Anning was facing off against the Austrian army across the river when news from Paris arrived.
His jaw almost hit the floor and shattered.
In the original history, the youngest son of the Grand Duke of Orleans played a role that betrayed his father—literally. Some people wanted to set the young fellow up as the new King of France, but the attempt failed, and the young fellow fled abroad. The ruling Jacobins then sent his father to the guillotine.
The Grand Duke of Orleans could be described as one of the many tragic figures of the French Revolution. Being highly revolutionary himself and a noble of high standing, he had opened his estates for the citizens of Paris to enjoy before the revolution, showing his approachable side, and also personally sponsored many Enlightenment thinkers.
He helped publish numerous pamphlets for the citizens, hastening the catalysis of the revolution.
