Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna, born 1775 in Vienna, Austria, was the daughter of Emperor Francis I (Holy Roman Emperor) and Empress Marie Teresa. Childhood was a happy time until the death of her father when she was 9 years old. On the heels of her father’s death, her mother, Empress Marie Teresa set out to arrange a marriage for the purpose of fostering an alliance between Austria and France. At that time, France was the number one nation in Europe and Versailles, a palace of grandeur. In the eyes of the Empress, this was the best way to ensure and enhance life in Austria.
It is said that the marriage ceremony and celebration was the finest in the history of Austria. Marie was united in marriage to the eldest son of King Louis XV of France. The marriage ceremony took place in Austria and upon reaching the Austria/France border, her attire was changed to royal court dressage and her name was changed to Marie Antoinette.
The Marriage of Marie Antoinette and Life At Versailles
For Marie Antoinette, life at Versailles was very happy in the beginning. Her new father-in-law was enraptured by her beauty, grace and charm Life was delightful for her until the death of King Louis XV whereupon his son ascended the throne as King Louis XVI and she became Marie Antoinette, Queen of France. This marriage between two very young people had a very rocky beginning to the point that it was not consummated for 7 years. She became a devoted mother but found the duties as queen to be both boring and definitely ‘not her cup of tea’ so to speak.
Marie Antoinette Creates A Life For Herself At Versailles
For Marie Antoinette, life revolved around the arts, dance and nightlife while for her new husband, King Louis XVI, life was all about hunting, his workshop and daylight pursuits. Whether out of revenge or as a means of escape from all the public appearances and social contacts required of a queen, Marie set out to develop her own circle of friends, which some people might refer to as a ‘clique’. She began to build her new life at ‘Petit Trianon‘ a small palace on the grounds of Versailles given to her by her new husband. Marie Antoinette’s new circle of friends included her young brother-in-law Count Artis much to the consternation of some of her older female relatives.
Much of her time was devoted to overspending her clothing allowance, lavishly decorating and redecorating the interior of her little palace, building a theater for her love of the arts, and filling her hours with masked balls, gambling and the regaling of friends with gifts and favors. Marie Antoinette incurred much wrath and indignation from both royals and commoners when she built her ‘hameau‘, a rustic farmhouse, complete with dairy and and mill near her new ‘little palace’. She and her maids would play milkmaid with special porcelain pails and churns. In 1778, on a small islet in the lake near her ‘home away from home’ Marie Antoinette had a neo-classic structure erected named ‘Tower of Love’. This action set the rumor mills on fire as some said it was a symbol of love built to honor her brother-in-law and other said it was built to honor her husband and to celebrate the consummation of their marriage. As the gossip began to spread, little did Marie Antoinette realize how quickly her life was about to change forever in ways beyond her wildest imagination.
Scandal Surrounds Marie Antoinette and Versailles
The life Marie Antoinette created for herself at Versailles coupled with the circle of friends she developed, unfortunately resulted in a series of scandals, trials and tribulations that would ultimately lead to death by the guillotine. Some people who were not included in her circle of friends clique became resentful and sought to gain revenge in one scheme which became known as ‘The Diamond Necklace Affair’. The Cardinal of France (Prince de Rohen) was duped by one of his lady-friends into buying a diamond necklace originally fashioned as a gift for Madame du Barry, a consort of Louis XVI’s father Louis XV. The cardinal’s lady, Madame Lamotte with whom he had an affair, convinced him that she had an inside track with the queen and persuaded the cardinal to purchase a very expensive diamond necklace for Marie Antoinette. Madame Lamotte had borrowed some money from the cardinal and needing a favor from him, led him to believe that a high ranking government post would be his reward for granting the queen’s wish. The result was that the cardinal purchased the diamond necklace from its nearly-bankrupt jewelry designer and entrusted the necklace to a servant of Marie Antoinette but the necklace disappeared.
This scandal coupled with other insinuations and innuendos of infidelity and sexual misconduct, led King Louis XVI to demand a trial, a decision that Queen Marie Antoinette eagerly supported. During the trial, Madame Lamotte maintained that she had communications between the cardinal and the queen in her possession. She claimed these letters addressed the queen’s desire to own the necklace and special promises as a reward for the cardinal’s assistance. The letters were actually fakes, but fortunately for Madame Lamotte and unfortunately for the cardinal, he believed them to be genuine. Madame Lamotte also testified that she offered the letters to the queen as a way out of the situation in return for the return of property belonging to Madame Lamotte, and testified that the queen flatly refused her offer. The result of the trial was that the cardinal, though defrocked, was acquitted. Madame Lamotte was convicted, whipped and confined to The Bastille only to escape later to London where it was learned that her husband had sold off the diamonds in Paris and London.
Marie Antoinette Leaves Versailles–Never To Return
Shortly after this incident, all efforts on the part of King Louis XVI to improve the economy of France failed. The deficit which resulted from spending during the reign of Louis XV, could not be repaid. Marie Antoinette tried in vain to get the King to leave Versailles but finally she convinced him to do so and the royal family set out disguised as Russian peasants intending to reach a safe haven in the northeast of France with the ultimate destination being Paris. Unfortunately, they were spotted at Varennes and forced to turn back.
As the French Revolution broke out, Marie Antoinette tried to persuade King Louis XVI to wage war on his own countrymen which he refused to do. The Queen maintained all she wanted was power in the hands of the monarchy regardless of what was good for the common man.
Ironically, not only was the king opposed to the reforms demanded by the French Revolution but he was also opposed to execution by guillotine which ultimately was the means of death for himself and the queen! Execution by guillotine was the principle method used for Revolution supporters. Prior to the guillotine, members of the nobility were beheaded by use of an axe or sword. The king had argued death should be instant not prolonged and painful.
King Louis XVI was ultimately tried, convicted and put to death by the guillotine. Less than a year later, Queen Marie Antoinette was found guilty of aiding the enemy and sending money back to Austria. At her trial, her son, who had become king following his father’s death, was forced to testify against her resulting in her execution.