Peter is essentially right. Louis XVI was responsible for his own downfall because he was, deep down, a softie: (look at the plum lil' cheeks !) He actually did not like conflict. read more
I'm neither a Frenchman nor a student of French history, so don't rely on my answer. But I have read that Louis XVI was actually quite a liberal monarch, and his part in his own downfall was in large part due to his inability to make a decision. read more