Primary sourceDocument1791

Will He Be King, or Will He Not?

Olympe de Gouges · 1791

A 1791 pamphlet by Olympe de Gouges debating the political future of King Louis XVI, reflecting her republican-leaning views during the Revolution.

Gouges's own pamphlet on the political future of Louis XVI, showing her broader political engagement.

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Will He Be King, or Will He Not? — Olympe de Gouges, Sera-t-il roi, ne le sera-t-il pas?, 1791.

About this source

What it is

A pamphlet written in 1791 by Olympe de Gouges, discussing whether France should keep Louis XVI as king, restore him to the throne, or appoint a regent instead. It addresses lawmakers directly on this question.

Why it matters

Written during the unsettled period of the Revolution when the monarchy's future was undecided, this pamphlet shows Gouges engaging directly in the political debates of her time, beyond her better-known work on women's rights. It reveals her as an active political commentator willing to weigh in on the most contested question of the era.

Look closer

What options does Gouges lay out for France's government, and which does she seem to favour?
Why might a writer address lawmakers directly in a pamphlet like this?
What does this text suggest about Gouges's political identity beyond women's rights?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Olympe de Gouges on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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