French Revolution: Marie Antoinette
Maria Antonia was the seventh child of Francis I and Emperess Maria Theresa of Austria. The Emperess made it a point to marry off her children to European royalty, a way of maintaining peace. All of Maria Antonia's sisters were married off, next in line was Maria Antonia. Austria and France were intermittently fighting and so, to prevent this, there was a peace treaty to be signed. To further ensure peace, Louis-Auguste was to marry one of Empress Maria Theresa's. Because the daughter that was next in line, Johanna Gabriella had passed away in 1762 of smallpox, Empress Maria Theresa agreed to allow Maria Antonia to marry. In May of 1769, only fourteen years old, she left Austria for France. Upon arrival, she changed her name to sound more French. Around two weeks later, she was presented at the royal palace of Versailles where she first met her future husband, Dauphin Louis-Auguste. Being only one year older than her, marriage or anything sexual was not on his mind. Hours later, they were married.
Being only 14 and 15 years old, they were not having sex and therefore did not have a child for the first seven years of their marriage. Rumors began to spread that Louis-Auguste was impotent or that he suffered from phimosis. There were also rumors that Marie Antoinette was simply unable to give birth. People began to suggest that she be divorced and sent back to Austria. May 10th, 1774, King Louis XV died of smallpox and Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI were named king and queen.
The following year, Marie-Antoinette's sister-in-law gave birth to her first child, and the rumors began again. Everyone wondered why Marie had not produced a son for her King. They began to resuggest that she be divorced for another more capable woman. Hearing this, she would spend the following days crying in her rooms, much to the distress of ther ladies-in-waiting. A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant who attends to a queen, princess, or other noblewoman. Depending on her status, the lady-in-waiting is can either range from a royal companion and confidant to the queen (such as a sister or other female relative) to someone who is only required for ceremonial occasions. Because she was being ridiculed by many, she began to become very selective in who she spoke to and confided in. This made the courtiers think that she was deliberately excluding them. In reality, she was simply trying to protect herself. Nonetheless, the gossip at Versailles began to use her as their target. To avoid the gossip, she was convinced to attend operas in disguise. But in the end, this plan backfired as well and she was accused of having secret and scandalous affairs. Being only twenty-one years old and having a rather large amount of money at her disposal, Marie Antoinette was addicted to spending. She would buy countless articles of expensive clothing and diamonds.
Eventually, more rumors began to circulate and by means of an illegal press, pamphlets began to be printed, depicting the queen having sex with her brother-in-law. Although the rumors were untrue, they began to convice the public that Marie-Anoinette was nothing more than a problem.
On December 8, 1778, Marie-Antoinette gave birth to her first child, Princess Marie Therese, named for her mother the Empress of Austria. In 1781, Louis Joseph was born. He was to be the next King of France. Sadly this would never be because amongst the public, resentment began to grow. The royals and noblemen locked themselves away at the Palace of Versailles and ignored the needs of the people. The King and Queen were oblivious to the needs of their people and instead indulged in extravagent parties and excessive gambling. As the country and it's economy was crumbling, the royals and noblemen ignored any issues that should've been taken care of.
Finally, in 1789, the people could stand it no more and had themselves a revolution.
Realizing that their lives and the lives of their children were in jeopardy, the royal family tried to escape France, but were instead captured near the border in 1791. The Austrians invaded France with the hope of restoring the two to the throne, but were forced to retreat. In August of 1792, Marie-Antoinette and her husband, King Louis XVI were accused of treason. The king was executed January 1793. Soon after this, things steadily began to get worse for the former queen of France. Her son, Louis XVII was taken from her and she was transferred from the Temple Prison to the Conciergier where she was tried before the Revolutionary Tribuneral from October 14-15 of 1793. She was found guilty of treason and guillotined on October 16th.
Being only 14 and 15 years old, they were not having sex and therefore did not have a child for the first seven years of their marriage. Rumors began to spread that Louis-Auguste was impotent or that he suffered from phimosis. There were also rumors that Marie Antoinette was simply unable to give birth. People began to suggest that she be divorced and sent back to Austria. May 10th, 1774, King Louis XV died of smallpox and Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI were named king and queen.
The following year, Marie-Antoinette's sister-in-law gave birth to her first child, and the rumors began again. Everyone wondered why Marie had not produced a son for her King. They began to resuggest that she be divorced for another more capable woman. Hearing this, she would spend the following days crying in her rooms, much to the distress of ther ladies-in-waiting. A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant who attends to a queen, princess, or other noblewoman. Depending on her status, the lady-in-waiting is can either range from a royal companion and confidant to the queen (such as a sister or other female relative) to someone who is only required for ceremonial occasions. Because she was being ridiculed by many, she began to become very selective in who she spoke to and confided in. This made the courtiers think that she was deliberately excluding them. In reality, she was simply trying to protect herself. Nonetheless, the gossip at Versailles began to use her as their target. To avoid the gossip, she was convinced to attend operas in disguise. But in the end, this plan backfired as well and she was accused of having secret and scandalous affairs. Being only twenty-one years old and having a rather large amount of money at her disposal, Marie Antoinette was addicted to spending. She would buy countless articles of expensive clothing and diamonds.
Eventually, more rumors began to circulate and by means of an illegal press, pamphlets began to be printed, depicting the queen having sex with her brother-in-law. Although the rumors were untrue, they began to convice the public that Marie-Anoinette was nothing more than a problem.
On December 8, 1778, Marie-Antoinette gave birth to her first child, Princess Marie Therese, named for her mother the Empress of Austria. In 1781, Louis Joseph was born. He was to be the next King of France. Sadly this would never be because amongst the public, resentment began to grow. The royals and noblemen locked themselves away at the Palace of Versailles and ignored the needs of the people. The King and Queen were oblivious to the needs of their people and instead indulged in extravagent parties and excessive gambling. As the country and it's economy was crumbling, the royals and noblemen ignored any issues that should've been taken care of.
Finally, in 1789, the people could stand it no more and had themselves a revolution.
Realizing that their lives and the lives of their children were in jeopardy, the royal family tried to escape France, but were instead captured near the border in 1791. The Austrians invaded France with the hope of restoring the two to the throne, but were forced to retreat. In August of 1792, Marie-Antoinette and her husband, King Louis XVI were accused of treason. The king was executed January 1793. Soon after this, things steadily began to get worse for the former queen of France. Her son, Louis XVII was taken from her and she was transferred from the Temple Prison to the Conciergier where she was tried before the Revolutionary Tribuneral from October 14-15 of 1793. She was found guilty of treason and guillotined on October 16th.
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