A renewed attempt had been made to tax France's privileged and exempted groups, but it was not merely the death of Louis XV in May 1774 that ruined the chancellor: the immediate restoration of the parlements by Louis XVI had been followed by a renewal of the quarrels between the new king and the magistrature.

Maupeou and Terray had been replaced on August 24, 1774, by Miromesnil, then by Malesherbes, recalled from his exile in 1775 to be Secretary of State of the Maison du Roi, and by the economist Turgot.

The deposed king had been brought from the Temple on December 11, among crowded and silent streets, to stand before the Convention and hear his indictment, an accusation of high treason and crimes against the State.

On December 26, his counsel, Raymond Desèze, delivers Louis' response to the charges, with the assistance of François Tronchet and Malesherbes.

Before the trial starts and Louis mounts his defense to the Convention, he tells his lawyers that he knows he will be found guilty and be killed, but to prepare and act as though they can win.

He is resigned to and accepts his fate before the verdict is determined, but he is willing to fight to be remembered as a good king for his people.