The last king of France before the 1789 Revolution was King Louis XVI. Ascending to the throne in 1774, Louis XVI faced significant challenges, including economic troubles and social unrest stemming from heavy taxation and discontent among the populace. His inability to effectively reform the government and respond to the Enlightenment ideas contributed to mounting revolutionary fervor. In 1789, as discontent grew, the Estates-General was convened, leading to the eventual establishment of the National Assembly and the storming of the Bastille. Louis XVI's reign ended with his arrest, trial, and execution by guillotine in 1793, marking the dramatic shift towards republican governance in France.