Marie Antoinette's Legacy In Austria: What Remains?

Marie Antoinette, born in Vienna, Austria, was the last Queen of France before the French Revolution. She was married to King Louis XVI at the age of 14 and became Queen four years later. She was known for her love of fashion, art and music, and was a patron of the arts. She was also known for her extravagance, which, along with her rejection of reform, contributed to the growing unpopularity of the monarchy and its eventual overthrow. Marie Antoinette was executed by guillotine in 1793, nine months after her husband.

Marie Antoinette's birth and early life

Marie Antoinette, born Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria, was born on 2 November 1755 at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Archduchy of Austria. She was the youngest daughter and 15th child of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I. Her birth was not without complications, and doctors even feared for the life of her mother.

Maria Antonia was born on All Souls' Day, a Catholic day of mourning, and so her birthday was celebrated on All Saints' Day during her childhood. She was placed under the care of the governess of the imperial children, Countess von Brandeis, and raised with her sister, Maria Carolina of Austria, who was three years older. Maria Antonia had a difficult but loving relationship with her mother, who called her "the little Madame Antoine".

Maria Antonia spent her early years between the Hofburg Palace and Schönbrunn, the imperial summer residence in Vienna. She met Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart when she was seven years old, and he was two months her junior. Despite private tutoring, her academic results were poor. She could not write correctly in German, French, or Italian at the age of 10. However, she was a talented musician, playing the harp, harpsichord, and flute, and was known for her beautiful singing voice. She also excelled at dancing and had a keen interest in fashion.

In 1768, Mathieu-Jacques de Vermond was sent by Louis XV to tutor the future wife of Louis XVI. He found her to be lacking in important writing skills but complimented her character and intelligence. Under the recommendation of Étienne François de Choiseul, a strong supporter of her marriage, Maria Antonia also received a makeover to align with French royalty. This included straightening her teeth, diversifying her wardrobe, and hairstyles reminiscent of Madame de Pompadour.

On 16 May 1770, at the age of 14, Maria Antonia married the Dauphin Louis, grandson of Louis XV of France, in a ceremony at the Royal Chapel at Versailles. She then became known as Marie Antoinette and adopted French fashions and customs. The marriage was met with a lukewarm reception from the French public due to the country's long-standing enmity towards the House of Austria.

Marie Antoinette became Queen of France when her husband ascended the throne as Louis XVI in May 1774. She was only 20 years old at the time.

Marie Antoinette's marriage to Louis XVI

Marie Antoinette, born Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria, married Dauphin Louis Auguste of France in May 1770 at the age of 14. She became Dauphine of France and, in 1774, when her husband ascended the throne as Louis XVI, she became queen. Marie Antoinette's marriage to Louis XVI was a political alliance, intended to strengthen the relationship between France and Austria, which had previously been enemies.

The marriage was not consummated for seven years, which caused distress in the royal household and became a political liability. Marie Antoinette's brother, Joseph, visited the couple and found no reason for the lack of consummation other than a lack of inclination or education. Following his visit, the couple produced four children in relatively quick succession.

Marie Antoinette was unpopular as queen, and her rejection of reform and resistance to the French Revolution contributed to the monarchy's overthrow in 1792. She was known for her extravagance and was criticised for her opposition to the reform of the monarchy. She was also the target of pamphlets, libels and caricatures, which intensified after the Affair of the Diamond Necklace in 1785, a scandal of which she was an innocent victim.

Marie Antoinette's ambiguous attitude at the outbreak of the French Revolution accelerated her demise. She was imprisoned in the Temple on 10 August 1792 and, following the execution of Louis XVI in January 1793, she was moved to the Conciergerie. She was executed on 16 October 1793.

Marie Antoinette's role in the French court

Marie Antoinette was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1755. She was the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Francis I and Habsburg Empress Maria Theresa. At the age of 14, she married the Dauphin Louis, heir to the French throne, and became Queen of France when her husband ascended the throne as Louis XVI in 1774.

Marie Antoinette's political influence increased due to her husband's indecisiveness. She played a role in the disgrace and exile of powerful ministers and supported the nomination of military leaders. She also intervened in foreign policy, favouring Austrian interests, which further damaged her reputation in France.

Marie Antoinette's rejection of reform and resistance to the French Revolution ultimately led to the monarchy's overthrow in 1792. She was imprisoned and put on trial, accused of various crimes, including treason. She was found guilty and executed by guillotine in 1793.

Marie Antoinette's time in Versailles

Marie Antoinette, born in Vienna, arrived at the French Court at the age of fifteen. She was married to the Dauphin Louis, heir to the throne, in May 1770. She found it difficult to adapt to French customs and, when she became Queen in 1774, she committed blunders that gradually alienated public opinion.

As queen, Marie Antoinette enjoyed entertainment and was influential in choosing shows to be put on at Court. She encouraged artists and loved court balls. She was a musician, playing the harp and the harpsichord, and she could also sing. She supported the composers she appreciated, like Grétry, Gluck and Sacchini. She had a very refined taste and was a patron for many artists, such as the painter Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun.

Upon her arrival in Versailles, Marie Antoinette lived in the Queen's State Apartment and was bound by the official rituals of her royal position. She had a hard time adapting to Versailles’ complex etiquette and tried to seek out a more private life. She preferred to remain in her Private Chambers, located behind her State Apartments, and in the Petit Trianon, built by Louis XV and given to her as a gift by Louis XVI.

Marie Antoinette was a keen player of billiards and cards, often playing to excess, both losing and winning large sums. She devoted a lot of time to fashion, much to the chagrin of her mother, who regularly lectured her on this subject. She was often known to interfere in the choice of her dresses or hairstyles, ignoring the lady-in-waiting whose job this was.

In 1778, after eight long years of marriage, she finally gave birth to her first child, Marie-Thérèse, known as “Madame Royale”. She was soon followed by a Dauphin, Louis Joseph Xavier-François, born in 1781. A few years later she gave birth to Louis-Charles, who would go on to become Dauphin after the death of his elder brother in 1789, then Sophie-Béatrice, who lived for only a few months. The Queen was always an affectionate mother and was close to her children.

Under the influence of her mother, Marie Antoinette made some clumsy attempts to get involved in politics, which were met with scorn by the Court. Madame Adélaïde, aunt of Louis XVI, would not tolerate any fanciful behaviour on the part of the Queen and gave her the derogatory nickname of “The Austrian”. Although public opinion of her was initially very favourable, the Queen gradually became the target of pamphlets, libels and caricatures, which intensified after the Affair of the Diamond Necklace in 1785, a swindle of which she was an innocent victim. Her spending was scrutinised and often exaggerated, and she was accused of emptying the royal coffers even further.

Marie Antoinette’s ambiguous attitude at the outbreak of the French Revolution – she seemed uncertain whether to run away or seek reconciliation – accelerated her tragic demise. She was imprisoned in the Temple on 10 August 1792, then moved to the Conciergerie shortly after the execution of the King in 1793. She demonstrated great courage during her trial before the Revolutionary Tribunal and at her execution on 16 October 1793.

Marie Antoinette's death

Marie Antoinette, the last Queen of France, was executed by guillotine on 16 October 1793, at the Place de la Révolution in Paris. Her death came after she was found guilty of high treason by the Revolutionary Tribunal.

Marie Antoinette was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1755, the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Francis I and Habsburg Empress Maria Theresa. She married the Dauphin Louis, heir to the French throne, in 1770, at the age of 14. She became Queen of France in 1774, when her husband ascended the throne as Louis XVI.

Marie Antoinette was unpopular as queen, and her lavish spending was blamed for the country's financial crisis. She was also accused of being profligate, promiscuous, and having illegitimate children. Her reputation was further damaged by the Affair of the Diamond Necklace, in which she was falsely accused of defrauding the Crown's jewellers.

During the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette was placed under house arrest in the Tuileries Palace in 1789. She attempted to flee with her family in 1791 but was captured and brought back to Paris. After the monarchy was abolished in 1792, she was imprisoned in the Temple Prison. Her husband, Louis XVI, was executed in January 1793, and she was put on trial in October of the same year.

On the morning of her execution, Marie Antoinette was forced to change into a plain white dress, and her hair was cut. Her hands were bound behind her back, and she was taken to the Place de la Révolution by cart. She faced insults from the crowd but maintained her composure. She accidentally stepped on her executioner's foot on her way to the guillotine and apologised, saying, "I did not do it on purpose."

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