In late 1774 he reversed Louis XVвЂ™s and Chancellor RenГ© MaupeouвЂ™s controversial attempt to reduce the powers of the parlements that had been undertaken in 1771 this decision was popular but placed obstacles in the way of any major reforms. Well-disposed toward his subjects and interested in the conduct of foreign policy, Louis had not sufficient strength of character or power of decision to combat the influence of court factions or to give the necessary support to reforming ministers, such as Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot or Jacques Necker, in their efforts to shore up the tottering finances of the ancien rГ©gime. At that time he was still immature, lacking in self-confidence, austere in manner, and, because of a physical defect (later remedied by an operation), unable to consummate his marriage.

On the death of his grandfather Louis XV, Louis succeeded to the French throne on May 10, 1774. In 1770 he married the Austrian archduchess Marie-Antoinette, daughter of Maria Theresa and the Holy Roman emperor Francis I. Louis nevertheless possessed an excellent memory, acquired a sound knowledge of Latin and English, and took an interest in history and geography. He was taught to avoid letting others know his thoughts, which has led to sharp disagreement about his intelligence. His education was entrusted to the duc de La Vauguyon (Antoine de QuГ©len de Caussade). At first known as the duc de Berry, he became the heir to the throne on his fatherвЂ™s death in 1765. Louis was the third son of the dauphin Louis and his consort Maria Josepha of Saxony. The period of the Merovingian and Carolingian Frankish dynasties (476-887) frames the Early Middle Ages. By 418, the Franks and Burgundians were established west of the Rhine, and the Visigoths had settled in Aquitaine. After 395 AD the internal problems of the Empire encouraged barbarian penetration of Gaul. For more than four centuries Gaul enjoyed the benefits of Roman rule, and many ruins of aqueducts and bathhouses still dot the French landscape. The result was the formation, in 121 BC, of the Roman Provincia in what is now southern France between 58 to 50 BC Julius Caesar seized the remainder. In the 2nd century BC Rome intervened on the side of Massilia (Marseilles), a Greek colony founded in 600 BC, in its struggle against the barbarian tribes of the hinterland. Modern France has its roots in ancient Gaul.

France civ 5 strategy