As hundreds of years pass by, information gets distorted and misinterpreted. A famous quote supposedly said by Marie-Antoinette, a French princess, was, “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche” or ,“Let them eat cake.” Many historians believed that Marie-Antoinette uttered these words when she was informed that citizens had run out of bread to eat. No one had confirmed at the time that she had said this, so it might have just been a rumor. Marie-Antoinette was also known for being highly intelligent and informed about France’s economic standing; which notes another fault in the rumor. In my opinion, I believe that Marie-Antoinette hadn’t spoken these words, but it was just a hoax, or misinterpreted information originally stated by someone else. During …show more content…
The original quote was found in, “an 1843 issue of the journal Les Guêpes… Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr reported having found the quote in a “book dated 1760” (John M. Cunningham). Since the original quote’s source was written almost twenty years before Marie-Antoinette made the statement, it is unlikely that she made the historical quote. Another source found stating this remark was found in John-Jacques Rousseau’s autobiography, “Confessions”. Rousseau references, “a great princess, who, when told the peasants had no bread, said ‘Well, let them eat brioche.’ (brioche being a highly enriched bread).” (Daven Hiskey). During the time Rousseau wrote the autobiography, Marie-Antoinette was only ten years old while living in Austria. Rousseau was actually referencing Maria-Thérèse, a princess who originally spoke this statement almost a hundred years before: “ ‘Que ne mangent-ils de la croûte de pâté?' (Why don't they eat pastry?) was used by Marie-Thérèse (1638-83), the wife of Louis XIV.” (Gary Martin). Marie-Thérèse must have been the original person to state, “Let them eat cake,” and not
...ult to choose her growing environment, and also she was influenced by Louis XVI, as I mentioned above. Marie Antoinette was just viewed as a traitor, because she support Austria instead. She will definitely support her brother, because he was her family. French people couldn't forgave her. After she married, she need time to get use to her new life, but her husband didn't stop her to spend that much money, because he himself did that too, so their behaviors slowly became a cause of French Revolution.
His Court and The Regency, King Louis XIV wrote, “The royal power is absolute. The royal throne is not the throne of a man, but the throne of God himself. Kings should be guarded as holy things, and whoever
Before the French Revolution, an inexperienced king, and an irresponsible queen ruled over the citizens of France. Food cost was high due to the poor crop season, and Antoinette gambled away what would be billions today.
In the book, Marie Antoinette: The Last Queen of France , the author, Evelyne Lever, paints a beautiful portrayal of the life of Marie Antoinette; from an Austrian princess to Queen of France to her untimely death at the end of a guillotine. Marie Antoinette was the fifteenth child born to the Empress Maria Theresa and Francis I, the Holy Roman Emperor. She lived a carefree childhood until she was strategically married and sent to France when she was fourteen years old. The marriage between Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI, the future King of France, was meant to bring Austria and France closer together politically. Unfortunately, that did not happen; instead the monarchy collapsed with Marie Antoinette managing to alienate and offend a vast
King Louis XVI was next in line for the throne in 1774 and gladly inherited it from Louis XIV to become the ruler over France. He drastically changed the whole country and put its people through ghastly conditions. There was not a soul left unharmed. In Paris, nearly half of its population in 1788 was unemployed. They produced no crops due to them not growing and had extremely high prices on food. With the whole nation already furious with his doings, he decided to marry Marie Antoinette who was foreign. They decided to blame her for their problems of their economy because they figured that King Louis was letting her make major decisions and control them. Together, Antoinette and Louis had a total of four children. Their oldest child lived to be seventy-three.
The French were losing the Hundred Year War when Joan became a general. Kennedy Hickman, a journalist, said that in 1429 the identity of the king of France was
Arranged marriages for political and royal reasons have never been uncommon in European history, although most of them never lead to the destruction of the Monarchy itself. Some may argue Marie Antoinette was destined for failure, while others believe it was her own doing that led to her fate at the guillotine. From her years as an Austrian Princess, to the last Queen of France, Marie always lived a lavish lifestyle. She was brought into a country where was lavish was on the outs due to economic struggle, but being wealthy alienated her from her people severely. She was famously misquoted for saying “Let them eat cake!” in reference to the bread shortage. A foreigner amongst her new kingdom, but no longer apart of the one she grew up in, Marie
When Marie crossed the border at fifteen into Paris, everything about her previous identity was stripped down and carted away. She became a fine edition to the French court, and the current king, Louis XV wrote in his journal, approving of her being "full-figured and delightful.” She adjusted to a new life and language, and a few months later, at the coronation ceremony, her husband Louis XVI was crowned the next ruler of France, and her in turn, queen. In her early years, she was popular among the aristocracy and nobles (Morris), but as time passed with endless court rituals and strict etiquette, Marie became bored of her position and her failing husband. Louis XVI allowed for his wife to endure the reproachful mockery of the elite, as the pair was unable to produce an heir for nearly a decade, at the faulting awkwardness of the king (Marie Antoinette: Story of a Queen through Primary Sources).
During the eighteenth century, France was one of the richest and prosperous countries in Europe, but many of the peasants were not happy with the way France was being ruled. On July 14, 1789, peasants and soldiers stormed the Bastille and initiated the French Revolution. This essay will analyze the main causes of the French Revolution, specifically, the ineffectiveness of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the dissatisfaction of the Third Estate, and the Enlightenment. It will also be argued that the most significant factor that caused the French Revolution was the ineffective leadership of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The first and main reason for the French Revolution was the terrible leadership of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette.
Many historical stories and poems led us to where we are today; although history appears to repeat itself, it speaks to us in several different ways. One of many examples of history speaking to us is the “good” and the “evil” in all people portrayed in the dramatic representation in The Diary of Anne Frank, by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. The worldly impacts of this drama have shown the reality of many home lives today, for example: siblings’ rivalry, marriage problems, and relationships between mothers, fathers, and children. There are also many discrimination problems today, just like past events. Many historical events have led us to where we are today, even though history tends to repeat itself.
Thesis Statement: Marie Antoinette is an influential person because she was only fourteen years old when she got married. She was also a teen idol and after she passed away a U.S city was named in honor of her. Marie Antoinette was born on November 2, 1755, in Vienna, Austria (Source 1). Marie Antoinette was the 15th out of 17 children from her mother (Source 1). Marie Antoinette’s parents were emperor Francis I and empress Maria Empress (Source 3). Marie Antoinette lived a childhood that was mainly carefree (Source 4). Her education was emblematic of an upper class girl (Source 1). She mainly learned how to act and how not to act when she was at school during her childhood (Source 1). France and Austria had been enemies for a long time, but when Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I were king and queen they made a treaty (Source 3). Marie Antoinette married Louis XVI to strengthen France and Austria's bond
...e the price of bread, or to better the way the starving saw him by cutting down on the expenses of Versailles. Overall, the weakness and indecisive actions of Frances monarch, King Louis XVI did not make those serving him respect or be loyal to him and his choices.
Despite the knowledge of these wars, many believed Marie Antoinette had caused the bankruptcy with her generous amount of spending. In 1788-89, there were many food shortages because of crop failure (Schwartz). According to Britannica, the crop failures in 1788 lead to economic difficulties, and left the population tumultuous. Rumors spread that Marie Antoinette was hoarding grain in the palace (Muller). The quote “Let them eat cake” was created during the crop failures to represent the Queen’s reply to the crop failures.
Marie Antoinette, Queen of France from 1770 to 1797 was despised by the people of France. Their hatred of her and the monarchy in general led to the French Revolution. Many issues led to the unpopularity of Queen Maria Antoinette, her vanity, her disregard for the people, but perhaps the most significant was the Affair of the Diamond Necklace.
Marie Antoinette, Archduchess of Austria and Queen of France, went quietly and bravely to her death. A tragic end to a fateful journey begun so promisingly almost a quarter of a century before -- with her bridal train from Vienna to Versailles in 1770.