The last queen of France before the French Revolution, known for her extravagance and mismanagement of the French economy, which contributed to the downfall of the monarchy.
Marie Antoinette, the last queen consort of France before the French Revolution, is notoriously remembered for her extravagance, alleged promiscuity, and her ultimate demise at the guillotine. Born an archduchess of Austria, she became the queen of France upon her marriage to Louis XVI, ascending to the throne in 1774.
Marie Antoinette was born on November 2, 1755, to Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I of Austria. As the youngest daughter and 15th child of the royal couple, she was raised amidst the opulence of the Habsburg court. In 1767, her mother arranged her marriage to the future King Louis XVI of France, solidifying an alliance between the two European powers.
In May 1770, Marie Antoinette married Louis XVI at the age of 14, becoming the dauphine of France. Upon the death of King Louis XV in 1774, her husband ascended to the throne, and she became the queen of France.
Marie Antoinette's lavish spending, alleged promiscuity, and perceived sympathies for France's enemies, including her native Austria, earned her widespread disfavor among the French people. The French libelles, scathing pamphlets that circulated throughout the country, accused her of being profligate and harboring treasonous sentiments. The Affair of the Diamond Necklace, in which she was falsely accused of stealing a valuable necklace, further damaged her reputation.
The French Revolution marked the beginning of the end for Marie Antoinette. In October 1789, the royal family was placed under house arrest in the Tuileries Palace. The June 1791 attempted flight to Varennes and her role in the War of the First Coalition were seen as provocative acts, further eroding her popularity.
Marie Antoinette's legacy is marked by controversy and tragic fate. Her extravagance and perceived callousness towards the suffering of the French people have become synonymous with the excesses of the monarchy. Her execution, along with that of her husband, marked the end of the absolute monarchy in France and the rise of the Reign of Terror.
The French Revolution, sparked in part by Marie Antoinette's unpopularity, marked a significant turning point in modern history, paving the way for the rise of democracy and the fall of absolute monarchies across Europe.
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Empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796, she transformed her country into a major European power, modernizing its culture, politics, and economy through numerous reforms and conquests.
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