Marie Antoinette

Coat of arms of Queen Marie-Antoinette of Austria

Jean-Étienne Liotard, L'Archiduchesse Marie-Antoinette d'Autriche, future Reine de France, à l'âge de 7 ans (1762) - 01

Meister der Erzherzoginnen-Porträt - Erzherzogin Maria Antonia

Marie Antoinette Young3

Marie Antoinette in a red hunting habit-1772

Hickel - Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette (2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was the last Queen of France before the French Revolution. Born an Archduchess of Austria, she was the youngest daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor. In 1770, at the age of 14, she married Louis XVI of France, thereby becoming Dauphine of France. Upon the death of Louis XV in 1774, her husband ascended the throne as Louis XVI, and she became queen.

Marie Antoinette is perhaps best known for her alleged remark "Let them eat cake," although there is no historical evidence to support that she ever uttered this phrase. Her lavish lifestyle and spending contributed to the popular image of the monarchy's extravagance and insensitivity to the plight of the French people during a time of financial and political crisis. This perception exacerbated the public's disenchantment with the monarchy, which eventually led to the French Revolution.

Early Life

Marie Antoinette was born in Vienna, the capital of the Habsburg Monarchy. She was the fifteenth child of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I. Her upbringing at the Hofburg Palace and Schönbrunn Palace was steeped in the rigid protocols of the Austrian court, which she found constraining.

Marriage to Louis XVI

The marriage between Marie Antoinette and Louis-Auguste was arranged by their respective families in an effort to strengthen the alliance between France and Austria, traditional rivals. The young archduchess was sent to France, where she encountered a court that was vastly different from the one she had known in Austria. Her marriage initially faced several challenges, including her and Louis XVI's apparent lack of interest in each other and difficulties in consummating the marriage.

Queen of France

As queen, Marie Antoinette's popularity initially soared. She was celebrated for her beauty and style. However, her spending on fashion, entertainment, and gambling soon earned her the nickname "Madame Deficit" as the country's financial crisis deepened. Her involvement in controversial court affairs and her perceived influence over Louis XVI's political decisions also drew criticism.

The French Revolution

The French Revolution began in 1789, drastically changing the course of Marie Antoinette's life. The royal family was initially confined to the Tuileries Palace in Paris. In 1791, they attempted to escape to Varennes but were captured and returned to Paris. As the revolution radicalized, the monarchy was abolished in 1792, and the royal family was imprisoned. Louis XVI was executed in January 1793, and Marie Antoinette was tried by the Revolutionary Tribunal, found guilty of high treason, and executed by guillotine on 16 October 1793.

Legacy

Marie Antoinette's life and death have been the subject of much fascination, controversy, and speculation. She is often viewed as a symbol of the excesses of the monarchy that led to the French Revolution. However, recent scholarship has provided a more nuanced view of her as a woman caught in the turbulent political changes of her time.