Marie Antoinette

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For other uses, see Marie Antoinette (disambiguation).
Marie Antoinette of Austria
Marie Antoinette painted by Vige-Lebrun c. 177
Queen consort of France and Navarre
Tenure 10 May 1774 21 September 1792
Spouse Loi! "#$ of France
Issue
Marie %h&r'!e, (che!! of )n*ol+me
Loi! ,o!eph, (aphin of France
Loi! "#$$
-rince!! Sophie
Full name
Maria )ntonia ,o!epha ,ohanna
House
.o!e of .ab!br*/Lorraine
.o!e of 0orbon
Father Franci! $, .oly 1oman 2mperor
Mother 2mpre!! Maria %here!a
Born
2 3o4ember 1755
.ofbr* -alace, #ienna, )!tria
Died
16 7ctober 1798 9a*ed 87:
-lace de la 1&4oltion, -ari!, France
Burial
21 ,anary 1;15
Saint (eni! 0a!ilica, France
Signature
Religion 1oman <atholic
Marie Antoinette (=m > r i ? n t@ > n t= or =? n t@ n t=; French: [ma i twan t] ;
baptised Maria Antonia Josepha (or Josephina) Johanna;[1] 2 November 17 ! 1"
#ctober 17$%)& born an Archd'chess o( A'stria& was )a'phine o( France (rom 177* to
177+ and ,'een o( France and Navarre(rom 177+ to 17$2- .he was the (i(teenth and
pen'/timate chi/d o( 0o/1 2oman 3mperor Francis 4 and 3mpress Maria 5heresa-
4n Apri/ 177*& 'pon her marria6e to 7o'is8A'6'ste& )a'phin o( France& she became
)a'phine o( France- .he ass'med the tit/e ,'een o( France and o( Navarre when her
h'sband ascended the throne as 7o'is 9:4 'pon the death o( his 6rand(ather 7o'is 9: in
Ma1 177+- A(ter seven 1ears o( marria6e& she 6ave birth to a da'6hter& Marie85h;r<se
=har/otte& the (irst o( (o'r chi/dren-
4nitia//1 charmed b1 her persona/it1 and bea't1& the French peop/e 6enera//1 came to
dis/i>e her& acc'sin6 ?7@A'trichienne? (which /itera//1 means the Austrian (woman)& b't can
be en'nciated as the Austrian bitch) o( bein6 pro(/i6ate& promisc'o's&[2] and o( harborin6
s1mpathies (or France@s enemies& partic'/ar/1 A'stria& her co'ntr1 o( ori6in-
[%] 5he )iamond Nec>/ace incident dama6ed her rep'tation ('rther& a/tho'6h she was
comp/ete/1 innocent in this a((air- .he /ater became >nown as Madame Dficit beca'se o(
her /avish spendin6 d'rin6 times o( (amine-
5he ro1a/ (ami/1@s (/i6ht to :arennes had disastro's e((ects on French pop'/ar opinion:
7o'is 9:4 was deposed and the monarch1 abo/ished on 21 .eptember 17$2; the ro1a/
(ami/1 was s'bseA'ent/1 imprisoned at the 5emp/e Brison- 3i6ht months a(ter her
h'sband@s eCec'tion& Marie Antoinette was herse/( tried& convicted b1
the =onvention o( treason to the princip/es o( the revo/'tion& and eCec'ted b1 6'i//otine on
1" #ctober 17$%-
7on6 a(ter her death& Marie Antoinette is o(ten considered to be a part o( pop'/ar
c'/t're and a maDor historica/ (i6're&[+] bein6 the s'bDect o( severa/ boo>s& (i/ms and other
(orms o( media- .ome academics and scho/ars have deemed her (rivo/o's and s'per(icia/&
and have attrib'ted the start o( the French 2evo/'tion to her; however& others have
c/aimed that she was treated 'nD'st/1 and that views o( her sho'/d be more s1mpathetic-A5B
A6B A7B A;B
ontents
[hide]
1 3ar/1 /ife
2 Marria6e to 7o'is: 177*!17$%
% ,'eenship: 177+!17$2
%-1 177+!177E: 3ar/1 1ears
%-2 177E!17E1: Motherhood
%-% 17E2!17E: )ec/inin6 pop'/arit1
%-+ 17E"817E$: Bre/'de to revo/'tion
%- F'/1 17E$!17$2: 5he French 2evo/'tion
%-" 17$%: ?Gidow =apet&? tria/ and death
+ 4n pop'/ar c'/t're
5it/es (rom birth to death
" Ancestr1
7 2e(erences
E 3Cterna/ /in>s
3ar/1 /i(e[edit]
Marie Antoinette at a6e 1% b1 Martin van Me1tens& 17"7-
Maria Antonia of Austria was born on November 2& 17 at the 0o(b'r6
Ba/ace in :ienna& A'stria; on the neCt da1& she was baptised Maria Antonia Josepha
Johanna (a/so >nown as Maria Antonia Josephina Johanna[1])- .he was the 1o'n6est
da'6hter o( Francis 4& 0o/1 2oman 3mperor& and Maria 5heresa& ,'een o( 0'n6ar1 and
Hohemia& and r'/er o( the 0absb'r6 dominions- 0er 6odparents were the Iin6 Fos; 4 o(
Bort'6a/and Mariana :ictoria o( .pain& ,'een o( Bort'6a/-[$] .he was born on the same
da1 as the 17 earthA'a>e devastated 7isbon- 4n her (ami/1& she was simp/1 ca//ed
Antonia- )escribed at her birth as ?a sma//& b't comp/ete/1 hea/th1 Archd'chess?&[1*] she
was a/so >nown at the A'strian co'rt as Antonia& b't more o(ten as Madame Antoine&
since French was common/1 spo>en in the 0o(b'r6-[11]
5he re/aCed ambience o( co'rt /i(e in the 0o(b'r6& where it was possib/e to o(ten deviate
(rom protoco/&[12] was compo'nded b1 the private /i(e which was deve/oped b1
the 0absb'r6s even be(ore Maria Antonia was born- 4n their private /i(e& the (ami/1 dressed
in bo'r6eois attire& p/a1ed 6ames with non8ro1a/ chi/dren (the1 were& in (act& enco'ra6ed to
p/a1 with s'ch @common@ chi/dren b1 their parents)[citation needed]& and were treated to
6ardens and mena6eries- .he /ater attempted to recreate this atmosphere thro'6h her
renovation o( the Betit 5rianon in France-[citation needed]
Maria Antonia had a re/ative/1 simp/e chi/dhood in comparison to that o( 7o'is 9:4-[11] .he
was never /one/1& since she never had the chance to be a/one-[11] 5his was partic'/ar/1
evident in her re/ationship with her o/der sister& Maria =aro/ina: the1 were the two 1o'n6est
6ir/s& and shared the same 6overnesses& =aro/ina once described her sister as someone
she ?/oved eCtraordinari/1?-[1%]
Antonia@s ed'cation was poor& or at /east it /ac>ed the ri6oro's trainin6 o( 7o'is 9:4@s; her
handwritin6& (or instance& was spraw/in6 and care/ess in (orm-[11] 5he emphasis in Marie
Antoinette@s ed'cation was on manners& dance& m'sic and appearance- .he /earned
4ta/ian& (rom Metastasio& on top o( the necessar1 French and Jerman& as we// as A'strian
histor1 and French histor1& tho'6h (rom an A'strian perspective-[11] Aro'nd ten 1ears o/d&
she sti// had tro'b/e readin6& as we// as writin6 in Jerman& she spo>e /itt/e French and with
di((ic'/t1& and ver1 /itt/e 4ta/ian (three /an6'a6es that the imperia/ (ami/1 was (/'ent in)-
[1+] =onversations with her were sti/ted& and her abi/it1 to read and write Jerman and
French (the @'niversa/@ /an6'a6e o( 3'rope at this point in time) was 'ndeniab/1 poor-
[1] #(ten& her t'tors wo'/d (inish the wor> themse/ves& o't o( (ear o( /osin6 their
positions[citation needed]- Mme de Hrandeis& made responsib/e b1 the empress (or the
princess@ /ac> o( ed'cation was (ired and rep/aced b1 the m'ch more severe& Mme de
7erchen(e/d-[1"] Knder the 6'idance o( J/'c>& she eCce//ed to some eCtent in her m'sica/
endeavors- .he drew o(ten; at ten& (or eCamp/e& she had drawn a 6ood cha/> /i>eness o(
her (ather-[11]
5he 4mperia/ (ami/1 was one that thoro'6h/1 enDo1ed m'sic- Antonia herse/( /earned to p/a1
the harpsichord& spinet and c/avichord& as we// as the harp& ta'6ht b1 J/'c>-[11] )'rin6 the
(ami/1@s m'sica/ evenin6s& she wo'/d sin6 French son6s and 4ta/ian arias-[17] .he a/so
eCce//ed at dancin6 ! an accomp/ishment o(ten remar>ed b1 those who saw her& whether
(riend/1 or hosti/e& havin6 been care('//1 trained in it since her ear/1 1o'th-[1E] .he had an
?eCA'isite? poise and a (amo's/1 6race('/ deportment;[1E] 0orace Ga/po/e once A'oted
:ir6i/ as to her 6ait& sa1in6& ?vera incess' pat'it dea? (she was in truth revealed to be a
goddess with her step)- .he a/so /oved do//s as a 1o'n6 6ir/& as capt'red b1 a (ami/1
portrait in which seven81ear8o/d Antonia eCcited/1 he/d 'p a (anc1 do//-[1E]N'mero's do//s
arrived at the 0o(b'r6 as soon as Marie Antoinette t'rned 1%& wearin6 miniat're versions
o( the evenin6 6owns& a(ternoon dresses& and 6o/d8trimmed 6owns proposed (or her-[1E]
H1 man1 acco'nts& her chi/dhood was somewhat comp/eC- #n the one hand& her parents
had instit'ted severa/ innovations in co'rt /i(e which made A'stria one o( the most
pro6ressive co'rts in 3'rope- Ghi/e certain co'rt ('nctions remained (orma/ b1
necessit1[citation needed]& the 3mperor and 3mpress neverthe/ess presided over man1
basic chan6es in co'rt /i(e- 5his inc/'ded a//owin6 re/aCations in the t1pe o( peop/e who
co'/d come to co'rt (a chan6e which a//owed peop/e o( merit& as we// as birth& to rise
rapid/1 in the hierarch1 o( imperia/ (avor at co'rt)&[citation needed] re/ative/1 /aC dress
etiA'ette& and the abo/ition o( certain antiA'ated co'rt rit'a/s& inc/'din6 one in which
doLens o( co'rtiers co'/d be present in the 3mpress@ bedchamber whi/e she 6ave birth-
5he 3mpress dis/i>ed the rit'a/& and wo'/d eDect co'rtiers (rom her rooms when she went
into /abor-[1$]
Ghi/e her ?private? /i(e was more re/aCed than other 3'ropean princesses@& and her initia/
ro/e in the po/itica/ arena was re/ative/1 sma//& her mother (as most 1Eth cent'r1 monarchs
wo'/d do) sti// ended 'p 'sin6 her (or po/itica/ p'rposes- Heca'se there were so man1
other chi/dren who co'/d be married o((& Maria Antonia was sometimes ne6/ected b1 her
mother- As a res'/t& she /ater described her re/ationship with her mother as one o( awe8
inspired (ear-A20B A21B .he a/so deve/oped a mistr'st o( inte//i6ent o/der women as a res'/t
o( her mother@s c/ose re/ationship with the Archd'chess Maria =hristina& )'chess o(
5eschen& Marie Antoinette@s o/der sister-[22]
Marria6e to 7o'is: 177*!17$%[edit]
2o1a/ Mono6ram as ,'een o( France
5he events /eadin6 to her event'a/ betrotha/ to the )a'phin o( France be6an in 17"&
when her (ather& Francis 4& 0o/1 2oman 3mperor& died o( a stro>e in A'6'st& /eavin6 Maria
5heresa to co8r'/e with her e/dest son and heir& the 3mperor Foseph 44-[2%] H1 that time&
marria6e arran6ements (or severa/ o( Maria Antonia@s sisters had be6'n: the Archd'chess
Maria Fosepha was betrothed to Iin6 Ferdinand o( Nap/es& and one o( the remainin6
e/i6ib/e archd'chesses was tentative/1 set to marr1 )on Ferdinand o( Barma- 5he p'rpose
o( these marria6es was to cement the vario's comp/eC a//iances that Maria 5heresa had
entered into in the 17*s d'e to the .even Mears@ Gar& which inc/'ded Barma& Nap/es&
2'ssia& and more important/1 A'stria@s traditiona/ enem1& France-[2+] Githo't the .even
Mears@ Gar to ?'nite? the two co'ntries brie(/1& the marria6e o( Maria Antonia and the
)a'phin 7o'is8A'6'ste mi6ht not have occ'rred-[21]
Marie Antoinette at thec/avichord& b1 FranL 9aver Ga6enschNn (17"E)-
4n 17"7& a sma//poC o'tbrea> hit the (ami/1- Maria Antonia had a/read1 s'rvived the
disease as a 1o'n6 chi/d and was conseA'ent/1 imm'ne- 0er sister8in8/aw& 3mpress Maria
Fosepha& died (rom sma//poC and a/so passed it on to Maria 5heresa& who s'rvived b't
s'((ered (rom its e((ects the rest o( her /i(e- 5wo da1s a(ter visitin6 the 3mpress@s bod1 with
Maria 5heresa& Maria Antonia@s sister Archd'chess Maria Fosepha a/so deve/oped
s1mptoms& and she soon died- Another sister& Maria 3/isabeth& (e// i// as we// b't s'rvived-
0er brother& =har/es Foseph& and sister Maria Fohanna& had a/read1 died o( sma//poC in
17"1 and 17"2 respective/1-
5his /e(t 1281ear8o/d Maria Antonia as the on/1 potentia/ bride in the (ami/1 (or the 1+81ear8
o/d 7o'is A'6'ste& who was a/so hersecond co'sin once removed thro'6h 7eopo/d 4-
)'rin6 the marria6e ne6otiations& it was pointed o't her teeth were croo>ed& and a French
doctor was commissioned to per(orm corrective ora/ s'r6eries on her-[1E] 5he process was
done witho'tanesthesia and too> a tota/ o( three months& b't the (ami/1 was satis(ied at the
end that the princess@s smi/e was ?ver1 bea'ti('/ and strai6ht?-[1E] A(ter painsta>in6 wor>
between the 6overnments o( France and A'stria& the dowr1 was set at 2**&*** crowns; as
was the c'stom& portraits and rin6s were eCchan6ed-[2] Fina//1& Maria Antonia
was married b1 proC1 on 1$ Apri/ (at a6e 1+) in the =h'rch o( the A'6'stine Friars& :ienna;
her brother Ferdinand stood in as the bride6room- .he was a/so o((icia//1 rest1/ed as Marie
Antoinette, Dauphine of France-[2"]5hro'6h her (ather& Marie Antoinette became the
second (a(ter Mar6aret o( :a/ois& the renowned ,'een Mar6ot) French A'een ever to
descend (rom 0enr1 44 o( France and =atherine de@ Medici-
Marie Antoinette was o((icia//1 handed over to her French re/ations on 7 Ma1 177*& on an
is/and on the 2hine 2iver near Ieh/- =hie( amon6 them were the comte de Noai//es and
his wi(e& the comtesse de Noai//es& who had been appointed the )a'phine@s Mistress o(
the 0o'seho/d b1 7o'is 9:-[27] .he met the Iin6& the )a'phin 7o'is8A'6'ste& and the
ro1a/ a'nts (7o'is 9:@s da'6hters& >nown as Mesdames)& one wee> /ater- He(ore reachin6
:ersai//es& she a/so met her ('t're brothers8in8/aw& 7o'is .tanis/as 9avier& comte de
Brovence; and =har/es Bhi/ippe& comte d@Artois& who came to p/a1 important ro/es d'rin6
and a(ter her /i(e-[2E] 7ater& she met the rest o( the (ami/1& inc/'din6 her h'sband@s
1o'n6est sister& Madame O/isabeth& who at the end o( Marie Antoinette@s /i(e wo'/d
become her c/osest and most /o1a/ (riend-
Bro(i/e meda//ion o( Marie Antoinette as )a'phine o( France in 177*& a//e6orica/ to her marria6e-
5he ceremonia/ weddin6 o( the )a'phin and )a'phine too> p/ace on 1" Ma1 177*& in
the Ba/ace o( :ersai//es& a(ter which was the rit'a/ beddin6-[2$] 4t was ass'med b1 c'stom
that cons'mmation o( the marria6e wo'/d ta>e p/ace on the weddin6 ni6ht-[%*] 0owever&
this did not occ'r& and the /ac> o( cons'mmation p/a6'ed the rep'tation o( both 7o'is8
A'6'ste and Marie Antoinette (or seven 1ears to come-[%1]
5he initia/ reaction to the marria6e between Marie Antoinette and 7o'is8A'6'ste was
decided/1 miCed- #n the one hand& the )a'phine herse/( was pop'/ar amon6 the peop/e-
0er (irst o((icia/ appearance in Baris on E F'ne 177% at the 5'i/eries was considered b1
man1 ro1a/ watchers a reso'ndin6 s'ccess& with a reported *&*** peop/e cr1in6 o't to
see her- Beop/e were easi/1 charmed b1 her persona/it1 and bea't1- .he had (air s>in&
straw8b/ond hair& and b/'e e1es-
Marie Antoinette& at the a6e o( thirteen; this miniat're portrait was sent to the da'phin& so he co'/d see his bride be(ore he met her&
b1 Foseph )'cre'C (17"$)-
0owever& at =o'rt the match was not so pop'/ar amon6 the e/der members o( co'rt d'e to
the /on68standin6 tensions between A'stria and France& which had on/1 recent/1 been
mo//i(ied- Man1 co'rtiers had active/1 promoted a marria6e between the da'phin and
vario's .aCon princesses instead- Hehind her bac>& Mesdames ca//ed Marie Antoinette
?/@A'trichienne?& the ?A'strian woman-? (7ater& on the eve o( the 2evo/'tion& and as Marie
Antoinette@s 'npop'/arit1 6rew& l'Autrichienne was s'pposed/1 trans(ormed
into l'Autruchienne& a p'n ma>in6 'se o( the words autruche ?ostrich? and chienne ?(ema/e
do6?-)[%2]#thers acc'sed her o( tr1in6 to swa1 the >in6 to A'stria@s thra//& destro1in6 /on68
standin6 traditions (s'ch as appointin6 peop/e to posts d'e to (riendship and not to
peera6e)& and o( /a'6hin6 at the in(/'ence o( o/der women at the ro1a/ co'rt-[%%] Man1
other co'rtiers& s'ch as the comtesse d' Harr1& had ten'o's re/ationships with the
)a'phine-[%+]
0er re/ationship with the comtesse d' Harr1 was one which was important to recti(1& at
/east on the s'r(ace& beca'se Madame d' Harr1 was the mistress o( 7o'is 9:& and th's
had considerab/e po/itica/ in(/'ence over the >in6- 4n (act& she had been instr'menta/
o'stin6 (rom power the d'c de =hoise'/& who had he/ped orchestrate the Franco8A'strian
a//iance as we// as Marie Antoinette@s own marria6e- 7o'is 9:@s da'6hters& Mesdames&
hated Mme d' Harr1 d'e to her 'nsavor1 re/ationship with their (ather-[%] Gith
manip'/ative coachin6& the a'nts enco'ra6ed the )a'phine to re('se to ac>now/ed6e the
(avo'rite& which was considered b1 some to be a po/itica/ b/'nder- A(ter months o(
contin'ed press're (rom her mother and the A'strian minister& the comte de Merc18
Ar6entea'& Marie Antoinette 6r'd6in6/1 a6reed to spea> to Mme d' Harr1 on New Mear@s
)a1 1772- A/tho'6h the /imit o( their conversation was Marie Antoinette@s bana/ comment
to the ro1a/ mistress that& ?there are a /ot o( peop/e at :ersai//es toda1?& Mme d' Harr1 was
satis(ied and the crisis& (or the most part& dissipated- 5here was& however& a ('rther /eve/ o(
animosit1 (rom the view o( the Mesdames raised b1 this sit'ation ! the1 (e/t somewhat
@betra1ed@ in their stance a6ainst d' Harr1-[%"] 7ater& Marie Antoinette became more po/ite
to the comtesse& p/easin6 7o'is 9:& b't a/so partic'/ar/1 her mother-[%7]
From the be6innin6& the )a'phine had to contend with constant /etters (rom her mother&
who wrote to her da'6hter re6'/ar/1 and who received secret reports (rom Merc1
d@Ar6entea' on her da'6hter@s behavio'r- Marie Antoinette wo'/d write home in the ear/1
da1s sa1in6 that she missed her dear home- 5ho'6h the /etters were to'chin6& in /ater
1ears Marie Antoinette said she (eared her mother more than she /oved her-[%E] 0er
mother constant/1 criticiLed her (or her inabi/it1 to ?inspire passion? in her h'sband& who
rare/1 s/ept with her and had no interest in doin6 so& bein6 more interested in his hobbies
s'ch as /oc>8ma>in6 and h'ntin6- 5he 3mpress went so (ar as sa1in6 direct/1 to Marie
Antoinette that she was no /on6er prett1& and had /ost a// her 6race-
7o'is A'6'ste as )a'phin o( France& b1 7o'is8Miche/ :an 7oo(17"$)-
Bortrait o( Marie Antoinette in h'ntin6 attire (a (avorite o( her mother)& b1 Foseph IrantLin6er(1771)& I'nsthistorisches M'se'm&
:ienna-
5o ma>e 'p (or the /ac> o( a((ection (rom her h'sband and the end/ess criticism o( her
mother& Marie Antoinette be6an to spend more on 6amb/in6 and c/othin6& with cards and
horse8bettin6& as we// as trips to the cit1 and new c/othin6& shoes& pomade and ro'6e-
[%$] .he was eCpected b1 tradition to spend mone1 on her attire& so as to o'tshine other
women at =o'rt& bein6 the /eadin6 eCamp/e o( (ashion in :ersai//es (the previo's
A'een& Maria 7esLcL1Ps>a& had died in 17"E& two 1ears prior to Marie Antoinette@s arriva/)-
Marie Antoinette a/so be6an to (orm deep (riendships with vario's /adies in her retin'e-
Most noted were the sensitive and ?p're? widow& the princesse de 7amba//e& whom she
appointed as .'perintendent o( her 0o'seho/d& and the ('n8/ovin6& down8to8earth Mo/ande
de Bo/astron& d'chesse de Bo/i6nac& who event'a//1 (ormed the cornerstone o( the
,'een@s inner circ/e o( (riends (Socit articuli!re de la "eine)-[+*] 5he d'chesse de
Bo/i6nac /ater became the Joverness o( the ro1a/ chi/dren (#ouvernante des $nfants de
France)& and was a (riend o( both Marie Antoinette and 7o'is- 5he c/oseness o( the
)a'phine@s (riendship with these /adies& in(/'enced b1 vario's pop'/ar p'b/ications which
promoted s'ch (riendships& /ater ca'sed acc'sations o( /esbianism to be /od6ed a6ainst
these women-[+1] #thers ta>en into her con(idence at this time inc/'ded her h'sband@s
brother& the comte d@Artois; their 1o'n6est sister& Madame O/isabeth; her sister8in8/aw&
the comtesse de Brovence; and =hristoph Gi//iba/d J/'c>& her (ormer m'sic teacher&
whom she too> 'nder her patrona6e 'pon his arriva/ in France-[+2]
#n 27 Apri/ 177+& a wee> a(ter the premi!re o( J/'c>@s opera& %phignie en Aulide& which
had sec'red the )a'phine@s position as a patron o( the arts& 7o'is 9: (e// i// with sma//poC-
#n + Ma1& the d1in6 >in6 was press'red to send the comtesse d' Harr1 awa1 (rom
:ersai//es; on 1* Ma1& at % pm& he died at the a6e o( "+-[+%] 7o'is8A'6'ste was crowned
Iin6 7o'is 9:4 o( France on 11 F'ne 177 at the cathedra/ o( 2heims- Marie Antoinette
was not crowned a/on6side him& mere/1 accompan1in6 him d'rin6 the coronation
ceremon1-[++]
,'eenship: 177+!17$2[edit]
17741778: Early years[edit]
From the o'tset& despite how she was portra1ed in contemporar1 libelles& the new A'een
had ver1 /itt/e po/itica/ in(/'ence with her h'sband- 7o'is& who had been in(/'enced as a
chi/d b1 anti8A'strian sentiments in the co'rt& b/oc>ed man1 o( her candidates&
inc/'din6 =hoise'/&[+] (rom ta>in6 important positions& aided and abetted b1 his two most
important ministers& =hie( MinisterMa'repas and Forei6n Minister :er6ennes- A// three
were anti8A'strian& and were war1 o( the potentia/ reperc'ssions o( a//owin6 the A'een !
and& thro'6h her& the A'strian empire ! to have an1 sa1 in French po/ic1-[+"]
Marie Antoinette& ,'een o( France& in coronation robes b1 Fean8Haptiste Ja'tier )a6ot1& 177-
Archd'>e MaCimi/ian Francis o( A'stria visited Marie Antoinette and her h'sband on 7 Febr'ar1 177 at the =hQtea' de /a M'ette-
Marie Antoinette@s sit'ation became more precario's when& on " A'6'st 177& her sister8
in8/aw& the comtesse d@Artois& 6ave birth to a son& the d'c d@An6o'/Rme (who /ater became
the heir apparent to the French throne when his (ather& the comte d@Artois& became Iin6
=har/es 9 o( France in 1E2+)- 5here (o//owed a re/ease o( a p/ethora o( 6raphic satirica/
pamph/ets& which main/1 centered on the >in6@s impotence and the A'een@s searchin6 (or
seC'a/ re/ie( e/sewhere& with men and women a/i>e- Amon6 her r'mored /overs were her
c/ose (riend& the princesse de 7amba//e& and her handsome brother8in8/aw& the comte
d@Artois& with whom the A'een had a 6ood rapport-[+7]
5hese persona/ attac>s ca'sed the A'een to p/'n6e ('rther into the cost/1 diversions o(
b'1in6 her dresses (rom 2ose Hertin and 6amb/in6& simp/1 to enDo1 herse/(- #n one (amed
occasion& she p/a1ed (or three da1s strai6ht with p/a1ers (rom Baris& strai6ht 'p 'nti/ her
21st birthda1- .he a/so be6an to attract vario's ma/e admirers whom she accepted into
her inner circ/es& inc/'din6 the baron de Hesenva/& the d'c de =oi6n1& and =o'nt :a/entin
3sterhSL1-[+E]
.he was 6iven (ree rein to renovate the etit &rianon& a sma// chQtea' on the 6ro'nds o(
:ersai//es& which was 6iven to her as a 6i(t b1 7o'is 9:4 on 1 A'6'st 177+; she
concentrated main/1 on hortic'/t're& redesi6nin6 the 6arden in the 3n6/ish (ashion& which
in the previo's rei6n had been an arboret'm o( introd'ced species& and addin6 (/owers-
[+$]A/tho'6h the etit &rianon had been b'i/t (or 7o'is 9:@s mistress& Madame de
Bompado'r& it became associated with Marie Antoinette@s perceived eCtrava6ance- Gith
the ?3n6/ish 6arden? Marie Antoinette and her co'rt adopted the 3n6/ish dress o( indienne&
o( perca/e or m's/in-[*] 5he tradition o( cost'me at the co'rt at :ersai//es was bro>en
a(ter more than ten 1ears-[1] 2'mors circ'/ated that she p/astered the wa//s with 6o/d and
diamonds-[2] 0er /ad18in8waitin6 Feanne87o'ise80enriette =ampan rep/ied on s'ch
r'mors that Marie Antoinette visited the wor>shops o( the vi//a6e in a simp/e dress o(
white perca/e with a 6a'Le scar( and a straw hat-[%]
?---the innovativeness o( Marie Antoinette@s co'ntr1 retreat wo'/d attract her
s'bDectsT (ierce disapprova/& even as it aimed to bo/ster her a'tonom1 and
enhance her presti6e---?[+]
An even bi66er prob/em& however& was the debt inc'rred b1 France d'rin6 the .even
Mears@ Gar& sti// 'npaid- 4t was ('rther eCacerbated b1 :er6ennes@ proddin6 7o'is 9:4 to
6et invo/ved in Jreat Hritain@s war with its North American co/onies& d'e to France@s
traditiona/ riva/r1 with Jreat Hritain-[]
4n the midst o( preparations (or sendin6 he/p to France& and in the atmosphere o( the (irst
wave o( libelles& 0o/1 2oman 3mperor Foseph came to ca// on his sister and brother8in8/aw
on 1E Apri/ 1777& the s'bseA'ent siC8wee> visit in :ersai//es a part o( the attempt to (i6're
o't wh1 their marria6e had not been cons'mmated- 0e soon rea/iLed that there was no
obstac/e to the co'p/e@s conD'6a/ re/ations save the >in6@s 'nwi//in6ness to eCert himse/( in
that arena& d'e to a mista>en be/ie( that re/ations wea>ened the ma/e partner&and the
A'een@s /ac> o( interest in the who/e b'siness- Foseph 6raphica//1 described these matters
in a /etter to his brother 7eopo/d& and ca//ed the >in6 and A'een o( France ?a co'p/e o(
comp/ete b/'nderers-?["] 4t was d'e to Foseph@s intervention that& in A'6'st 1777& the
marria6e was (ina//1 cons'mmated-[7] 3i6ht months /ater& in Apri/& it was s'spected that
the A'een was (ina//1 pre6nant with her (irst chi/d- 5his was con(irmed on 1" Ma1 177E-[E]
17781781: Motherhood[edit]
Marie Antoinette in a co'rt dress worn over eCtreme/1 widepanniers& b1 7o'ise O/isabeth :i6;e 7e Hr'n (177E)-
4n the midd/e o( her pre6nanc1& two events occ'rred which had a pro(o'nd impact on the
A'een@s /ater /i(e- First& there was the ret'rn o( the handsome .wede&=o'nt ACe/ von
Fersen ! whom she had met previo's/1 on New Mear@s )a1& 177+& whi/e she was sti//
)a'phine ! to :ersai//es (or two 1ears- .econd/1& the >in6@s wea/th1 b't spite('/ co'sin&
the d'c de =hartres& was dis6raced b1 his A'estionab/e cond'ct d'rin6 the Hatt/e o(
#'essant a6ainst the Hritish- 4n addition& Marie Antoinette@s brother& the 3mperor Foseph&
be6an ma>in6 c/aims on the throne o( Havaria based 'pon his second marria6e to the
princess Maria Fosepha o( Havaria-[$] Marie Antoinette p/eaded with her h'sband (or the
French to he/p intercede on beha/( o( A'stria b't was reb'((ed b1 the >in6 and his
ministers- 5heBeace o( 5eschen& si6ned on 1% Ma1 177$& ended the brie( con(/ict& b't the
incident once more showed the /imited in(/'ence that the A'een had in po/itics-["*]
Marie Antoinette@s da'6hter& Marie85h;r<se =har/otte& 6iven the honori(ic tit/e at birth
o( Madame "o'ale& was (ina//1 born at :ersai//es& a(ter a partic'/ar/1 di((ic'/t /abo'r& on 1$
)ecember 177E& (o//owin6 an ordea/ where the A'een /itera//1 co//apsed (rom s'((ocation
and hemorrha6in6-["1] 5he A'een@s bedroom was pac>ed with co'rtiers watchin6 the
birth& and the doctor aidin6 her s'pposed/1 ca'sed the eCcessive b/eedin6 b1 accident-
5he windows had to be torn o't to revive her- 5his incident has a variant: some so'rces
p'rport that it was the Brincesse de 7amba//e who /ost conscio'sness& and to prevent the
A'een (rom doin6 the same& the >in6 himse/( ! rather 'n's'a//1 ! /et in some air b1 tearin6
o(( the tapes that sea/ed the windows-["2] 4n an1 case& as a res'/t o( this harrowin6
eCperience& the A'een and the >in6 banned most co'rtiers (rom enterin6 her bedchamber
(or s'bseA'ent /abo'rs-["%]
5he bab1@s paternit1 was contested in the /ibe//es& b't not b1 the >in6 himse/(& who was
c/ose to his da'6hter-["+]
5he birth o( a da'6hter meant that press're to have a ma/e heir contin'ed& and Marie
Antoinette wrote abo't her worrisome hea/th& which mi6ht have contrib'ted to a
miscarria6e in F'/1 177$- Antonia Fraser do'bts i( there was a pre6nanc1 in 177$&
ascribin6 the A'een@s be/ie( that she had a miscarria6e to Antoinette@s irre6'/ar menstr'a/
c1c/e- H't the memoirs o( the A'een@s /ad18in8waitin6& Madame =ampan& state eCp/icit/1
that a miscarria6e came abo't a(ter the A'een eCerted herse/( too stren'o's/1 in c/osin6 a
carria6e window& (e/t that she had h'rt herse/(& and /ost the chi/d ei6ht da1s /ater- =ampan
adds that the >in6 spent a mornin6 conso/in6 the A'een at her bedside& and swore to
secrec1 a// those who were aware o( the accident-["]
Meanwhi/e& the A'een be6an to instit'te chan6es in the c'stoms practised at co'rt& with
the approva/ o( the >in6- .ome chan6es& s'ch as the abo/ition o( se6re6ated dinin6
spaces& had a/read1 been instit'ted (or some time and had been met with disapprova/ (rom
the o/der 6eneration- More important/1 was the abandonment o( heav1 ma>e8'p and the
pop'/ar wide8hooped panniers (or a more simp/e (eminine /oo>& t1pi(ied (irst b1 the
r'stic robe U /a po/onaise and /ater b1 the @6a'//e&@ a simp/e m's/in dress that she wore in a
17E% :i6;e87e Hr'n portrait-[""] .he a/so be6an to participate in amate'r p/a1s and
m'sica/s& startin6 in 17E*& in a theatre b'i/t (or her and other co'rtiers who wished to
ind'/6e in the de/i6hts o( actin6 and sin6in6-["7]
4n 17E*& two candidates who had been s'pported b1 Marie Antoinette (or positions&
the marA'is de =astries& and the comte de .;6'r& were appointed Minister o( the Nav1
and Minister o( Gar& respective/1- 5ho'6h man1 be/ieved it was entire/1 the s'pport o( the
A'een that enab/ed them to sec're their positions& in tr'th it was most/1 that o( Finance
Minister FacA'es Nec>er-["E]
Marie Antoinette en chemise& portrait o( the A'een in a ?m's/in? dress& b1 7o'ise O/isabeth :i6;e 7e Hr'n (17E%)- 5his controversia/
portrait was viewed b1 her critics to be improper (or a A'een-
7ater that 1ear& 3mpress Maria 5heresa be6an to (a// i// with drops1 and an 'nnamed
respirator1 prob/em- .he died on 2$ November 17E*& in :ienna& at the a6e o( "%& and was
mo'rned thro'6ho't 3'rope- Marie Antoinette was worried that the death o( her mother
wo'/d Deopardise the Franco8A'strian a//iance (as we// as& '/timate/1& herse/()& b't 3mperor
Foseph reass'red her thro'6h his own /etters (as the empress had not stopped writin6 to
Marie Antoinette 'nti/ short/1 be(ore her death) that he had no intention o( brea>in6 the
a//iance-
5hree months a(ter the empress@ death& it was r'mo'red that Marie Antoinette was
pre6nant a6ain& which was con(irmed in March 17E1- Another ro1a/ visit (rom Foseph 44 in
F'/1& partia//1 to rea((irm the Franco8A'strian a//iance and a/so a means o( seein6 his sister
a6ain& was tainted with (a/se r'mo'rs that Marie Antoinette was siphonin6 treas'r1 mone1
to him-["$]
#n 22 #ctober 17E1& the A'een 6ave birth to 7o'is Foseph 9avier FranVois& who bore the
tit/e )a'phin o( France& as was c'stomar1 (or the e/dest son o( the Iin6 o( France- 5he
reaction to the birth o( an heir was best s'mmed 'p b1 the words o( 7o'is 9:4 himse/(& as
he wrote them down in his h'ntin6 Do'rna/: ?Madame& 1o' have ('/(i//ed o'r wishes and
those o( France& 1o' are the mother o( )a'phin?-[7*] 0e wo'/d& accordin6 to co'rtiers& tr1
to (rame sentences to p't in the phrase ?m1 son the )a'phin? in the wee>s to come-A71B
A72B 4t a/so he/ped that& three da1s be(ore the birth& the maDorit1 o( the (i6htin6 in
the con(/ict in Americahad been conc/'ded with the s'rrender o( Jenera/ 7ord
=ornwa//is at Mor>town-[7%]
17821785: Delinin! popularity[edit]
Marie Antoinette with her two e/dest chi/dren& Marie85h;r<se =har/otte and the )a'phin 7o'is Foseph& in the Betit 5rianon@s
6ardens& b1 Ado/( K/ri> GertmW//er(17E)-
)espite the 6enera/ ce/ebration over the birth o( the )a'phin& Marie Antoinette@s po/itica/
in(/'ence& s'ch as it was& did not bene(it A'stria-[citation needed] 4nstead& a(ter the death
o( the comte de Ma'repas& the in(/'ence o( :er6ennes was stren6thened& and she was
a6ain /e(t o't o( po/itica/ a((airs- 5he same happened d'rin6 the so8ca//ed Iett/e Gar& in
which her brother Foseph attempted to open 'p the .che/dt 2iver (or nava/ passa6e- 7ater&
another attempt b1 him to c/aim Havaria was reb'((ed as bein6 a6ainst French interests-
[7+]
Ghen acc'sed o( bein6 a ?d'pe? b1 her brother (or her po/itica/ inaction& Marie Antoinette
responded that she had /itt/e power-[citation needed] 5he >in6 rare/1 ta/>ed to her abo't
po/ic1& and his anti8A'strian ed'cation as a chi/d (orti(ied his re('sa/s in a//owin6 his wi(e
an1 participation in his decisions- As a res'/t& she had to pretend to his ministers that she
was in his ('// con(idence in order to 6et the in(ormation she wanted-[citation needed] 5his
/ed the co'rt to be/ieve she had more power than she did- As she wrote& ?Go'/d it be wise
o( me to have scenes with his (7o'is 9:4@s) ministers over matters on which it is practica//1
certain the Iin6 wo'/d not s'pport meX?[7]
0er temperament was more s'ited to persona//1 directin6 the ed'cation o( her chi/dren- 5o
do so was a6ainst the traditions o( :ersai//es& where the A'een 's'a//1 had /itt/e sa1 over
the $nfants de France& as the ro1a/ chi/dren were ca//ed& and the1 were instead handed
over to vario's co'rtiers who (o'6ht over the privi/e6e- 4n partic'/ar& a(ter the ro1a/
6overness at the time o( the )a'phin@s birth& the princesse de J';m;n;& went ban>r'pt
and was (orced to resi6n& there was a controvers1 over who sho'/d rep/ace her- Marie
Antoinette appointed her (avo'rite& the d'chesse de Bo/i6nac& to the position-[7"] 5his
decision met with disapprova/ (rom the co'rt& as the d'chess was considered to be o( too
?immodest? a birth to occ'p1 s'ch an eCa/ted position-[citation needed] #n the other hand&
both the >in6 and A'een tr'sted Mme de Bo/i6nac comp/ete/1& and the d'chess had
chi/dren o( her own to whom the A'een had become attached-[77]
An en6ravin6 o( Marie Antoinette ( la pa'sanne& orMarie Antoinette as a peasant; she o(ten dressed as one with her (riends at
her )ameau& imitatin6 the simp/e /i(e-
4n F'ne 17E%& Marie Antoinette was pre6nant a6ain- 5hat same month& =o'nt ACe/ von
Fersen ret'rned (rom America& in order to sec're a mi/itar1 appointment& and he was
accepted into her private societ1- 0e /e(t in .eptember to become a captain o( the
bod16'ard (or his soverei6n& J'stav's 444& the >in6 o( .weden& who was cond'ctin6 a to'r
o( 3'rope-[citation needed] Marie Antoinette s'((ered a miscarria6e on the ni6ht o( 1!2
November 17E%& promptin6 more (ears (or her hea/th-[7E]
5r1in6 to ca/m her mind& d'rin6 Fersen@s (irst visit& and /ater a(ter his ret'rn on 7 F'ne
17E+& the A'een occ'pied herse/( with the creation o( the )ameau de la reine& a mode/
ham/et in the 6arden o( the Betit 5rianon with a mi// and 12 cotta6es& $ o( which are sti//
standin6- 5he 0amea' was one o( Marie Antoinette@s contrib'tions to a'6mentin6 the
chatea' at :ersai//es and can be viewed b1 the p'b/ic to this da1-
4ts creation& however& 'neCpected/1 ca'sed another 'proar when the act'a/ price o(
the )ameau was in(/ated b1 her critics-[citation needed] 4n tr'th& it was copied (rom
another& (ar 6rander ?mode/ vi//a6e? b'i/t in 177+ (or the prince de =ond; on his estate
at =hanti//1- B'b/ic records indicate that in 17E1 the =omtesse de Brovence bo'6ht /and
(or her 0amea' which was comp/eted in 17E%& D'st be(ore wor> started on the ,'een@s
0amea'-[7$] 5he comtesse de Brovence@s version inc/'ded windmi//s and a marb/e
dair1ho'se-[E*] .tarted in 17E% and (inished in 17E7& the ,'een@s ham/et& b'i/t to desi6ns
o( the her (avo'red architect& 2ichard MiA'e& was comp/ete with (armho'se& dair1& and mi//-
[E1] 5he ?5emp/e o( 7ove? (a ph1sica/ str'ct're b'i/t as a part o( the ,'een@s 0amea')
bears a mar>ed and stri>in6 resemb/ance to the rot'nda o( the Bavi//on de M'siA'e& which
was the (o/ie b'i/t b1 the =omtesse de Brovence sit'ated in her 0amea'-[E2]
A cotta6e (rom ,'een@s 0am/et
4n addition to the creation o( the 0amea'& Marie Antoinette had other notab/e interests and
activities- .he became an avid reader o( historica/ nove/s& and her scienti(ic interest was
piA'ed eno'6h to become a witness to the /a'nchin6 o( hot air ba//oons-[E%].he was
(ascinated b1 2o'ssea'@s ?bac> to nat're? phi/osoph1& as we// as the c'/t're o(
the 4ncas o( Ber' and their worship o( the s'n& abo't which she had boo>s in her /ibrar1-
Hrie(/1& she even so'6ht o't important Hritish persona6es s'ch as the Brime
Minister& Gi//iam Bitt the Mo'n6er& and the Hritish ambassador to France& the )'>e o(
)orset-[E+] .he a/so deve/oped an interest in /earnin6 3n6/ish& and whi/e she never
became (/'ent& she was ab/e to write in bro>en 3n6/ish to her (riend& the )'chess o(
)evonshire-[E]
)espite the man1 thin6s which Marie Antoinette did in her spare time& her primar1 concern
became the hea/th o( the )a'phin& which was be6innin6 to (ai/- H1 the time Fersen
ret'rned to :ersai//es in 17E+& it was wide/1 tho'6ht that the sic>/1 )a'phin wo'/d not /ive
to be an ad'/t- As a conseA'ence& it was r'mored that the >in6 and A'een were attemptin6
to have another chi/d-[7E] )'rin6 this time& Hea'marchais@ p/a1 &he Marriage of
Figaro premiered in Baris- A(ter initia//1 havin6 been banned b1 the >in6 d'e to its ne6ative
portra1a/ o( the nobi/it1& the p/a1 was ironica//1 (ina//1 a//owed to be p'b/ic/1 per(ormed
beca'se o( its overwhe/min6 pop'/arit1 at co'rt& where secret readin6s o( it had been
6iven-[E"]
5he 0amea' de /a 2eine (&he *ueen's )amlet)& b'i/t (or Marie8Antoinette in the par> o( the =hQtea' de :ersai//es& was an idea/iLed
version o( the rea/ /i(e conditions o( French (armers-
4n A'6'st 17E+& the A'een reported that she was pre6nant a6ain- Gith the ('t're
en/ar6ement o( her (ami/1 in mind& she bo'6ht the =hQtea' de .aint8=/o'd& a p/ace she
had a/wa1s /oved& (rom the d'c d@#r/;ans& the (ather o( the previo's/1 dis6raced d'c de
=hartres- .he intended to /eave it as an inheritance to her 1o'n6er chi/dren witho't
stip'/ation& b't /ater rea/iLed that her chi/dren wo'/d not appreciate it- 5his was a h'6e/1
'npop'/ar acA'isition& partic'/ar/1 with some (actions o( the nobi/it1 who a/read1 dis/i>ed
her& b't a/so with a 6rowin6 percenta6e o( the pop'/ation who (e/t shoc>ed that a French
A'een mi6ht own her own residence& independent o( the >in6- )espite havin6 the baron de
Hrete'i/ wor>in6 on her beha/(& the p'rchase did not he/p improve the p'b/ic@s ima6e o( the
A'een as (rivo/o's- 5he chQtea'@s eCpensive price& a/most " mi//ion /ivres& p/'s the
s'bstantia/ eCtra cost o( redecoratin6 it& ens'red that there was /ess mone1 6oin6 towards
repa1in6 France@s s'bstantia/ debt-[E7]
#n 27 March 17E& Marie Antoinette 6ave birth to a second son& 7o'is =har/es& who was
created the d'c de Normandie- 7o'is =har/es was visib/1 stron6er than the sic>/1 )a'phin&
and the new bab1 was a((ectionate/1 nic>named b1 the A'een& chou d'amour-[EE] 5he (act
that this de/iver1 occ'rred eCact/1 nine months (o//owin6 Fersen@s visit did not escape the
attention o( man1& and tho'6h there is m'ch do'bt and historica/ spec'/ation abo't the
parenta6e o( this chi/d& p'b/ic opinion towards her decreased noticeab/1-[E$] 5hese
s'spicions o( i//e6itimac1& a/on6 with the contin'ed p'b/ication o( thelibelles& a never8
endin6 cava/cade o( co'rt intri6'es& the actions o( Foseph 44 in the Iett/e Gar& and her
p'rchase o( .aint8=/o'd combined to t'rn pop'/ar opinion sharp/1 a6ainst the A'een& and
the ima6e o( a /icentio's& spendthri(t& empt18headed (orei6n A'een was A'ic>/1 ta>in6 root
in the French ps1che-[$*]
178"#178$: %relude to re&olution[edit]
.ophie 0;/<ne H;atrice de France& Mademoiselle Sophie& b1:i6;e87ebr'n (17E")-
A second da'6hter& .ophie 0;/<ne H;atrice de France& was born on $ F'/1 17E"& b't died
on 1$ F'ne 17E7-
5his .tate Bortrait b1 :i6;e87ebr'n (17E7) o( Marie Antoinette and her chi/dren Marie 5h;r<se& 7o'is =har/es (on her /ap)& and
7o'is Foseph& was meant to he/p her rep'tation b1 depictin6 her as a mother and in simp/e& 1et state/1 attire-
5he contin'in6 deterioration o( the (inancia/ sit'ation in France ! despite the (act that
c'tbac>s in the ro1a/ retin'e had been made ! '/timate/1 (orced the >in6& in co//aboration
with his c'rrent Minister o( Finance& =a/onne& to ca// the Assemb/1 o( Notab/es& a(ter a
hiat's o( 1"* 1ears- 5he assemb/1 was he/d to tr1 to pass some o( the re(orms needed to
a//eviate the (inancia/ sit'ation when the Bar/ements re('sed to cooperate- 5he (irst
meetin6 o( the assemb/1 too> p/ace on 22 Febr'ar1 17E7& at which Marie Antoinette was
not present- 7ater& her absence res'/ted in her bein6 acc'sed o( tr1in6 to 'ndermine the
p'rpose o( the assemb/1 -[$1]
0owever& the Assemb/1 was a (ai/'re with or witho't the A'een& as it did not pass an1
re(orms and instead (e// into a pattern o( de(1in6 the >in6& demandin6 other re(orms and (or
the acA'iescence o( the Bar/ements- As a res'/t& the >in6 dismissed =a/onne on E Apri/
17E7; :er6ennes died on 1% Febr'ar1- 5he >in6& once more i6norin6 the A'een@s pro8
A'strian candidate& appointed a chi/dhood (riend& the comte de Montmorin& to rep/ace
:er6ennes as Forei6n Minister-[$2]
)'rin6 this time& even as her candidate was reDected& the A'een be6an to abandon her
more care(ree activities to become more invo/ved in po/itics than ever be(ore& and most/1
a6ainst the interests o( A'stria-[citation needed] 5his was (or a variet1 o( reasons- First&
her chi/dren were $nfants de France& and th's their ('t're as /eaders o( France needed to
be ass'red- .econd& b1 concentratin6 on her chi/dren& the A'een so'6ht to improve the
disso/'te ima6e she had acA'ired (rom the ?)iamond Nec>/ace A((air?& in which she had
been acc'sed o( participatin6 in a crime to de(ra'd the crown Dewe/ers o( the cost o( a ver1
eCpensive diamond nec>/ace- 5hird& the >in6 had be6'n to withdraw (rom a decision8
ma>in6 ro/e in 6overnment d'e to the onset o( an ac'te case o( depression (rom a// the
press'res he was 'nder- 5he s1mptoms o( this depression were passed o(( as
dr'n>enness b1 the libelles- As a res'/t& Marie Antoinette (ina//1 emer6ed as a po/itica//1
viab/e entit1& a/tho'6h that was never her act'a/ intention- 4n her new capacit1 as a
po/itician with a de6ree o( power& the A'een tried her best to he/p the sit'ation brewin6
between the assemb/1 and the >in6-[$2]
5his chan6e in her po/itica/ ro/e si6na//ed the be6innin6 o( the end o( the in(/'ence o( the
d'chesse de Bo/i6nac& as Marie Antoinette be6an to dis/i>e the d'chesse@s h'6e
eCpendit'res and their impact on the (inances o( the =rown- 5he d'chesse /e(t (or 3n6/and
in Ma1& /eavin6 her chi/dren behind in :ersai//es- A/so in Ma1& Otienne =har/es de 7om;nie
de Hrienne& the archbishop o( 5o'/o'se and one o( the A'een@s po/itica/ a//ies& was
appointed b1 the >in6 to rep/ace =a/onne as the Finance Minister- 0e be6an instit'tin6
more c'tbac>s at co'rt-[$%]
Hrienne& tho'6h& was not ab/e to improve the (inancia/ sit'ation- .ince he was the A'een@s
a//1& this (ai/'re adverse/1 a((ected her po/itica/ position- 5he contin'ed poor (inancia/
c/imate o( the co'ntr1 res'/ted in the 2 Ma1 disso/'tion o( the Assemb/1 o( Notab/es
beca'se o( its inabi/it1 to 6et thin6s done- 5his /ac> o( so/'tions was 'n(air/1 b/amed on the
A'een-[citation needed] 4n rea/it1& the (inancia/ prob/ems res'/ted (rom a combination o(
severa/ (actors- 5here had been too man1 eCpensive wars& a too8/ar6e ro1a/ (ami/1 whose
/ar6e (rivo/o's eCpendit'res (ar eCceeded those o( the A'een& and an 'nwi//in6ness on the
part o( man1 o( the aristocrats in char6e to he/p de(ra1 the costs o( the 6overnment o't o(
their own poc>ets with hi6her taCes-[citation needed] Marie Antoinette earned the
nic>name o( ?Madame );(icit? in the s'mmer o( 17E7 as a res'/t o( the p'b/ic perception
that she had sin6/ehanded/1 r'ined the (inances o( the nation-[$+]
5he A'een attempted to (i6ht bac> with her own propa6anda that portra1ed her as a carin6
mother& most notab/1 with the portrait o( her and her chi/dren done b1 7o'ise O/isabeth
:i6;e 7e Hr'n& which premiered at the 2o1a/ Acad;mie .a/on de Baris in A'6'st 17E7-A95B
A96B 5his attac> strate61 was event'a//1 dropped& however& beca'se o( the death o( the
A'een@s 1o'n6est chi/d& .ophie- Aro'nd the same time& Feanne de 7amotte8
:a/ois escaped (rom prison in France and (/ed to 7ondon& where she p'b/ished more
dama6in6 /ies concernin6 her s'pposed ?a((air? with the A'een-[$7]
Another state portrait o( Marie Antoinette& b1 7o'ise O/isabeth :i6;e 7e Hr'n (17EE)
5he po/itica/ sit'ation in 17E7 be6an to worsen when the arlement was eCi/ed& and
c'/minated on 11 November& when the >in6 tried to 'se a lit de +ustice to (orce thro'6h
/e6is/ation- 0e was 'neCpected/1 cha//en6ed b1 his (ormer/1 dis6raced co'sin& the d'c de
=hartres& who had inherited the tit/e o( d'c d@#r/;ans at the death o( his (ather in 17E-
5he new d'c d@#r/;ans p'b/ic/1 protested the >in6@s actions& and was s'bseA'ent/1 eCi/ed-
5he Ma1 3dicts iss'ed on E Ma1 17EE were a/so opposed b1 the p'b/ic- Fina//1& on E F'/1
and E A'6'st& the >in6 anno'nced his intention to brin6 bac> the 3states Jenera/& the
traditiona/ e/ected /e6is/at're o( the co'ntr1 which had not been convened since 1"1+-[$E]
Marie Antoinette was not direct/1 invo/ved with the eCi/e o( the arlement& the Ma1 3dicts
or with the anno'ncement re6ardin6 the 3states Jenera/- 0er primar1 concern in /ate
17E7 and 17EE was instead the improved hea/th o( the )a'phin- 0e was s'((erin6
(rom t'berc'/osis& which in his case had twisted and c'rved his spina/ co/'mn severe/1- 0e
was bro'6ht to the chQtea' at Me'don in the hope that its co'ntr1 air wo'/d he/p the
1o'n6 bo1 recover- Kn(ort'nate/1& the move did /itt/e to a//eviate the )a'phin@s condition&
which 6rad'a//1 contin'ed to deteriorate-[$$]
5he A'een& however& was present with her da'6hter& Marie85herese& when 5ipp' .ahib o(
M1sore visited :ersai//es see>in6 he/p a6ainst the Hritish- More important/1 she was
instr'menta/ in the reca// o( FacA'es Nec>er as Finance Minister on 2" A'6'st& a pop'/ar
move& even tho'6h she herse/( was worried that the reca// wo'/d a6ain 6o a6ainst her i(
Nec>er was 'ns'ccess('/ in re(ormin6 the co'ntr1@s (inances-[1**]
0er prediction be6an to come tr'e when bread prices started to rise d'e to the severe
17EE!17E$ winter-[citation needed] 5he )a'phin@s condition worsened even more& riots
bro>e o't in Baris in Apri/& and on 2" March& 7o'is 9:4 himse/( a/most died (rom a (a// o(( a
roo(-[citation needed]
?=ome& 7;onard& dress m1 hair& 4 m'st 6o /i>e an actress& eChibit m1se/( to a p'b/ic that
ma1 hiss me?&[1E] the A'een A'ipped to her hairdresser& who was one o( her ?ministers o(
(ashion?& as she prepared (or the Mass ce/ebratin6 the ret'rn o( the 3states Jenera/ on +
Ma1 17E$- .he >new that her riva/& the d'c d@#r/;ans& who had 6iven mone1 and bread to
the peop/e d'rin6 the winter& wo'/d be pop'/ar/1 acc/aimed b1 the crowd m'ch to her
detriment-[citation needed] 5he 3states Jenera/ convened the neCt da1-[1*1])'rin6 the
month o( Ma1& the 3states Jenera/ be6an to (ract're between the democratic 5hird
3state (consistin6 o( the bo'r6eoisie and radica/ nobi/it1)& and the ro1a/ist nobi/it1 o(
the .econd 3state& whi/e the >in6@s brothers be6an to become more hard/ine-
)espite these deve/opments& the A'een was stron6/1 (oc'sed on tho'6hts (or her son& the
d1in6 )a'phin- Gith his mother at his side& the seven81ear o/d bo1 passed awa1 at
Me'don on + F'ne& s'cc'mbin6 to t'berc'/osis& and /eavin6 the tit/e o( )a'phin to his
1o'n6er brother& 7o'is =har/es- 0is death& which wo'/d have norma//1 been nationa//1
mo'rned& was virt'a//1 i6nored b1 the French peop/e&[citation needed] who were instead
preparin6 (or the neCt meetin6 o( the 3states Jenera/& and hopin6 (or a reso/'tion to the
bread crisis- As the 5hird 3state dec/ared itse/( a Nationa/ Assemb/1 and too> the 5ennis
=o'rt #ath Y and as others /istened to r'mors that the A'een wished to bathe in their
b/ood Y Marie Antoinette went into mo'rnin6 (or her e/dest son-[1*2]
July 178$17$2: 'he (renh )e&olution[edit]
5he sit'ation be6an to esca/ate vio/ent/1 in F'ne as the Nationa/ Assemb/1 be6an to
demand more ri6hts& and 7o'is 9:4 be6an to p'sh bac> with e((orts to s'ppress the 5hird
3state- 0owever& the >in6@s ine((ectiveness and the A'een@s 'npop'/arit1 'ndermined the
monarch1 as an instit'tion& and so these attempts (ai/ed- 5hen& on 11 F'/1& Nec>er was
dismissed- Baris was besie6ed b1 riots at the news& which c'/minated in the stormin6 o(
the Hasti//e on 1+ F'/1-[1*%]
4n the da1s and wee>s that (o//owed& man1 o( the most conservative& reactionar1 ro1a/ists&
inc/'din6 the comte d@Artois and the d'chesse de Bo/i6nac& (/ed France (or (ear o(
assassination- Marie Antoinette& whose /i(e was the most in dan6er& sta1ed behind in order
to he/p the >in6 promote stabi/it1& even as his power was 6rad'a//1 bein6 ta>en awa1 b1
the Nationa/ =onstit'ent Assemb/1& which was now r'/in6 Baris and conscriptin6 men to
serve in the #arde ,ationale-[1*+]
H1 the end o( A'6'st& the )ec/aration o( the 2i6hts o( Man and o( the =itiLen (-a
Dclaration des Droits de l')omme et du .ito'en) was adopted& which o((icia//1 created the
be6innin6 o( a constit'tiona/ monarch1 in France-[1*] )espite this& the >in6 was sti//
reA'ired to per(orm certain co'rt ceremonies& even as the sit'ation in Baris became worse
d'e to a bread shorta6e in .eptember- #n #ctober& a mob (rom Baris descended 'pon
:ersai//es and (orced the ro1a/ (ami/1& a/on6 with the comte de Brovence& his wi(e
and Madame 3/isabeth& to move to Baris 'nder the watch('/ e1e o( the #arde ,ationale-
5he >in6 and A'een were insta//ed in the 5'i/eries Ba/ace 'nder s'rvei//ance-[1*"] )'rin6
this /imited ho'se arrest& Marie Antoinette conve1ed to her (riends that she did not intend
to invo/ve herse/( an1 ('rther in French po/itics& as ever1thin6& whether or not she was
invo/ved& wo'/d inevitab/1 be attrib'ted to her an1wa1 and she (eared the reperc'ssions o(
('rther invo/vement-[1*7]
)espite the sit'ation& Marie Antoinette was sti// reA'ired to per(orm charitab/e ('nctions
and to attend certain re/i6io's ceremonies& which she did- Most o( her time& however& was
dedicated to her chi/dren-[1*E]
A portrait o( Marie Antoinette& painted aro'nd 17$1& b1A/eCandre I'chars>1-
)espite her attempts to remain o't o( the p'b/ic e1e& she was (a/se/1 acc'sed in
the libelles o( havin6 an a((air with the commander o( the #arde ,ationale& themarA'is de
7a Fa1ette- 4n rea/it1& she /oathed the marA'is (or his /ibera/ tendencies and (or bein6
partia//1 responsib/e (or the ro1a/ (ami/1@s (orced depart're (rom :ersai//es-[1*$] 5his was
not the on/1 acc'sation Marie Antoinette (aced (rom s'ch ?/ibe//es-? 4n s'ch pamph/ets as
?-e #odmich "o'al? (trans/ated& ?&he "o'al Dildo?)& it was s'66ested that she ro'tine/1
en6a6ed in deviant seC'a/ acts o( vario's sorts& most (amo's/1 with the 3n6/ish Haroness
@7ad1 .ophie Farre//@ o( Ho'rnemo'th& a renowned /esbian o( the time-[11*] From actin6 as
a tribade (in her case& in the /esbian sense)& to s/eepin6 with her son& Marie Antoinette was
constant/1 an obDect o( r'mor and (a/se acc'sations o( committin6 seC'a/ acts with
partners other than the >in6- 7ater& a//e6ations o( this sort ((rom incest to or6iastic
eCcesses) were 'sed to D'sti(1 her eCec'tion-A111B A112B K/timate/1& none o( the char6es o(
seC'a/ depravit1 has an1 credib/e evidentiar1 s'pport- Marie Antoinette was simp/1 an
eas1 tar6et (or r'mor and criticism-
=onstant/1 monitored b1 revo/'tionar1 spies within her own ho'seho/d& the A'een p/a1ed
/itt/e or no part in the writin6 o( the French =onstit'tion o( 17$1& which 6reat/1 wea>ened
the >in6@s a'thorit1- .he& neverthe/ess& hoped (or a ('t're where her son wo'/d sti// be ab/e
to r'/e& convinced that the vio/ence wo'/d soon pass-[11%]
)'rin6 this time& there were man1 p/ots desi6ned to he/p members o( the ro1a/ (ami/1
escape- 5he A'een reDected severa/ beca'se she wo'/d not /eave witho't the >in6- #ther
opport'nities to resc'e the (ami/1 were '/timate/1 (rittered awa1 b1 the indecisive >in6-
#nce the >in6 (ina//1 did commit to a p/an& his indecision p/a1ed an important ro/e in its
poor eCec'tion and '/timate (ai/'re- 4n an e/aborate attempt to escape (rom Baris to
the ro1a/ist stron6ho/d o( Montm;d1 p/anned b1 =o'nt ACe/ von Fersen and the baron de
Hrete'i/& some members o( the ro1a/ (ami/1 were to pose as the servants o( a wea/th1
2'ssian baroness- 4nitia//1& the A'een reDected the p/an beca'se it reA'ired her to /eave
with on/1 her son- .he wished instead (or the rest o( the ro1a/ (ami/1 to accompan1 her-
5he >in6 wasted time decidin6 'pon which members o( the (ami/1 sho'/d be inc/'ded in
the vent're& what the depart're date sho'/d be& and the eCact path o( the ro'te to be 'sed-
A(ter man1 de/a1s& the escape '/timate/1 occ'rred on 21 F'ne 17$1& and was a (ai/'re-
5he entire (ami/1 was capt'red twent18(o'r ho'rs /ater at :arennes and ta>en bac> to
Baris within a wee>-[11+]
5he res'/t o( the (iasco was a ('rther dec/ine in the pop'/arit1 o( both the >in6 and A'een-
5he Facobin Bart1 s'ccess('//1 eCp/oited the (ai/ed escape to advance its radica/ a6enda-
4ts members ca//ed (or the end to an1 t1pe o( monarch1 in France-[11]
5ho'6h the new constit'tion was adopted on % .eptember& Marie Antoinette hoped
thro'6h the end o( 17$1 that the po/itica/ dri(t she saw occ'rrin6 toward representative
democrac1 co'/d be stopped and ro//ed bac>- .he (ervent/1 hoped that the constit'tion
wo'/d prove 'nwor>ab/e& and a/so that her brother& the new 0o/1 2oman emperor& 7eopo/d
44& wo'/d (ind some wa1 to de(eat the revo/'tionaries-
5he res'/t o( 7eopo/d@s a66ressive tendencies& and those o( his son Francis 44& who
s'cceeded him in March& was that France dec/ared war on A'stria on 2* Apri/ 17$2- 5his
ca'sed the A'een to be viewed as an enem1& even tho'6h she was persona//1 a6ainst
A'strian c/aims on French /ands- 5he sit'ation became compo'nded in the s'mmer when
French armies were contin'a//1 bein6 de(eated b1 the A'strians and the >in6 vetoed
severa/ meas'res that wo'/d have restricted his power even ('rther- )'rin6 this time& d'e
to his po/itica/ activities& 7o'is received the nic>name ?Monsie'r :eto? ! and the name
?Madame :eto? was /i>ewise s'bseA'ent/1 beA'eathed on Marie Antoinette-[11"] 5hese
names were then prominent/1 (eat'red in di((erent conteCts& inc/'din6 7a =arma6no/e-
Marie Antoinette with her chi/dren and Madame O/isabeth& when the mob bro>e into the 5'i/eries Ba/ace on 2* F'ne 17$2-
#n 2* F'ne& ?a mob o( terri(1in6 aspect? bro>e into the 5'i/eries and made the >in6 wear
the bonnet rouge (red Bhr16ian cap) to show his /o1a/t1 to France-[117]
5he v'/nerabi/it1 o( the >in6 was eCposed on 1* A'6'st when an armed mob& on the ver6e
o( (orcin6 its wa1 into the 5'i/eries Ba/ace& (orced the >in6 and the ro1a/ (ami/1 to see>
re('6e at the 7e6is/ative Assemb/1- An ho'r and a ha/( /ater& the pa/ace was invaded b1 the
mob who massacred the .wiss J'ards-[11E] #n 1% A'6'st& the ro1a/ (ami/1 was
imprisoned in the tower o( the 5emp/e in the Marais 'nder conditions considerab/1 harsher
than their previo's con(inement in the 5'i/eries-[11$]
A wee> /ater& man1 o( the ro1a/ (ami/1@s attendants& amon6 them the princesse de
-amballe& were ta>en in (or interro6ation b1 the Baris =omm'ne- 5rans(erred to the -a
Force prison& the princesse de -amballe was one o( the victims o( the .eptember
Massacres& >i//ed on % .eptember- 0er head was a((iCed on a pi>e and marched thro'6h
the cit1- A/tho'6h Marie Antoinette did not see the head o( her (riend as it was paraded
o'tside her prison window& she (ainted 'pon /earnin6 abo't the 6r'esome end that had
be(a//en her (aith('/ companion-[12*]
#n 21 .eptember& the (a// o( the monarch1 was o((icia//1 dec/ared& and the Nationa/
=onvention became the /e6a/ a'thorit1 o( France- 5he ro1a/ (ami/1 was re8st1/ed as the
non8ro1a/ ?=apets?- Breparations (or the tria/ o( the >in6 in a co'rt o( /aw be6an-[121]
=har6ed with 'nderminin6 the First French 2ep'b/ic& 7o'is was separated (rom his (ami/1
and tried in )ecember- 0e was (o'nd 6'i/t1 b1 the =onvention& /ed b1 the Facobins who
reDected the idea o( >eepin6 him as a hosta6e- 0owever& the sentence did not come 'nti/
one month /ater& when he was condemned to eCec'tion b1 6'i//otine-[122]
17$*: +,ido- .apet/+ trial and death[edit]
?)a1 o( 21 Fan'ar1 17$% the death o( 7o'is =apet on the B/ace de /a 2;vo/'tion? ! French en6ravin6-
7o'is was eCec'ted on 21 Fan'ar1 17$%& at the a6e o( thirt18ei6ht-[12%] 5he res'/t was
that the ?Gidow =apet?& as the (ormer A'een was ca//ed a(ter the death o( her h'sband&
p/'n6ed into deep mo'rnin6; she re('sed to eat or do an1 eCercise- 5here is no >now/ed6e
o( her proc/aimin6 her son as 7o'is 9:44; however& the comte de Brovence& in eCi/e&
reco6nised his nephew as the new >in6 o( France and too> the tit/e o( 2e6ent- Marie8
Antoinette@s hea/th rapid/1 deteriorated in the (o//owin6 months- H1 this time& she s'((ered
(rom t'berc'/osis and possib/1 'terine cancer& which ca'sed her to hemorrha6e (reA'ent/1-
[12+]
)espite her condition& the debate as to her (ate was the centra/ A'estion o( the Nationa/
=onvention a(ter 7o'is@s death- 5here were those who had been advocatin6 her death (or
some time& whi/e some had the idea o( eCchan6in6 her (or French prisoners o( war or (or a
ransom (rom the 0o/1 2oman 3mperor- 5homas Baine advocated eCi/e to America-
[12] .tartin6 in Apri/& however& a =ommittee o( B'b/ic .a(et1 was (ormed& and men s'ch
as FacA'es 0;bert were be6innin6 to ca// (or Antoinette@s tria/; b1 the end o( Ma1&
the Jirondins had been chased o't o( power and arrested-[12"] #ther ca//s were made to
?retrain? the )a'phin& to ma>e him more p/iant to revo/'tionar1 ideas- 5his was carried o't
when the ei6ht81ear8o/d bo1 7o'is =har/es was separated (rom Antoinette on % F'/1& and
6iven to the care o( a cobb/er-[127] #n 1 A'6'st& she herse/( was ta>en o't o( the 5ower
and entered into the =oncier6erie as Brisoner No- 2E*-[12E] )espite vario's attempts to
6et her o't& s'ch as the =arnation B/ot in .eptember& Marie Antoinette re('sed when the
p/ots (or her escape were bro'6ht to her attention-[12$] Ghi/e in the =oncier6erie& she was
attended b1 her /ast servant& 2osa/ie 7amor/i<re-[citation needed]
.he was (ina//1 tried b1 the 2evo/'tionar1 5rib'na/ on 1+ #ctober- Kn/i>e the >in6& who had
been 6iven time to prepare a de(ence& the A'een was 6iven /ess than one da1- Amon6 the
thin6s she was acc'sed o( (most& i( not a//& o( the acc'sations were 'ntr'e and probab/1
/i(ted (rom r'mo'rs be6'n b1 libelles) were orchestratin6 or6ies in :ersai//es& sendin6
mi//ions o( /ivres o( treas'r1 mone1 to A'stria& p/ottin6 to >i// the )'>e o(
#r/;ans& incest with her son& dec/arin6 her son to be the new >in6 o( France& and
orchestratin6 the massacre o( the .wiss J'ards in 17$2-[citation needed]
5he most in(amo's char6e was that she seC'a//1 ab'sed her son- 5his was accordin6 to
7o'is =har/es& who& thro'6h his coachin6 b1 0;bert and his 6'ardian& acc'sed his mother-
A(ter bein6 reminded that she had not answered the char6e o( incest& Marie Antoinette
protested emotiona//1 to the acc'sation& and the women present in the co'rtroom Y the
mar>et women who had stormed the pa/ace (or her entrai/s in 17E$ Y even be6an to
s'pport her-[1%*] .he had been composed thro'6ho't the tria/ 'nti/ this acc'sation was
made& to which she (ina//1 answered& ?4( 4 have not rep/ied& it is beca'se Nat're itse/(
re('ses to respond to s'ch a char6e /aid a6ainst a mother-?[this /uote needs a citation]
F'nerar1 mon'ment to Iin6 7o'is 9:4and ,'een Marie Antoinette& sc'/pt'res b13dme Ja'//e and Bierre Betitot in the Hasi/ica o(
.t )enis
4n rea/it1& the o'tcome o( the tria/ had a/read1 been decided b1 the =ommittee o( B'b/ic
.a(et1 aro'nd the time the =arnation B/ot was 'ncovered& and she was dec/ared 6'i/t1 o(
treason in the ear/1 mornin6 o( 1" #ctober& a(ter two da1s o( proceedin6s-[1%1] Hac> in her
ce//& she composed a /etter to her sister8in8/aw Madame O/isabeth& a((irmin6 her c/ear
conscience& her =atho/ic (aith and her (ee/in6s (or her chi/dren- 5he /etter did not reach
O/isabeth-[1%2]
Marie Antoinette on the wa1 to the 6'i//otine- (Ben and in> b1FacA'es87o'is )avid& 1" #ctober 17$%)
Marie Antoinette@s eCec'tion on 1" #ctober 17$%-
#n the same da1& her hair was c't o(( and she was driven thro'6h Baris in an open cart&
wearin6 a p/ain white dress- At 12:1 p-m- 1" #ctober 17$%& two and a ha/( wee>s be(ore
her thirt18ei6hth birthda1& Marie Antoinette was beheaded at the lace de la
"volution (present8da1 lace de la .oncorde)-A188B A184B 0er /ast words were ?Bardon me
sir& 4 meant not to do it?& to 0enri .anson the eCec'tioner& whose (oot she had accidenta//1
stepped on a(ter c/imbin6 the sca((o/d- 0er bod1 was thrown into an 'nmar>ed 6rave in
the Made/eine cemeter1& r'e d@AnDo' (which was c/osed the (o//owin6 1ear)-[citation
needed]
0er sister8in8/aw O/isabeth was eCec'ted in 17$+ and her son died in prison in 17$- 0er
da'6hter ret'rned to A'stria in a prisoner eCchan6e& married and died chi/d/ess in 1E1-
[1%]
Hoth Marie Antoinette@s bod1 and that o( 7o'is 9:4 were eCh'med on 1E Fan'ar1 1E1&
d'rin6 the Ho'rbon 2estoration& when the comte de rovence had become Iin6 7o'is
9:444- =hristian b'ria/ o( the ro1a/ remains too> p/ace three da1s /ater& on 21 Fan'ar1& in
the necropo/is o( French Iin6s at the Hasi/ica o( .t )enis-[1%"]
4n pop'/ar c'/t're[edit]
Main article0 Marie Antoinette in popular culture
5he phrase ?7et them eat ca>e? is o(ten attrib'ted to Marie Antoinette& b't there is no
evidence she ever 'ttered it& and it is now 6enera//1 re6arded as a1+ournalistic clich1-
[1%7] 4t ma1 have been a r'mor started b1 an6r1 French peasants as a (orm o( /ibe/- 5his
phrase ori6ina//1 appeared in Hoo> :4 o( the (irst part ((inished in 17"7& p'b/ished in 17E2)
o( 2o'ssea'@s p'tative a'tobio6raphica/ wor>& -es .onfessions-
$nfin +e me rappelai le pis2aller d3une grande princesse ( /ui l3on disait /ue les
pa'sans n3avaient pas de pain, et /ui rpondit 0 *u3ils mangent de la brioche4
Fina//1 4 reca//ed the stop6ap so/'tion o( a 6reat princess who was to/d that the
peasants had no bread& and who responded: ?7et them eatbrioche-?
Apart (rom the (act that 2o'ssea' ascribes these words to an 'n>nown princess Y
va6'e/1 re(erred to as a ?6reat princess?& there is some /eve/ o( tho'6ht that he invented it
a/to6ether& seein6 as .onfessions was& on the who/e& a rather inacc'rate a'tobio6raph1-
[1%E]
4n America& eCpressions o( 6ratit'de to France (or its he/p in the American
2evo/'tion inc/'ded the namin6 o( the cit1 o( Marietta& #hio& (o'nded in 17EE- 5he #hio
=ompan1 o( Associates chose the name Marietta a(ter an a((ectionate nic>name (or Marie
Antoinette-[1%$]
Marie Antoinette is re(erenced in the /1rics o( the son6 @Ii//er ,'een@ b1 the roc>
band ,'een-
5it/es (rom birth to death[edit]
Kingdom of France portal
2 0o&e12er 1755 1$ April 1773: )er "o'al )ighness Archd'chess Maria Antonia o(
A'stria
1$ April 1773 13 May 1774: )er "o'al )ighness 5he )a'phine o( France
13 May 1774 1 4to2er 17$1: )er Most .hristian Ma+est' 5he ,'een o( France and
Navarre
1 4to2er 17$1 21 5epte12er 17$2: )er Most .hristian Ma+est' 5he ,'een o( the
French
21 5epte12er 17$2 21 January 17$*: Madame =apet
21 January 17$* 1" 4to2er 17$*: 7a :e've (?the widow?) =apet