<P> On 15 January 1793, the Convention, composed of 721 deputies, voted on the verdict . Given overwhelming evidence of Louis's collusion with the invaders, the verdict was a foregone conclusion--with 693 deputies voting guilty, none for acquittal, with 23 abstaining . The next day, a roll - call vote was carried out to decide upon the fate of the former king, and the result was uncomfortably close for such a dramatic decision . 288 of the deputies voted against death and for some other alternative, mainly some means of imprisonment or exile . 72 of the deputies voted for the death penalty, but subject to a number of delaying conditions and reservations . The voting took a total of 36 hours . 361 of the deputies voted for Louis's immediate execution . Louis was condemned to death by a majority of one vote . Philippe Égalité, formerly the duke of Orléans and Louis' cousin, voted for Louis' execution, a cause of much future bitterness among French monarchists; he would himself be guillotined on the same scaffold, Place de la Révolution, before the end of the same year, on 6 November 1793 . </P> <P> The next day, a motion to grant Louis XVI reprieve from the death sentence was voted down: 310 of the deputies requested mercy, but 380 voted for the immediate execution of the death penalty . This decision would be final . Malesherbes wanted to break the news to Louis and bitterly lamented the verdict, but Louis told him he would see him again in a happier life and he would regret leaving a friend like Malesherbes behind . The last thing Louis said to him was that he needed to control his tears because all eyes would be upon him . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Paul Wranitzky: "Funeral March for the Death of the King Louis XVI" from the Symphony Op. 31 "The Revolution" or "La Paix", Mov. 2 Pt. 2 . Porticodoro / SmartCGArt Media Productions--Classical Orchestra . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Problems playing this file? See media help . </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Paul Wranitzky: "Funeral March for the Death of the King Louis XVI" from the Symphony Op. 31 "The Revolution" or "La Paix", Mov. 2 Pt. 2 . Porticodoro / SmartCGArt Media Productions--Classical Orchestra . </Td> </Tr>

Describe the role of king of france before french revolution