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 …show more content…
Up until his death he was unwavering: while maintaining his innocence and love for his people. As new radical governments usually are, the Republic of France was incredibly bloody and horrific. It claimed thousands of French lives post Bastille Day, and unfortunately, Marie Antoinette’s as well. October 16th 1793 proved to be the Queen’s last day. But even in death she was a picture of grace and dignity. She was noted to have said “Courage? The moment when my ills are going to end is not the moment when courage is going to fail me.” Marie Antoinette was a dignified woman up until her last day, never allowing anyone to see how the circumstances were affecting her. Unfortunately, that may have been her downfall. Appearing unrelatable and emotionally desolate drew a wedge between her and her people …show more content…
Thomas Jefferson himself had once said that he believed without the Queen the Revolution wouldn’t have unfolded during the time it did. The Monarch surrounded herself with luxury and excess, which never goes over well when the citizens are struggling. Had it not been her lack of subtlety in her lavish affairs, the French Monarchy may have lived to see another day. However, it cannot be dwelled upon what could have been, instead the focus should be on the horrific end to a regal woman’s life. A gruesome public execution served right for the woman who was never out of the public’s
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.
Beginning in mid-1789, and lasting until late-1799, the French Revolution vastly changed the nation of France throughout its ten years. From the storming of the Bastille, the ousting of the royal family, the Reign of Terror, and all the way to the Napoleonic period, France changed vastly during this time. But, for the better part of the last 200 years, the effects that the French Revolution had on the nation, have been vigorously debated by historian and other experts. Aspects of debate have focused around how much change the revolution really caused, and the type of change, as well as whether the changes that it brought about should be looked at as positive or negative. Furthermore, many debate whether the Revolutions excesses and shortcomings can be justified by the gains that the revolution brought throughout the country. Over time, historians’ views on these questions have changed continually, leading many to question the different interpretations and theories behind the Revolutions effectiveness at shaping France and the rest of the world.
King Louis attempted to escape, but was quickly captured, taken back to paris, and was tried and executed for crimes against the people. Louis XIV, executed in 1793, was the last Bourbon king of france. Nine months later, his wife was executed. His wife was Marie Antoinette, an Austrian. She married king louis XIV when she was only fifteen years old and had a tough time being queen ever since she got married. She Was blamed for the country going downhill, and she had to live under the supervision of the revolutionary once they took over. In 1793 her husband was executed, and nine month later, so was
The unfair ways of how common people were treated compared to royalty and nobility formed the ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity, leading to the French Revolution. Unfair taxes that were only directed to the commoners, high society positions that were only to be obtained by nobles, food scarcity that only affected the poor and the royals having power over all caused the c...
November 1st, 1783- Marie had her second miscarriage, which caused more fears for her health.
...sserted that though the whole Revolution’s phrase was “Republic One and Indivisible, Liberty, Fraternity, Equality or Death,” the results were completely different of this phrase. Firstly, the Revolution did not produce a Republic where citizens elected leaders, but instead wherespecial citizens set themselves up as leaders. It was elitism, not a republic. Secondly, the Patriots did not promote liberty through their actions. Instead of their rebellion ending the tyrannical reign of aristocrats, the Patriots made only greater tyranny through ridiculous laws, and unjust sentences of death and imprisonment. Finally, though the Revolution did indeed result in many men dying, one man, Sydney Carton, ended up escaping death by resting upon Christ’s sacrifice. Through the course of A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens demonstrated the great painful irony of the French Revolution.
“Europe cannot conceive of life without Kings and nobles; and we cannot conceive of it with them. Europe is lavishing her blood to preserve her chains, whereas we are lavishing ours to destroy them”(Maximilien Robespierre). For centuries upon centuries, the monarchal system had dominated European life. The very nature of this method of rule incited rebellious feelings, as a definite imbalance of power was present. Understandably, people under this system had risen against authority. The glorious nation of France was no exception. The eighteenth century brought about a great deal of economic and social turmoil. By the end of this one hundred year period, rebellion had been talked about by many citizens for quite some time. However, no definitive action was taken until one man stepped to the forefront; Maximilien Robespierre. Born in Arras, France about thirty years prior to the French Revolution, Robespierre was an immensely intelligent man as is seen from his ability to read and write fluently from the age of eight (the Force of 10). Robespierre rose from fairly humble origins to become a provincial lawyer, advancing further to become a representative in the Estates General, and eventually ascending to the leader of the French Revolution itself. For its sake he sent thousands to the guillotine, overthrew a monarchy, declared a new national religion, and invigorated the will of a nation. “No individual of the French Revolutionary era, with the exception of Napolean Bonaparte, has excited more passion in his time than the…dedicated provincial lawyer, Maximilien Robespierre”(Maximilien 1). During this era, Robespierre led France’s world inspiring cry for the liberation of mankind and petrified the world with its relentle...
The French Revolution was a period of time in which France underwent many changes, many which could be considered revolutionary. France’s whole system and way of being was completely changed. New ideas were proposed everyday. An idea is revolutionary when it is a new idea, when it is something that has never been thought of before. The Declaration of the Rights of Women written by Olympe de Gouges on September 1791, was one of the ideas proposed to the National Assembly (Hunt, Web 1). The document proposed that since the French Revolution was all about finding equality for all people, women should be equal to men and therefore, should have the same rights as men did. Women at the time live in terrible conditions. They had little access to education, and therefore could not enter professional occupations that required advanced education, were legally deprived of the right to vote, and were not considered citizens (Class Discussion Notes). If equal rights were not given to women, the French Revolution had not reached its full potential, according to Gouges. She expressed this idea in her document, saying, “This revolution will only take effect when all women become fully aware of their deplorable condition, and of the rights they have lost in society” (Gouges, Web). Anyone that questioned the Revolution was immediately put to death (Class Discussion Notes). If Gouges’ document and ideas were important enough to catch the attention of the National Assembly and for her to be put to death, her ideas could be considered important and revolutionary (Britannica, Web 1) But, the document was not revolutionary. The Declaration of the Rights of Women was not a revolutionary document because its ideas were taken from other people and were no...
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.
Marie Antoinette, or officially known as Marie-Antoinette-Josephe-Jeanne d'Autriche-Lorraine, was born in 1755 to the life of luxury as the Princess of Austria. Her family was rather close despite being raised by a series of governesses. She also received the necessary education at that time. At age 14, her mother arranged Marie to be married
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
The role of the Royal Mistress or maitresse entitre often extended further than that of just the bedroom, and she did have influence, but remaining in this position was no small feat2. The popularity of the mistress to the king is the primary force behind her maintaining her position, this can be inherently difficult for the best of women. Royal mistresses were subject to instant dismissal if they feel out of favor with the King, as was the case for the two previous mistresses that resided before Jeanne-Antoinette3. Along with the responsibility of entertaining the King, the royal favorite also had to contend with the royal family, the court, and the public.
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.