MARIE ANTOINETTE
|
Marie Antoinette was born on November 2nd, 1755 at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria. Her life is best remembered today as related to the French Revolution, which saw the people of France overthrow the absolute monarchy of Louis XVI and reject the traditions of feudalism.
Louis XVI, who belonged to the Royal House of Bourbon, became King of France in 1774 when his grandfather Louis XV died. Earlier, in 1770, at the age of fifteen, Louis XVI married Marie Antoinette, the fourteen year old daughter of the Emperor and Empress of Austria. The marriage was arranged to strengthen the alliance between France and Austria. Upon her marriage to Louis she became the Dauphine of France. The personalities of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette differed tremendously. Louis XVI was introverted, shy and indecisive. As well, he enjoyed solitary activities, such as: reading and metalwork. Whereas, she was outgoing and craved social encounters such as parties. |
Marie Antoinette
|
During the first few years of the marriage, Marie Antoinette became very unpopular with the people of the France. First, Louis and Marie failed to produce any children for the first 18 years of marriage. This caused the people to spread rumors about her and accused her of being promiscuous. Second, she was young when she became queen and liked to indulge herself by extravagant spending of jewels, clothes and parties. This did not sit well with the working class people of France who were struggling under the estates system. For this reputation she earned the nickname “Madame Deficit”. As the anger of the French people reached incredibly high levels they began to blame her for the large debts of the country and its financial crisis. In the years before the French Revolution, the country was struggling from an economic crisis and the royal family were often blamed for their lavish lifestyles.
In 1785, Marie Antoinette was accused of buying a diamond necklace worth 1,600,000 livres. Although it would be eventually proved that she did not buy the necklace, she had already lost the confidence of the French people. As financial crisis and poor harvests gripped France in the 1780’s, Marie Antoinette’s extravagant lifestyle helped create a growing sense of anger from the people of France towards the French monarchy. Countless cartoons and pamphlets accused the Queen of extramarital affairs and overspending.
For his part, Louis XVI was ultimately ignorant of the crisis that the people of France faced and the growing opposition in France to himself and his Queen. Many historians blame Louis XVI for not recognizing the issues facing his country at the time and for responding so poorly to the plight of the third estate citizens.
For his part, Louis XVI was ultimately ignorant of the crisis that the people of France faced and the growing opposition in France to himself and his Queen. Many historians blame Louis XVI for not recognizing the issues facing his country at the time and for responding so poorly to the plight of the third estate citizens.
Execution of Marie Antoinette
|
As the crisis worsened the major events of the French Revolution unfolded, which would eventually find both Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette arrested. First, on July 14th, 1789 Parisians stormed the Bastille prison marking the beginning of the French Revolution. Later, a crowd of French citizens (mostly women) marched from Paris to the Palace of Versailles and demanded the King and Queen return to Paris. Afterwards they were essentially imprisoned in their palace in Paris.
As the chaos of the French Revolution unfolded Louis XVI failed to respond to the uprising and remained indecisive on how to respond. In 1793, the radical new republic, called the National Convention, put Louis XVI on trial for treason. He was convicted and executed by guillotine on January 21, 1793. Marie Antoinette was put on trial several months later for treason and theft, as well as a false and disturbing charges of sexual abuse against her own son. She was executed by guillotine on October 16th, 1793 as the last queen of France. |
CITE THIS ARTICLEAUTHOR
|
|