Marie Antoinette--A Victim of
Marie Antoinette-A Victim of Misfortune Just shortly after Marie Antoinette entered the world, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, had big plans for her youngest Daughter. An alliance was to be set up between Austria and France with the marriage of Marie and Louis XV's grandson. At the young age of 14, Marie's childhood ended as she ascended to France to become the future queen. Unfortunately, her life as queen was far less grand and exquisite as expected. Throughout her reign, Marie would endure an unaffectionate husband, vicious rumors, and a fierce revolution that would lead up to her public execution. Some historians believe Marie Antoinette was responsible for her own demise. However, it is obvious that Marie was France's scapegoat at a time of revolution. Even in the beginning, Marie's future husband, King Louis XVI, paid little attention to the attractive and zealous young duchess. Marie was quick to adapt, though, and she became immersed in hobbies of her own. At the beginning of his reign, the king had a condition rendering him unable to father a child. The public was not aware and began to blame the queen for the absence of an heir. Th
Her son was taken, brutally beaten and forced to spout slander against his convicted mother. " As you can see, Marie Antoinette did little to draw the wrath of her millions. Although she tried hard to reconcile her extravagance as she grew older, the total disdain for Marie emerged in the Diamond Necklace Affair. The overwhelming debt that had been accumulating since Louis XIV's reign, coupled with the expensive Seven- Years War and American Revolution, was spiraling out of control. Marie had little concern for the ceremonies and traditions of life at Versailles. A few years later, she produced a son. The public, always prejudice to the Austrian-born queen, found a convenient scapegoat. The years following her death saw the death of thousands like her, victims to the mob because of their wealthy birthright. The following years of Marie's life saw her imprisonment, first in a palace in Paris, then, after a failed escape attempt, into a prison. Marie grew gray and emaciated from the stress and sadness. The King and Queens reputation was further scarred after Marie secretly implored her home country for help. A noble was able to purchase an incredibly lavish and expensive necklace in the queen's name. She was charged with treason in October 1793, although she was eloquent and dignified at her trial, and she took the long ride to share her husband's fate. Her life was a tale of a young queen, oblivious to looming disaster, maturing to find that her subjects had cemented her position as scapegoat. On January 21, 1793, the charged King went to the guillotine.
Common topics in this essay:
France Marie,
King Queen,
Louis XVI,
Marie Antoinette,
American Revolution,
French Revolution,
Louis XV's,
Necklace Affair,
Voltaire French,
King Queens,
marie antoinette,
blame queen,
diamond necklace,
diamond necklace affair,
necklace affair,
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