Marie Antoinette Research Paper

Marie Antoinette

Maximilien Robespierre once said “The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant”. Maria Antonia Josepha Joanna, better known as Marie Antoinette was the last queen of France. Marie Antoinette can be recalled for numerous things, such as her extravagant taste, her beauty, or for embodying the evils of monarchy, but prior to this image, she was an Archduchess of Austria. Maria Antonia Josepha Joanna was born in Vienna, Austria on November 2nd, 1755; she was the 15th child of Austria’s empress, Maria Theresa. Marie Antoinette had a jovial childhood, although her mother constantly chastising her. Maria Theresa used her daughters as pawns, and Marie Antoinette was

Marie Antoinette was commanded to marry Louis XVI, when both in their teenage years. It was stipulated that Marie left Vienna behind and became Louis wife. Once Marie departed to be wed, she never returned to Vienna. At age 14 Marie Antoinette married 15-year-old Louis XVI on May 16th, 1770 in the Palace of Versailles. The initial years of the marriage were troubled due to their inability to consummate their marriage, Louis’ absent desire to be married, disparate personalities, and Marie’s inability to assimilate into her newfound life. Marie felt as though her life was like an open stage, from the very first day, she was thrown into the public’s eye. Before entering France, Marie was stripped of all her Austrian possessions, clothes included, with various onlookers and was dressed in the finest French clothing. The first night as a married couple, Marie and Louis had an intrusive audience. The bed was blessed, they were given royal robes, and after the king bowed, the court left them to consummate their marriage, which did not occur. The marriage bed was very public and the court had the right to know

Marie Antoinette was used as an escape goat for the French people, as she was an easy target. Cartoonist started underground pamphlets vilifying her as the personification of the evils of monarchy. Riots started breaking out and more accusations were made, all at which she laughed at and remained indifferent. By 1785 the queen’s image was so tarnished that when she was accused of theft for a 647-diamond necklace, no one believed in her innocence, even though the accusations were false. France was nearly bankrupt and Marie Antoinette was becoming the most hated woman in France. After the theft accusation Marie ordered a portrait to be made with her and her children. In the portrait, Marie was wearing simple earrings and no diamond necklace; this was her way of responding to the degrading rumors. As the queen finally realized the gravity of the accusations she decided to make a change, she fired her private dressmaker, cut back on expenses, and took out the gambling tables. Marie Antoinette also began attending meetings with her husband concerning France. The storming of Bastille occurred on July 14th, 1789 and after the event, royal censures were lifted and the reputation of the queen was blackened further as the caricatures got vicious. Although the queen tried to redeem herself, the damage was already