Marie Antoinette

Date of Birth: November 2, 1755

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: October 16, 1793

Biography

Marie Antoinette, born Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna on November 2, 1755, in Vienna, Austria, was the last Queen of France before the French Revolution. She was the youngest daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I. At the age of 14, she married Louis-Auguste, the Dauphin of France, who would later become King Louis XVI. Marie Antoinette’s life at the French court was marked by lavish spending and a controversial public image, leading to widespread discontent among the French populace. Her reign as Queen consort began in 1774, and she quickly became known for her extravagant lifestyle and perceived indifference to the struggles of the common people. The famous (though likely apocryphal) quote “Let them eat cake” is often attributed to her, symbolizing the disconnect between the monarchy and the French citizens. During the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette and her family were imprisoned. After a failed escape attempt, they were eventually tried and found guilty of treason. She was executed by guillotine on October 16, 1793, at the age of 37.

5 Interesting Facts about Marie Antoinette

1. Marie Antoinette was an accomplished harpist, and she also played the harpsichord and flute.

2. She had a significant influence on fashion in France, often setting trends that were followed by the nobility.

3. Marie Antoinette’s marriage to Louis XVI was part of a political alliance between Austria and France.

4. She was a patron of the arts and supported many artists and musicians during her time as Queen.

5. Despite her image as a spendthrift, Marie Antoinette was known to engage in charitable activities, including establishing a home for unwed mothers.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Marie Antoinette

1. “Let them eat cake.” (Attributed, though historically disputed)

2. “Courage! I have shown it for years; think you I shall lose it at the moment when my sufferings are to end?”

3. “No one understands my ills, nor the terror that fills my breast, who does not know the heart of a mother.”

4. “I was a queen, and you took away my crown; a wife, and you killed my husband; a mother, and you deprived me of my children. My blood alone remains: take it, but do not make me suffer long.”

5. “I have seen all, I have heard all, I have forgotten all.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by Marie Antoinette is difficult to ascertain in modern terms. However, at the height of her influence, the combined wealth of the French monarchy was immense, with the royal court at Versailles being one of the most opulent in Europe.

Children

Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI had four children: 1. Marie Thérèse Charlotte (1778–1851) – The only child to survive the French Revolution. 2. Louis Joseph Xavier François (1781–1789) – Passed away at a young age due to tuberculosis. 3. Louis Charles (1785–1795) – Known as Louis XVII, he died in captivity during the Revolution. 4. Sophie Hélène Béatrice (1786–1787) – Died in infancy.