Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna was born on 2 November 1755 at the Hofburg Palace, in Vienna. She was the youngest daughter of Empress Maria Theresa, and her husband Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor. Maria Antonia was raised together with her three-year old sister, Maria Carolina, with whom she had a lifelong close relationship.
Despite the private tutoring she received, the results of Maria Antonia’s schooling were less than satisfactory. At the age of ten, she could not write correctly in German, French and Italian, and conversations with her were stilted. She was, however, a good musician. She played the harp, the harpsichord and the flute, and she had a beautiful singing voice.
Following the Seven Years’ War and the Diplomatic Revolution of 1756, Maria Theresa decided to end hostilities with King Louis XV of France. They sealed their alliance with a marriage: on 7 February 1770, Louis XV requested the hand of Maria Antonia for his eldest son and heir, Louis-Auguste. Upon her arrival in France, she changed her name to Marie Antoinette. The wedding took place on 16 May 1770 in the Palace of Versailles. The lack of a marriage consummation would plague the reputation of both Louis-Auguste and Marie Antoinette for the next seven years.
Upon the death of Louis XV on 10 May 1774, the Dauphin ascended the throne as Louis XVI of France and Navarre, and Marie Antoinette became Queen of France and Navarre. At the outset, Marie Antoinette had limited political influence with her husband.
On 24 May 1774, her husband gave her an estate, the Petit Trianon, and free reign to renovate it. Soon rumours circulated that she plastered the walls with gold and diamonds. Marie Antoinette spent heavily on fashion, luxuries and gambling, though the country was facing a financial crisis and the population was suffering. By the time of the Flour War of 1775, a series of riots damaged her reputation among the public. In fact, many in the country blamed her for the degrading economic situation, suggesting the country’s inability to pay off its debt was the result of her wasting the crown’s money.
Amidst the atmosphere of a wave of libelles (political pamphlets which slander public figures), the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II came to France. He met with his sister and her husband on 18 April 1777, and spoke frankly to his brother-in-law, curious as to why the royal marriage had not been consummated. The conclusion was that there was no obstacle to the couple’s conjugal relations save the Queen’s lack of interest and the King’s unwillingness to exert himself. The marriage was finally consummated in August 1777. On 16 May 1778, it was officially announced that the Queen was pregnant. Marie Antoinette gave birth to a girl, Marie-Thérèse Charlotte, on 19 December 1778.
Marie Antoinette’s second pregnancy ended in a miscarriage early in July 1779. Her third pregnancy was confirmed in March 1781 and, on 22 October, she gave birth to a boy, Louis Joseph. In June 1783, Marie Antoinette announced another pregnancy, but this one also ended in a miscarriage.
In 1783, Marie Antoinette was busy with the creation of her “hamlet” (Le hameau de la reine), a rustic retreat built in the gardens of the Petit Trianon. Its creation, however, caused another uproar when its cost became widely known. In October 1784, Louis XVI bought the Château de Saint-Cloud in the name of his wife. This was unpopular, particularly by those who disliked the Queen and the population, who disapproved of a Queen of France independently owning a private residence.
On 27 March 1785, Marie Antoinette gave birth to a second son, Louis Charles, who was thought to be illegitimate by those who disliked the Queen. These suspicions of illegitimacy, along with the continued publications of libelles, the purchase of Saint-Cloud and the Diamond Necklace scandal (it was implied that she participated in a crime to defraud the crown jewellers of the cost of a very expensive diamond necklace) combined to turn popular opinion sharply against Marie Antoinette, and the image of a licentious, spendthrift, empty-headed foreign Queen was taking root in the French psyche. Because of the public perception that she single-handedly ruined the national finances, Marie Antoinette was given the nickname Madame Déficit.
By 1787, the political situation was worsening. While, from late 1787 to June 1789, Marie Antoinette’s primary concern was the continued deterioration of the health of the Dauphin, she was directly involved in the exile of the Parlement, the May Edicts and the announcement regarding the Estates General. She did participate in the King Council and she was making the major decisions behind the scene and in the Royal Council. The situation escalated on 20 June 1789, and on 11 July Marie Antoinette chose to crush the Revolution with mercenary Swiss troops. At the news, Paris was besieged by riots that culminated in the storming of the Bastille on 14 July. In the following days, for fear of assassination, the emigration of members of the high aristocracy began. Marie Antoinette, whose life was as much in danger, remained with the King.
Following the Seven Years’ War and the Diplomatic Revolution of 1756, Maria Theresa decided to end hostilities with King Louis XV of France. They sealed their alliance with a marriage: on 7 February 1770, Louis XV requested the hand of Maria Antonia for his eldest son and heir, Louis-Auguste. Upon her arrival in France, she changed her name to Marie Antoinette. The wedding took place on 16 May 1770 in the Palace of Versailles. The lack of a marriage consummation would plague the reputation of both Louis-Auguste and Marie Antoinette for the next seven years.
Upon the death of Louis XV on 10 May 1774, the Dauphin ascended the throne as Louis XVI of France and Navarre, and Marie Antoinette became Queen of France and Navarre. At the outset, Marie Antoinette had limited political influence with her husband.
On 24 May 1774, her husband gave her an estate, the Petit Trianon, and free reign to renovate it. Soon rumours circulated that she plastered the walls with gold and diamonds. Marie Antoinette spent heavily on fashion, luxuries and gambling, though the country was facing a financial crisis and the population was suffering. By the time of the Flour War of 1775, a series of riots damaged her reputation among the public. In fact, many in the country blamed her for the degrading economic situation, suggesting the country’s inability to pay off its debt was the result of her wasting the crown’s money.
Amidst the atmosphere of a wave of libelles (political pamphlets which slander public figures), the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II came to France. He met with his sister and her husband on 18 April 1777, and spoke frankly to his brother-in-law, curious as to why the royal marriage had not been consummated. The conclusion was that there was no obstacle to the couple’s conjugal relations save the Queen’s lack of interest and the King’s unwillingness to exert himself. The marriage was finally consummated in August 1777. On 16 May 1778, it was officially announced that the Queen was pregnant. Marie Antoinette gave birth to a girl, Marie-Thérèse Charlotte, on 19 December 1778.
Marie Antoinette’s second pregnancy ended in a miscarriage early in July 1779. Her third pregnancy was confirmed in March 1781 and, on 22 October, she gave birth to a boy, Louis Joseph. In June 1783, Marie Antoinette announced another pregnancy, but this one also ended in a miscarriage.
In 1783, Marie Antoinette was busy with the creation of her “hamlet” (Le hameau de la reine), a rustic retreat built in the gardens of the Petit Trianon. Its creation, however, caused another uproar when its cost became widely known. In October 1784, Louis XVI bought the Château de Saint-Cloud in the name of his wife. This was unpopular, particularly by those who disliked the Queen and the population, who disapproved of a Queen of France independently owning a private residence.
On 27 March 1785, Marie Antoinette gave birth to a second son, Louis Charles, who was thought to be illegitimate by those who disliked the Queen. These suspicions of illegitimacy, along with the continued publications of libelles, the purchase of Saint-Cloud and the Diamond Necklace scandal (it was implied that she participated in a crime to defraud the crown jewellers of the cost of a very expensive diamond necklace) combined to turn popular opinion sharply against Marie Antoinette, and the image of a licentious, spendthrift, empty-headed foreign Queen was taking root in the French psyche. Because of the public perception that she single-handedly ruined the national finances, Marie Antoinette was given the nickname Madame Déficit.
By 1787, the political situation was worsening. While, from late 1787 to June 1789, Marie Antoinette’s primary concern was the continued deterioration of the health of the Dauphin, she was directly involved in the exile of the Parlement, the May Edicts and the announcement regarding the Estates General. She did participate in the King Council and she was making the major decisions behind the scene and in the Royal Council. The situation escalated on 20 June 1789, and on 11 July Marie Antoinette chose to crush the Revolution with mercenary Swiss troops. At the news, Paris was besieged by riots that culminated in the storming of the Bastille on 14 July. In the following days, for fear of assassination, the emigration of members of the high aristocracy began. Marie Antoinette, whose life was as much in danger, remained with the King.
Despite these dramatic changes, life at court continued while the situation in Paris was becoming critical. On 5 October, a crowd descended upon Versailles and forced the royal family to move to the Tuileries Palace in Paris, where they lived under a form of house arrest. Marie Antoinette continued to perform charitable functions and attended religious ceremonies but dedicated most of her time to her children.
There had been several plots designed to help the royal family escape, which Marie Antoinette rejected because she would not leave without the King. Once Louis XVI committed to an escape plan, its poor execution was the cause of its failure. After many delays, the escape was attempted on 21 June 1791, but the entire family was arrested less than 24 hours later at Varennes and taken back to Paris within a week.
After their return from Varennes and until the storming of the Tuileries on 10 August 1792, Marie Antoinette and her family were held under tight surveillance in the Tuileries. On 13 August, the royal family was imprisoned in the tower of the Temple in the Marais.
On 21 September 1792, the fall of the monarchy was officially declared, and the National Convention became the governing body of the French Republic. The royal family name was downgraded to Capet. Preparations began for the trial of the King. Charged with undermining the First French Republic, Louis XVI was separated from his family and tried in December. He was found guilty and, on 15 January 1793, by a majority of one vote, he was condemned to death by guillotine. He was executed on 21 January 1793.
The Queen, now called Widow Capet, plunged into deep mourning. Prisoners in the tower of the Temple, Marie Antoinette, her children and her sister-in-law Élisabeth were insulted.
There had been several plots designed to help the royal family escape, which Marie Antoinette rejected because she would not leave without the King. Once Louis XVI committed to an escape plan, its poor execution was the cause of its failure. After many delays, the escape was attempted on 21 June 1791, but the entire family was arrested less than 24 hours later at Varennes and taken back to Paris within a week.
After their return from Varennes and until the storming of the Tuileries on 10 August 1792, Marie Antoinette and her family were held under tight surveillance in the Tuileries. On 13 August, the royal family was imprisoned in the tower of the Temple in the Marais.
On 21 September 1792, the fall of the monarchy was officially declared, and the National Convention became the governing body of the French Republic. The royal family name was downgraded to Capet. Preparations began for the trial of the King. Charged with undermining the First French Republic, Louis XVI was separated from his family and tried in December. He was found guilty and, on 15 January 1793, by a majority of one vote, he was condemned to death by guillotine. He was executed on 21 January 1793.
The Queen, now called Widow Capet, plunged into deep mourning. Prisoners in the tower of the Temple, Marie Antoinette, her children and her sister-in-law Élisabeth were insulted.
After Louis’ execution, the Queen’s fate became a central question: some advocated for her death, others proposed exchanging her for French prisoners of war or for a ransom from the Holy Roman Emperor. On 3 July, her son was separated from her to be “retrained”. Until her removal from the Temple, Marie Antoinette spent hours trying to catch a glimpse of her son who, within weeks, had been made to turn against her.
On the night of 1 August, Marie Antoinette was transferred to an isolated cell in the Conciergerie. This was the most difficult period of her captivity – she was under constant surveillance, with no privacy. At least once a week she received a visit by a Catholic priest.
The Queen was tried by the Revolutionary Tribunal on 14 October 1793. Some historians believe the outcome of the trial had been decided in advance. She and her lawyers were given less than a day to prepare her defence. Among the accusations were: orchestrating orgies in Versailles, sending treasury money to Austria, planning the massacre of the National Guards in 1792, declaring her son to be the new King of France, and incest. This last accusation drew an emotional response from Marie Antoinette, who refused to respond to this charge, instead appealing to all mothers present in the room.
Early on 16 October, Marie Antoinette was declared guilty of the three main charges against her and condemned to death. Preparing for her execution, she had to change clothes in front of her guards. She put on a plain white dress, her hair was shorn, her hands bound painfully behind her back and she was put on her rope leash. She was taken to the place of execution (the present-day Place de la Concorde) in an open cart. She maintained her composure, despite the insults of the jeering crowd.
On the night of 1 August, Marie Antoinette was transferred to an isolated cell in the Conciergerie. This was the most difficult period of her captivity – she was under constant surveillance, with no privacy. At least once a week she received a visit by a Catholic priest.
The Queen was tried by the Revolutionary Tribunal on 14 October 1793. Some historians believe the outcome of the trial had been decided in advance. She and her lawyers were given less than a day to prepare her defence. Among the accusations were: orchestrating orgies in Versailles, sending treasury money to Austria, planning the massacre of the National Guards in 1792, declaring her son to be the new King of France, and incest. This last accusation drew an emotional response from Marie Antoinette, who refused to respond to this charge, instead appealing to all mothers present in the room.
Early on 16 October, Marie Antoinette was declared guilty of the three main charges against her and condemned to death. Preparing for her execution, she had to change clothes in front of her guards. She put on a plain white dress, her hair was shorn, her hands bound painfully behind her back and she was put on her rope leash. She was taken to the place of execution (the present-day Place de la Concorde) in an open cart. She maintained her composure, despite the insults of the jeering crowd.
Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, was guillotined at 12h15 on 16 October 1793. Her last words were Pardonnez-moi, monsieur. Je ne l’ai pas fait exprès (Pardon me, sir. I did not do it on purpose), after she accidentally stepped on the executioner’s shoe. Her body was thrown into an unmarked grave in the Madeleine cemetery until 18 January 1815 – Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI’s bodies were exhumed and given a Christian burial in the necropolis of French kings at the Basilica of St Denis.
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Marie Antoinette, Queen of France
Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun
1778
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My God, your description of Marie Antoinette's final moments of her life are so well written... It's so engaging, like you are really there, watching it all unfold... Very powerfil stuff. She may not have been perfect, but she defenitly was a good person, who didn't mean to harm anybody. And, uhm, let's talk about the dress in your drawing... One word only: perfection! Seriously, your work is always so enjoyable, your style is so gorgeous! :)
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