In late 1792 the National Convention resolved to send the king to trial. The indictment of Louis XVI contained a long list of accusations of treasonous and treacherous behaviour:

“Louis, the French people accuses you of having committed a multitude of crimes in order to establish your tyranny by destroying its liberty.

1. On June 20th [1789] you attacked the sovereignty of the people by suspending the assemblies of its representatives and by driving them by violence from the place of their sessions.

2. On June 23rd [1789] you wished to dictate laws to the nation; you surrounded its representatives with troops; you presented them with two royal declarations, subversive of every liberty, and you ordered them to separate. Your declarations and the minutes of the Assembly establish these outrages undeniably.

3. You caused an army to march against the citizens of Paris; your satellites caused their blood to flow, and you withdrew this army only when the capture of the Bastille and the general insurrection apprised you that the people were victorious…

6. For a long time you contemplated flight: on February 23rd [1791] a memoir was sent to you indicating the means therefore, and you approved it. On the 28th a multitude of nobles and officers distributed themselves throughout your apartments at the Tuileries Palace to facilitate such flight… on June 21st you made your escape with a false passport; you left a declaration against those same constitutional articles; you ordered the ministers not to sign any documents emanating from the National Assembly, and you forbade the Minister of Justice to deliver the Seals of State.

7. After your arrest at Varennes, the exercise of the executive power was for a time taken from your hands; and still you conspired. On July 17th [1791] the blood of citizens was shed at the Champ de Mars. A letter in your handwriting, written in 1790 to Lafayette, proves that a criminal coalition existed between you and him, and that Mirabeau had acceded thereto. On September 14th you apparently accepted the Constitution; your speeches announced a desire to maintain it, and you worked to overthrow it before it even was achieved.

8. An agreement was made at Pillnitz on July 24th [1791] between Leopold of Austria and Frederick William of Brandenburg, who pledged themselves to restore to France the throne of the absolute monarchy; and you were silent on that agreement up to the time when it was known to all Europe…

15. Your brothers, enemies of the state, have rallied the emigres under their colours; they have raised regiments, borrowed money, and contracted alliances in your name; you disavowed them only when you were quite certain that you could not harm their plans. Your understanding with them is proved by a letter… signed by your two brothers, and worded as follows:

“I wrote to you, but it was by post and I could say nothing. We are here two persons acting as one, with the same sentiments, the same principles the same ardour to serve you. We are maintaining silence; but that is because, by breaking it too soon, we might compromise you. But we shall speak as soon as we are sure of general support, and that moment is near… Be at ease about your safety. We live only to serve you; we are working ardently for that purpose…”

17. You issued an order to the commanders of the troops to disorganise the army, to drive entire regiments to desertion, and to have them cross the Rhine in order to place them at the disposal of your brothers and Leopold of Austria…

22. You destroyed our navy. Many officers of that body were emigres; hardly any remained to perform the service of the ports…

23. You favoured the continuation of absolute government in the colonies; throughout them, your agents fomented disorder and counter-revolution, which took place at the same time that it occurred in France, a sufficient indication that your hand conducted this plot…

25. On September 29th [1790] the legislature issued a decree against rebellious priests; you suspended [vetoed] the execution of this decree…

28. You kept the Swiss Guards with you when the constitution forbade them,and the Legislative Assembly had expressly ordered their departure…

30. You tried to bribe, with considerable sums, several members of the National Constituent and Legislative Assemblies; letters… which will be presented to you establish this fact…

32. On August 10th [1792] you reviewed the Swiss Guards at five o’clock in the morning; and the Swiss Guards fired first on the citizens.

33. You caused the blood of Frenchmen to flow.”