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Answer:
Charles-Henri Sanson, the royal executioner of France during the reign of King Louis XVI, played a pivotal role in the execution of the king himself. On January 21, 1793, Louis XVI was executed by guillotine, a method that Sanson had been instrumental in adopting.
In the final moments before the execution, Louis XVI was brought to the scaffold where Sanson awaited him. After a brief moment of hesitation, the king removed his coat and cravat. Despite initially resisting, he allowed Sanson to bind his hands with his own handkerchief instead of rope. Louis then climbed the scaffold, where he addressed the crowd, proclaiming his innocence and expressing concerns for the future of France. However, before he could finish, the sound of drums drowned out his words, a command attributed to the guards present, including Antoine Joseph Santerre.
Sanson secured Louis to the guillotine, positioning him for execution. At 10:22 a.m., the guillotine was activated, swiftly decapitating the former king. Sanson's assistant displayed the severed head to the crowd, which erupted in cheers for the Republic, marking a significant moment in the tumultuous history of France during the Revolution.