Creations: Dukedoms of Louis XVI

Due to his reign being cut dramatically short, Louis XVI created far fewer new dukedoms than either of his immediate predecessors. Over the sixteen years of his reign as king at Versailles, he created just sixteen new dukes, two of which were given to the royal family: Alençon and Berry.

The remaining fourteen were:

Duc de Civrac

Creation: 1774
For: Aimeric Joseph de Durfort
Family: Durfort de Civrac
Status: Extinct in 1787
Anecdote:

The creation was a reward for decades of loyal service to the crown, including as ambassador to first Venice and later Vienna. However, it was likely Aimeric's efforts in the latter post which secured the title as he had been a key player in securing the alliance which brought about the marriage of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

Duc de Quintin 

Creation: 1774
For: Jean-Laurent de Durfort-Civrac
Family: Durfort de Civrac
Status: Existing but changed to Duc de Lorge in 1776
Anecdote:

The family of Durfort had held the dukedom during the age of Louis XIV; Guy Aldonce had been Duc de Quintin but the title had become extinct over the 18th century. Thus, it was a revival in favour of the family.

Jean-Laurent

Duc de Lesparre

Creation: 1774
For: Louis Armand de Gramont de Cravant d'Humières
Family: Gramont
Status: Extinct in 1795
Anecdote:

Louis Armand had held the title of Comte de Guiche before his elevation which coincided with the appointment of his wife as the dame d'atours to the Comtesse de Provence. The two would later separate with the Duchesse de Lesparre dying during the revolution (albeit not by guillotine) and the Duc de Lesparre shortly after. This effectively ended the new line of dukes.

Duc du Châtelet

Creation: 1777
For: Florent-Louis du Châtelet
Family: Châtelet
Status: Extinct in 1793
Anecdote:

Being made a hereditary duke in 1777, Louis XVI would later appoint him as head of the Regiment du Roi - the primary and most prestigious regiment. His draconian - and heavily Prussian-inspired - leadership earned him a harsh reputation which gained him few admirers. This would later come back to haunt him when he was recognised by a mob during the revolution. He was arrested and guillotined.

Duc du Châtelet

Duc de Polignac

Creation: 1780
For: Armand-Jules-François de Polignac
Family: Polignac
Status: Existing
Anecdote:

Largely owing their astronomical rise to the favour of Marie Antoinette, the family of Polignac had made a brilliant career during the last days of the ancien regime. Originally, the dukedom was à brevet but it was changed to hereditary in 1783, but only in the male line. Armand was the husband of Madame de Polignac and emigrated during the revolution.

Duc de Guiche

Creation: 1780
For: Antoine VIII de Gramont
Family: Gramont
Status: Extinct in 1836
Anecdote:

Like Armand-Jules-François, Antoine benefited enormously from the friendship between Marie Antoinette and Yolande de Polastron. Antoine had married Yolande's daughter which ensured him continued favour from the king and particularly the queen. Being already the heir to the dukedom of Gramont, the title of Duc de Guiche was meant as an interim title until he could assume his father's title.

Antoine VIII

Duc de Maillé

Creation: 1784
For: Charles-René de Maillé
Family: Maillé de La Tour Landry
Status: Existing
Anecdote:

Holding the rank of Lieutenant General, the Duc de Maillé was particularly connected to the service of the Prince de Condé, including as a gentilhomme of his household and the colonel of his regiment.

Charles-René

Duc de Lévis

Creation: 1784
For: François Gaston de Lévis 
Family: Lévis
Status: Extinct in 1863
Anecdote:

François Gaston had spent the majority of his life with the army including as a prisoner of war. By the time he was elevated to his dukedom, François was already retired with the rank of Maréchal de France. As such, he was in his sixties. Sadly, the revolution was particularly hard on his family. François himself died in 1787 but his widow and two of his daughters were guillotined.

François Gaston in his younger years

Duc de Saulx-Tavannes

Creation: 1786
For: Charles-François de Saulx
Family: Saulx-Tavannes
Status: Extinct
Anecdote:

The new Duc de Saulx-Tavannes had attached himself to the service of the Comte de Provence whom he became very close to - upon the restoration, his old friend brought him back to court. He was given immense influence in the affairs of the king's brother, particularly relating to his private finances. During the revolution, he continued to serve the interests of the future Louis XVIII including by acting as his emissary. 

Charles-François

Duc de La Force

Creation: 1787
For: Louis-Joseph de Caumont
Family: Caumont
Status: Existing
Anecdote:

Like the Durfort family, that of de La Force had also previously held the dukedom within their family. The last incumbent had been Jacques-Nompar II de Caumont who died in 1755 without children which led to the temporary extinction of the title.