, the Comte de Montmorin, Ambassador to Madrid, who eventually replaced Vergennes.
Marie-Antoinette had a May to remember in 1781. After years of trying, she had finally persuaded Louis XVI to dismiss Jacques Necker, the Controller-General of Finance. A reformer and a Protestant, she despised him intensely, as did many of the inner circles of court and the nobility.
But the alternatives for Louis were not very attractive. Vergennes, the Foreign Minister, was angling for his protege Calonne to take over; but Calonne, the intendant of Lille, was neither very experienced nor very popular. Indeed, courtiers with connections at Lille and in Metz (his previous posting) were not impressed by the possibility of Calonne taking over.
Despite Vergennes' angling, Louis was unconvinced. He confided in Marie-Antionette, who was convinced that he needed a yes-man (or more accurately, that she needed a yes-man). He needed someone close to him. And she didn't want another Protestant either.
So Louis decided to make the necessary arrangements, and had word sent to Madrid to recall the French ambassador, Armand Marc, comte de Montmorin, an old adviser in good standing. Calonne was informed that he would be receiving a new position which had recently opened up: Ambassador to Spain.
But what if Louis had had 'an ounce of firmness' and appointed his own man, even if that man was still on good terms with the nobility? The obvious choice would be Armand Marc, the Comte de Montmorin, Ambassador to Madrid, who eventually replaced Vergennes.
Marie-Antoinette had a May to remember in 1781. After years of trying, she had finally persuaded Louis XVI to dismiss Jacques Necker, the Controller-General of Finance. A reformer and a Protestant, she despised him intensely, as did many of the inner circles of court and the nobility.
But the alternatives for Louis were not very attractive. Vergennes, the Foreign Minister, was angling for his protege Calonne to take over; but Calonne, the intendant of Lille, was neither very experienced nor very popular. Indeed, courtiers with connections at Lille and in Metz (his previous posting) were not impressed by the possibility of Calonne taking over.
Despite Vergennes' angling, Louis was unconvinced. He confided in Marie-Antionette, who was convinced that he needed a yes-man (or more accurately, that she needed a yes-man). He needed someone close to him. And she didn't want another Protestant either.
So Louis decided to make the necessary arrangements, and had word sent to Madrid to recall the French ambassador, Armand Marc, comte de Montmorin, an old adviser in good standing. Calonne was informed that he would be receiving a new position which had recently opened up: Ambassador to Spain.
