Marie Antoinette (1755–1793) was the last Queen of France before the French Revolution. She was born Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna in Vienna, Austria, and was the daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1770, at the age of 14, she married Louis-Auguste, the future Louis XVI of France, in an effort to solidify the alliance between Austria and France. When Louis became king in 1774, she became Queen of France.
Marie Antoinette is often remembered for her extravagant lifestyle, lavish spending, and perceived indifference to the plight of the common people, which contributed to her unpopularity. However, some of the most infamous accusations against her, such as the claim that she said “Let them eat cake” in response to the suffering of the poor, are likely apocryphal.
Her life took a dramatic turn during the French Revolution. As the monarchy faced increasing opposition, she and Louis XVI attempted to flee the country in 1791 but were captured. In 1792, the monarchy was abolished, and both she and Louis were imprisoned. Louis XVI was executed by guillotine in January 1793, and Marie Antoinette was executed on October 16, 1793, after being convicted of treason.
Marie Antoinette’s legacy has been debated for centuries, with some viewing her as a symbol of the excesses of the monarchy and others as a tragic figure caught in the turbulent tides of history.
