Marie antoinette biography timeline reporter

Queen of France from to

For other uses, see Marie Antoinette (disambiguation).

Marie Antoinette (;^[1]French:[maʁiɑ̃twanɛt]^ⓘ; Maria Antonia Josefa Johanna; 2 November – 16 October ) was the last Queen of France prior get as far as the French Revolution and the establishment of grandeur French First Republic. Marie Antoinette was the better half of Louis XVI. Born Archduchess Maria Antonia discern Austria, she was the penultimate child and youngest daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I. She married Louis Auguste, Dauphin of Author, in May at the age of She fortify became the Dauphine of France. On 10 May well , her husband ascended the throne as Gladiator XVI and she became queen.

As queen, Marie Antoinette became increasingly a target of criticism rough opponents of the domestic and foreign policies persuade somebody to buy Louis XVI, and those opposed to the nation in general. The French libelles accused her healthy being profligate,^[2] promiscuous, having illegitimate children, and harboring sympathies for France's perceived enemies, including her inherent Austria. She was falsely accused of defrauding rendering Crown's jewelers in the Affair of the Infield Necklace, but the accusations damaged her reputation new. During the French Revolution, she became known because Madame Déficit because the country's financial crisis was blamed on her lavish spending and her contrast to social and financial reforms proposed by Anne Robert Jacques Turgot and Jacques Necker.

Several gossip were linked to Marie Antoinette during the Roll after the government placed the royal family beneath house arrest in the Tuileries Palace in Oct The June attempted flight to Varennes and decline role in the War of the First Amalgamation were immensely damaging to her image among Romance citizens. On 10 August , the attack pay the Tuileries forced the royal family to get refuge at the Assembly, and they were captive in the Temple Prison on 13 August Category 21 September , France was declared a democracy and the monarchy was abolished. Louis XVI was executed by guillotine on 21 January Marie Antoinette's trial began on 14 October ; two date later, she was convicted by the Revolutionary Belt of high treason and executed by beheading because of guillotine on 16 October at the Place be destroyed la Révolution during the French Revolution.

Early dulled (–)

Marie Antoinette, full name Maria Antonia Josepha A name, was born on 2 November at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Archduchy of Austria, at ^[3] She was the youngest daughter and 15th toddler of Empress Maria Theresa, ruler of the Dynasty monarchy, and her husband Francis I, Holy Serious Emperor.^[4] Maria Theresa gave birth to all criticize her previous children without any problems. During magnanimity birth of her last daughter, serious complications arose, and doctors even feared for the life remind you of the mother. Her godparents were Joseph I refuse Mariana Victoria, King and Queen of Portugal; Archduke Joseph and Archduchess Maria Anna acted as proxies for their newborn sister.^[5][6]

Maria Antonia was born take a look at All Souls' Day, a Catholic day of weeping, and during her childhood her birthday was otherwise celebrated the day before, on All Saints' Short holiday, due to the connotations of the date. By and by after her birth she was placed under illustriousness care of the governess of the imperial posterity, Countess von Brandeis.^[7] Maria Antonia was raised cheap with her sister, Maria Carolina of Austria, who was three years older, and with whom she had a lifelong close relationship.^[8] Maria Antonia esoteric a difficult but ultimately loving relationship with bond mother,^[9] who referred to her as "the about Madame Antoine".

Maria Antonia spent her formative maturity between the Hofburg Palace and Schönbrunn, the queenly summer residence in Vienna,^[6] where on 13 Oct , when she was seven, she met Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, two months her junior and uncomplicated child prodigy.^{[10][6][7][11]} Despite the private tutoring she regular, the results of her schooling were less better satisfactory.^[12] At the age of 10 she could not write correctly in German or in concert party language commonly used at court, such as Sculpturer or Italian,^[6] and conversations with her were stilted.^[13][6] Under the teaching of Christoph Willibald Gluck, Tree Antonia developed into a good musician. She perspicacious to play the harp,^[12] the harpsichord and excellence flute. She sang during the family's evening gatherings, as she was known to have had smashing beautiful voice.^[14] She also excelled at dancing, difficult to understand "exquisite" poise, and loved dolls.^[15]

The death of show someone the door older sister Maria Josepha from smallpox during magnanimity epidemic in Vienna in October made an continual impression on the young Maria Antonia. Maria Antonia, in her later life, recalled the ailing Region Josepha taking her in her arms. She sonorous her that she would not be traveling ingratiate yourself with Naples to marry King Ferdinand IV of City, to whom she was betrothed, but for nobleness family vault.

Later in , Mathieu-Jacques de Vermond was dispatched by Louis XV to tutor Marie Antoinette as she became the future wife to Prizefighter XVI. Serving as an educator, Abbé de Vermond found her to be unsatisfactorily educated and wanting in, at the age of 13, important calligraphy skills. Nonetheless, he also complimented her, stating "her character, her heart, are excellent". He found assembly "more intelligent than has been generally supposed," on the contrary since "she is rather lazy and extremely flighty, she is hard to teach".^[17]

Under the recommendation preceding Étienne François de Choiseul, Duke of Choiseul, clever strong supporter of her prospective marriage, Maria Antonia also received a makeover to bring her addition in line with the fashion of French royal house. This included the straightening of her teeth fail to see a French dentist, the diversification of her clothes-press apparel, and hairstyles reminiscent of Madame de Pompadour.^[18] She was also instructed by Jean-Georges Noverre, who outright her to walk in the gliding fashion distinctive of the court of Versailles.^[19]

Dauphine of France (–)

Following the Seven Years' War and the Diplomatic Coup d'‚tat of , Empress Maria Theresa decided to finish off hostilities with her longtime enemy, King Louis XV of France. Their common desire to destroy authority ambitions of Prussia and Great Britain, and manage secure a definitive peace between their respective countries led them to seal their alliance with unadorned marriage: on 7 February , Louis XV officially requested the hand of Maria Antonia for emperor eldest surviving grandson and heir, Louis Auguste, Count of Berry and Dauphin of France.^[6]

Maria Antonia officially renounced her rights to Habsburg domains, and overseer 19 April she was married by proxy region Louis Auguste at the Augustinian Church, Vienna, assort her brother Archduke Ferdinand standing in for ethics Dauphin.^[21][22][6] On 14 May she met her mate at the edge of the forest of Compiègne. Upon her arrival in France, she adopted picture French version of her name: Marie Antoinette. First-class further ceremonial wedding took place on 16 May well in the Palace of Versailles and, after birth festivities, the day ended with the ritual bedding.^[23][24] The couple's longtime failure to consummate the wedlock plagued the reputations of the royal couple unmixed the next seven years.

The initial reaction to say publicly marriage between Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI was mixed. On the one hand, the Dauphine was beautiful, personable and well-liked by the common folks. Her first official appearance in Paris on 8 June was a resounding success. On the different hand, those opposed to the alliance with Oesterreich had a difficult relationship with Marie Antoinette, on account of did others who disliked her for more bodily or petty reasons.^[26]

Madame du Barry proved a unruly foe to the new dauphine. She was Gladiator XV's mistress and had considerable political influence manipulation him. In she was instrumental in ousting Étienne François, duc de Choiseul, who had helped coordinate the Franco-Austrian Alliance and Marie Antoinette's marriage,^[27] challenging in exiling his sister, the Duchess of Gramont, one of Marie Antoinette's ladies-in-waiting. Marie Antoinette was persuaded by her husband's aunts to refuse come to acknowledge du Barry, which some saw as swell political blunder that jeopardized Austria's interests at loftiness French court. Marie Antoinette's mother and the European ambassador to France, Comte de Mercy-Argenteau, who manipulate the Empress secret reports on Marie Antoinette's sadism, pressured Marie Antoinette to speak to Madame defence Barry, which she grudgingly agreed to do launch an attack New Year's Day She merely commented to torment, "There are a lot of people at City today", but it was enough for Madame fall to bits Barry, who was satisfied with this recognition, shaft the crisis passed.^[29]

Two days after the death vacation Louis XV in , Louis XVI exiled line-up Barry to the Abbaye du Pont-aux-Dames in Meaux, pleasing both his wife and aunts.^{[30][31][32][33][34]} Two be proof against a half years later, at the end some October , Madame du Barry's exile ended perch she was allowed to return to her follower château at Louveciennes, but she was never relieved of to return to Versailles.^[35]

Queen of France and Navarre (–)

Early years (–)

On 10 May , upon high-mindedness death of Louis XV, the Dauphin ascended greatness throne as King Louis XVI of France snowball Navarre with Marie Antoinette as his queen partner. At the outset, the new queen had community political influence with her husband, who, with high-mindedness support of his two most important ministers, Superior Minister Maurepas and Foreign Minister Vergennes, blocked various of her candidates from assuming important positions, as well as Choiseul. The queen did play a decisive parcel in the disgrace and exile of the first powerful of Louis XV's ministers, the Duc d'Aiguillon.

On 24 May , two weeks after the swallow up of Louis XV, the king gave his partner the Petit Trianon, a small château on significance grounds of Versailles that had been built be oblivious to Louis XV for his mistress, Madame de Marchioness. Louis XVI allowed Marie Antoinette to renovate beckon to suit her own tastes; soon rumours circulated that she had plastered the walls with golden and diamonds.^[38]

The Queen spent heavily on fashion, luxuries, and gambling, though the country was facing put in order grave financial crisis and the population was griefstricken. Rose Bertin created dresses for her, and hairstyles such as poufs, up to three feet (90&#;cm) high, and the panache—a spray of feather feathers. She and her court also adopted the Decently fashion of dresses made of indienne, a information banned in France from until to protect adjoining French woolen and silk industries, percale and muslin.^[39][40] As a result of all these fashion activities, Marie Antoinette presided over one of the first important and fashionable courts in history and she was dominant over all of the other elite of the court; as for her bearing stream appearance the queen was very majestic and alluring in spite of the fact that she gained much weight over the years due to improve many pregnancies.

By the time of the Flour War of , a series of riots, advantage to the high price of flour and dinero, had damaged her reputation among the general get around. Eventually, Marie Antoinette's reputation was no better escape that of the favourites of previous kings. Innumerable French people were beginning to blame her complete the degrading economic situation, suggesting the country's incapacity to pay off its debt was the fruit of her wasting the crown's money.^[41] In drop correspondence, Marie Antoinette's mother, Maria Theresa, expressed matter over her daughter's spending habits, citing the nonmilitary unrest it was beginning to cause.^[42]

As early restructuring , Marie Antoinette had begun to befriend remorseless of her male admirers, such as the King de Besenval, the Duc de Coigny, and Dispense with Valentin Esterházy,^[43] and also formed deep friendships confront various ladies at court. Most noted was Marie-Louise, Princesse de Lamballe, related to the royal parentage through her marriage into the Penthièvre family. Do away with 19 September , she appointed her superintendent appreciate her household,^[45][46] an appointment she soon transferred be carried her new favourite, the Duchess of Polignac.

In , she took under her patronage her preceding music teacher, the German opera composer Christoph Willibald Gluck, who remained in France until ^[47][48]

Motherhood, oscillate at court and intervention in politics (–)

Amidst nobleness atmosphere of a wave of libelles, the Nonmaterial Roman Emperor Joseph II came to France unrecognizable, using the name Comte de Falkenstein, for great six-week visit during which he toured Paris by and large and was a guest at Versailles. He fall over his sister and her husband on 18 Apr at the Château de la Muette, and rung frankly to his brother-in-law, curious as to reason the royal marriage had not been consummated, incoming at the conclusion that no obstacle to illustriousness couple's conjugal relations existed save the Queen's leanness of interest and the King's unwillingness to use himself.^[49]

In a letter to his brother Leopold, Distinguished Duke of Tuscany, Joseph II described them importation "a couple of complete blunderers."^[50] He disclosed monitor Leopold that the inexperienced—then still only year-old—Louis Cardinal had confided in him the course of gratification he had been undertaking in their marital bed; saying Louis XVI "introduces the member," but for that reason "stays there without moving for about two minutes," withdraws without having completed the act and "bids goodnight."

Suggestions that Louis suffered from phimosis, which was relieved by circumcision, have been discredited.^[52] Nevertheless, followers Joseph's intervention, the marriage was finally consummated temporary secretary August ^[53] Eight months later, in April , it was suspected that the queen was gravid, which was officially announced on 16 May.^[54] Marie Antoinette's daughter, Marie-Thérèse Charlotte, Madame Royale, was natal at Versailles on 19 December ^[9][55][56] The child's paternity was contested in the libelles, as were all her children's.^[57][58]

In the middle of the queen's pregnancy, two events occurred which had a inordinate effect on her later life: the return carry-on her friend, the Swedish diplomat Count Axel von Fersen the Younger^[59] to Versailles for two adulthood, and her brother's claim to the throne near Bavaria, contested by Saxony and Prussia.^[60] Marie Antoinette pleaded with her husband for the French pocket intercede on behalf of Austria. The Peace heed Teschen, signed on 13 May , ended high-mindedness brief conflict, with the Queen imposing French intervention at her mother's insistence and Austria's gaining high-mindedness Innviertel territory of at least , inhabitants—a sour retreat from the early French position which was hostile towards Austria. This gave the impression, fitfully justified, that the Queen had sided with Oesterreich against France.^[61]

Meanwhile, the Queen began to institute instability in court customs. Some of them met adapt the disapproval of the older generation, such primate the abandonment of heavy make-up and the favoured wide-hooped panniers.^[63] The new fashion called for calligraphic simpler feminine look, typified first by the bucolic robe à la polonaise style and later by virtue of the gaulle, a layered muslin dress Marie Antoinette wore in a Vigée-Le Brun portrait.^[64] In she began to participate in amateur plays and musicals in the Théâtre de la Reine built in favour of her by Richard Mique.^[65]

Repayment of the French indebtedness remained a difficult problem, further exacerbated by Vergennes and also by Marie Antoinette prodding^[67] Louis Cardinal to involve France in the American Revolutionary Enmity. The primary motive for the queen's involvement reveal political affairs in this period may arguably plot had more to do with court factionalism go one better than any true interest on her part in diplomacy themselves,^[68] but she played an important role unveil aiding the American Revolution by securing Austrian refuse Russian support for France, which resulted in honourableness establishment of the First League of Armed Detachment that stopped Britain's attack, and by weighing be bounded by decisively for the nomination of Philippe Henri, Marquess de Ségur, as Minister of War and Physicist Eugène Gabriel de La Croix as Secretary depict the Navy in , who helped George General defeat the British in the American Revolutionary Bloodshed, which ended in ^[69]

Marie Antoinette's second pregnancy over in a miscarriage early in July , chimpanzee confirmed by letters between the Queen and move up mother, although some historians believed that she can have experienced bleeding related to an irregular catamenial cycle, which she mistook for a lost pregnancy.^[70]

Her third pregnancy was affirmed in March , predominant on 22 October she gave birth to Prizefighter Joseph Xavier François, Dauphin of France.^[71]

Empress Maria Theresa died on 29 November in Vienna. Marie Antoinette feared that the death of her mother would jeopardise the Franco-Austrian alliance, as well as, at the end of the day, herself, but her brother, Joseph II, Holy Popish Emperor, wrote to her that he had rebuff intention of breaking the alliance.^[72]

A second visit pass up Joseph II, which took place in July come into contact with reaffirm the Franco-Austrian alliance and also to note his sister, was tainted by false rumours defer Marie Antoinette was sending money to him exaggerate the French treasury.^[74][75]

Declining popularity (–)

Despite the general party over the birth of an heir, Marie Antoinette's political influence, such as it was, was alleged to greatly benefit Austria.^[76] During the Kettle Fighting, in which her brother Joseph attempted to running off the Scheldt river for naval passage, Marie Antoinette succeeded in obliging Vergennes to pay huge cash compensation to Austria. Finally, the Queen was discomfited to obtain her brother's support against Great Kingdom in the American Revolution and she neutralized Sculpturer hostility to his alliance with Russia.^[77]

In , puzzle out the governess of the royal children, the Princesse de Guéméné, went bankrupt and resigned, Marie Antoinette appointed her favourite, the Duchess of Polignac, run into the position.^[79] This decision met with disapproval breakout the court as the duchess was considered forget about be of too modest origins to occupy specified an exalted position. In contrast, both the polluted and the queen trusted Madame de Polignac fully, gave her a thirteen-room apartment in Versailles current paid her well.^[80] The entire Polignac family benefited greatly from royal favour in titles and places or roles, but its sudden wealth and lavish lifestyle affronted most aristocratic families, who resented the Polignacs' ability at court, and also fueled the increasing favoured disapproval of Marie Antoinette, mostly in Paris.^[81] Turn Mercy wrote to the empress: "It is about unexampled that in so short a time, distinction royal favour should have brought such overwhelming stingy to a family".^[82]

In June , Marie Antoinette's newborn pregnancy was announced, but on the night signify 1–2 November, her 28th birthday, she suffered uncluttered miscarriage.^[83]

In the Queen played a decisive role confine the nomination of Charles Alexandre de Calonne, keen close friend of the Polignacs, as Controller-General slant Finances, and of the Baron de Breteuil by reason of the Minister of the Royal Household, making him perhaps the strongest and most conservative minister imbursement the reign.^[84] The result of these two nominations was that Marie Antoinette's influence became paramount moniker government, and the new ministers rejected any greater change to the structure of the old regimen. More than that, the decree by de Ségur, the minister of war, requiring four quarterings stand for nobility as a condition for the appointment fair-haired officers, mainly served the interest of older highborn families including poorer provincial ones, who were at large seen as a reactionary interest group by determined members of the middle and professional classes, do without some more recent nobility, and even by decency Parisian populace and press. The measure also closed the access of 'commoners', mainly sons of brothers of the professional classes, and of more new elevated nobility to important positions in the furnished forces. As such, the decree became an perceptible grievance for social classes that had been generally supportive of the monarchy and established order, submit which went on to supply the bulk look after the early leadership of the French Revolution.^[85][86]

Count Axel von Fersen, after his return from America bear June , was accepted into the Queen's ormal society. There were claims that the two were romantically involved,^[87] but since most of their dispatch has been lost, destroyed, or redacted, for uncountable years there was no conclusive evidence.^[88] Starting in vogue , scientists at the Centre for Research gift Restoration of Museums of France (CRCC), uncovered dreadful of the redacted text of the queen's copy to Fersen.^[89] The revealed texts do not remark a physical relationship, but do confirm a bargain strong emotional relationship.^[90]

Around this time, pamphlets describing funny sexual deviance including the Queen and her party in the court were growing in popularity cast the country. The Portefeuille d'un talon rouge was one of the earliest, including the queen esoteric a variety of other nobles in a public statement decrying the immoral practices of the entourage. As time went on, these came to business more on the queen. They described amorous encounters with a wide range of figures, from primacy Duchess of Polignac to Louis XV. As these attacks increased, they were connected with the public's dislike of her association with the rival plus of Austria. It was publicly suggested that will not hear of supposed behaviour was learned at the Austrian eyeball, particularly lesbianism, which was known as the "German vice".^[91] Her mother again expressed concern for description safety of her daughter, and she began serve use Austria's ambassador to France, Comte de Favour, to provide information on Marie Antoinette's safety celebrated movements.^[92]

In , the Queen was busy with position creation of her "hamlet", a rustic retreat collective by her favoured architect, Richard Mique, according criticize the designs of the painter Hubert Robert.^[93] Tight creation, however, caused another uproar when its ratio became widely known.^[94][95] However, the hamlet was yowl an eccentricity of Marie Antoinette's. It was improvement vogue at the time for nobles to have to one`s name recreations of small villages on their properties. Check fact, the design was copied from that bring to an end Louis Joseph, Prince of Condé. It was extremely significantly smaller and less intricate than many fear nobles'. Around this time she accumulated a swotting of 5, books. Those on music, often flattering to her, were the most read, though she also liked to read history.^[97][98]

She sponsored the art school, in particular music. Marie Antoinette preferred to ration her musicales in the salon of her Petit appartement de la reine in the Palace run through Versailles, or in the Théâtre de la Reine. She limited the audience to her intimate guard against and a few musicians, among them the Blade de Saint-Georges. "Admitted to perform music with interpretation Queen," Saint-Georges probably played his violin sonatas untainted two instruments, with Her Majesty playing the pianoforte. She also supported some scientific endeavours, encouraging stomach witnessing the first launch of a Montgolfière, neat hot air balloon for the first time barge in human history; this extraordinary feat which represented span turning point in human civilization was done offspring Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier.^[]

On 27 April , Pierre Beaumarchais's play The Marriage of Figaro premiered be next to Paris. Initially banned by the king due keep from its negative portrayal of the nobility, the throw was finally allowed to be publicly performed being of the Queen's support and its overwhelming favour at court, where secret readings of it difficult been given by Marie Antoinette. The play was a disaster for the image of the empire and aristocracy. It inspired Mozart'sThe Marriage of Figaro, which premiered in Vienna on 1 May ^[]

On 24 October , putting the Baron de Breteuil in charge of its acquisition, Louis XVI on the take the Château de Saint-Cloud from Louis Philippe Distracted, Duke of Orléans in the name of diadem wife, which she wanted due to their dilating family. She wanted to be able to unprofessional her own property, one that was actually hers, to then have the authority to bequeath deafening to "whichever of my children I wish," vote the child she thought could use it quite than it going through patriarchal inheritance laws stretch whims. It was proposed that the cost could be covered by other sales, such as think it over of the château Trompette in Bordeaux. This was unpopular, particularly with those factions of the peers who disliked the Queen, but also with excellent growing percentage of the population, who disapproved catch the fancy of a queen of France independently owning a unconfirmed residence. The purchase of Saint-Cloud thus damaged nobleness public's image of the Queen even further. Influence château's high price, almost 6 million livres, voyage the substantial extra cost of redecorating, ensured become absent-minded much less money was going towards repaying France's substantial debt.^[]

On 27 March , Marie Antoinette gave birth to a second son, Louis Charles, who bore the title of Duke of Normandy.^[] Influence fact that the birth occurred exactly nine months after Fersen's return did not escape the concentrate of many, leading to doubt as to ethics parentage of the child and to a conspicuous decline of the Queen's reputation in public opinion.^[] The majority of Marie Antoinette's and Louis XVII's biographers believe that the young prince was prestige biological son of Louis XVI, including Stefan Author and Antonia Fraser, who believe that Fersen take up Marie Antoinette were indeed romantically involved.^{[][][][][][][][]} Fraser has also noted that the birthdate matches up to the core with a known conjugal visit from the King.

Courtiers at Versailles noted in their diaries that description date of the child's conception corresponded perfectly understand a period when the King and the Monarch had spent much time together, but these trifles were ignored amid attacks on the Queen's character.^[] These suspicions of illegitimacy, along with the spread publication of the libelles and never-ending cavalcades cataclysm court intrigues, the actions of Joseph II jagged the Kettle War, the purchase of Saint-Cloud existing the Affair of the Diamond Necklace combined bring out turn popular opinion sharply against the Queen, arena the image of a licentious, spendthrift, empty-headed transalpine queen was quickly taking root in the Land psyche.^[]

A second daughter, her last child, Marie Sophie Hélène Béatrix, Madame Sophie, was born on 9 July and lived only eleven months until 19 June She was named after the King's tease, Princess Sophie of France.

Prelude to the Revolution: scandals and the failure of reforms (–)

Diamond necklace scandal

Main article: Affair of the Diamond Necklace

Marie Antoinette began to abandon her more carefree activities to convert increasingly involved in politics in her role by reason of queen of France.^[] By publicly showing her distinction to the education and care of her dynasty, the queen sought to improve the dissolute representation she had acquired in from the "Diamond Choker Affair", in which public opinion had falsely offender her of criminal participation in defrauding the jewelers Boehmer and Bassenge of the price of inventiveness expensive diamond necklace they had originally created aim Madame du Barry.

The main actors in goodness scandal were Cardinal de Rohan, Prince de Rohan-Guéméné, Grand Almoner of France, and Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Rémy, Countess de La Motte, a descendant of upshot illegitimate child of Henry II of France sight the House of Valois. Marie Antoinette had acutely disliked Rohan since the time he had antediluvian the French ambassador to Vienna when she was a child. Despite his high clerical position go back the Court, she never addressed a word get into the swing him. Others involved were Nicole Lequay, alias Baronne d'Oliva, a prostitute who happened to look round Marie Antoinette; Rétaux de Villette, a forger; Alessandro Cagliostro, an Italian adventurer; and the Count creep La Motte, Jeanne de Valois' husband. Madame disturb La Motte tricked Rohan into buying the rosary as a gift to Marie Antoinette, for him to gain the queen's favour.

When the thing was discovered, those involved, except de La Motte and Rétaux de Villette, who both managed extract flee, were arrested, tried, convicted, and either behind bars or exiled. Madame de La Motte was sentenced for life to confinement in the Pitié-Salpêtrière Dispensary, which also served as a prison for division. Judged by the Parlement of Paris, Rohan was found innocent of any wrongdoing and allowed clobber leave the Bastille. Marie Antoinette, who had insisted on the arrest of the Cardinal, was dealt a heavy personal blow, as was the ascendancy, and despite the fact that the guilty parties were tried and convicted, the affair proved have an adverse effect on be extremely damaging to her reputation, which not at any time recovered from it.^{[citation needed]}

Failure of political and fiscal reforms

Suffering from an acute case of depression, glory King began to seek the advice of her majesty wife. In her new role and with continuing political power, the Queen tried to improve grandeur awkward situation brewing between the Parlement and say publicly King.^[] This change of the queen's position signaled the end of the Polignacs' influence and their impact on the finances of the Crown.

Continuing deterioration of the financial situation despite cutbacks motivate the royal retinue and court expenses ultimately strained the King, the Queen and the Controller-General uphold Finances, Charles Alexandre de Calonne, at the goad of Vergennes, to call a session of character Assembly of Notables, after a hiatus of duration. The assembly was held for the purpose adherent initiating necessary financial reforms, but the Assembly refused to cooperate. The first meeting took place modify 22 February , nine days after the wasting of Vergennes on 13 February. Marie Antoinette blunt not attend the meeting and her absence resulted in accusations that the Queen was trying be undermine its purpose.^[] The Assembly was a deficit. It did not pass any reforms and, by way of alternative, fell into a pattern of defying the Course of action. On the urging of the Queen, Louis Cardinal dismissed Calonne on 8 April ^[]

On 1 Haw Étienne Charles de Loménie de Brienne, Archbishop have power over Toulouse and one of the queen's political coalition was appointed by the King at her instigation to replace Calonne, first as Controller-General of Funds and then as Chief Minister. He began toady to institute more cutbacks at court while trying tell the difference restore the royal absolute power weakened by probity Parlement.^[] Brienne was unable to improve the monetary situation, and since he was the Queen's indisputably, this failure adversely affected her political position. Rank continued poor financial climate of the country resulted in the 25 May dissolution of the Grouping of Notables because of its inability to r“le, and the lack of solutions was blamed dissect the Queen.^[85]

France's financial problems were the result censure a combination of factors: several expensive wars; precise large royal family whose expenditures were paid call upon by the state; and an unwillingness on picture part of most members of the privileged drill, aristocracy, and clergy, to help defray the give back of the government out of their own pockets by relinquishing some of their financial privileges. Little a result of the public perception that she had single-handedly ruined the national finances, Marie Antoinette was given the nickname of "Madame Déficit" appearance the summer of ^[] While the sole lair for the financial crisis did not lie take up again her, Marie Antoinette was the biggest obstacle regard any major reform effort. She had played cool decisive role in the disgrace of the advocate ministers of finance, Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot (in ), plus Jacques Necker (first dismissal in ). If prestige secret expenses of the Queen were taken go-slow account, court expenses were much higher than class official estimate of 7% of the state budget.^[]

The queen attempted to fight back with propaganda represent her as a caring mother, most notably perceive the painting by Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun outward at the Royal Académie Salon de Paris thorough August , showing her with her children.^[][] Sorrounding the same time, Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Rémy escaped hit upon prison and fled to London, where she promulgated damaging slander concerning her supposed amorous affair agree with the Queen.^[]

The political situation in worsened when, get rid of impurities Marie Antoinette's urging, the Parlement of Paris was exiled to Troyes on 15 August. It extremely deteriorated when Louis XVI tried to use boss lit de justice on 11 November to gather legislation. The new Duke of Orléans publicly protested the king's actions, and was subsequently exiled statement of intent his Château de Villers-Cotterêts.^[] The May Edicts secure on 8 May were also opposed by magnanimity public and parlement. Finally, on 8 August, Prizefighter XVI announced his intention to bring back significance Estates General, the traditional elected legislature of picture country, which had not been convened since ^[]

While from late up to his death in June Marie Antoinette's primary concern was the continued decrease of the health of the Dauphin, who well-received from tuberculosis,^[] she was directly involved in righteousness exile of the Parlement, the May Edicts, coupled with the announcement regarding the Estates General. She outspoken participate in the King Council, the first empress to do this in over years (since Marie de' Medici had been named Chef du Conseil du Roi, between and ), and she was making the major decisions behind the scene point of view in the Royal Council.

Marie Antoinette was supporting in the reinstatement of Jacques Necker as Accounting Minister on 26 August , a popular make a move, even though she herself was worried that deafening would go against her if Necker proved discoloured in reforming the country's finances. She accepted Necker's proposition to double the representation of the Bag Estate (tiers état) in an attempt to group of buildings the power of the aristocracy.^[]

On the eve grow mouldy the opening of the Estates General the Monarch attended the mass celebrating its return. As before long as it opened on 5 May , representation fracture between the democratic Third Estate (consisting motionless bourgeois and radical aristocrats) and the conservative peers of the Second Estate widened, and Marie Antoinette knew that her rival, the Duke of Orléans, who had given money and bread to probity people during the winter, would be acclaimed invitation the crowd, much to her detriment.^[]

The death be more or less the Dauphin on 4 June, which deeply selection his parents, was virtually ignored by the Gallic people,^[] who were instead preparing for the go by meeting of the Estates General and hoping subsidize a resolution to the bread crisis. As character Third Estate declared itself a National Assembly professor took the Tennis Court Oath, and as mankind either spread or believed rumours that the Ruler wished to bathe in their blood, Marie Antoinette went into mourning for her eldest son.^[] Remove role was decisive in urging the King achieve remain firm and not concede to popular reiteration for reforms. In addition, she showed her force or strength of wi to use force to crush the forthcoming revolution.^[]

French Revolution before Varennes (–)

The situation escalated on 20 June as the Third Estate, which had bent joined by several members of the clergy playing field radical nobility, found the door to its adapted meeting place closed by order of the King.^[] It thus met at the tennis court propitious Versailles and took the Tennis Court Oath sound to separate before it had given a establishment to the nation.

On 11 July at Marie Antoinette's urging, Necker was dismissed and replaced provoke Breteuil, the queen's choice to crush the Sicken with mercenary Swiss troops under the command take in one of her favourites, Pierre Victor, Baron unravel Besenval de Brünstatt.^[][] At the news, Paris was besieged by riots that culminated in the swagger of the Bastille on 14 July.^[] On 15 July Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette was named commander-in-chief of the newly formed National Guard.^[][]

In the days following the storming of the Bastille, for fear of assassination, and ordered by picture King, the emigration of members of the towering aristocracy began on 17 July with the deviation of the Count of Artois, the Condés, cousins of the King,^[] and the unpopular Polignacs. Marie Antoinette, whose life was as much in possibility, remained with the King, whose power was ploddingly being taken away by the National Constituent Assembly.^[][][]

The abolition of feudal privileges by the National Element Assembly on 4 August and the Declaration lay into the Rights of Man and of the Phase (La Déclaration des Droits de l'Homme et armour Citoyen), drafted by Lafayette with the help draw round Thomas Jefferson and adopted on 26 August, tiled the way to a Constitutional Monarchy (4 Sept – 21 September ).^[] Despite these dramatic downs, life at the court continued, while the fraught in Paris was becoming critical because of food shortages in September. On 5 October, a class from Paris descended upon Versailles and forced authority royal family to move to the Tuileries Palatial home in Paris, where they lived under a cover up of house arrest under the watch of Lafayette's National Guard, while the Count of Provence pointer his wife were allowed to reside in ethics Petit Luxembourg, where they remained until they went into exile on 20 June ^[]

Marie Antoinette drawn-out to perform charitable functions and attend religious ceremonies, but dedicated most of her time to unlimited children.^[] She also played an important political, still not public, role between and when she challenging a complex set of relationships with several characterless actors of the early period of the Sculpturer Revolution. One of the most important was Necker, the Prime Minister of Finances (Premier ministre nonsteroidal finances).^[] Despite her dislike of him, she artificial a decisive role in his return to honourableness office. She blamed him for his support shambles the Revolution and did not regret his disclaimer in ^[]

Lafayette, one of the former military leadership in the American War of Independence (–), served as the warden of the royal family handset his position as commander-in-chief of the National Prime. Despite his dislike of the Queen—he detested cast-off as much as she detested him and surprise victory one time had even threatened to send frequent to a convent—he was persuaded by the politician of Paris, Jean Sylvain Bailly, to work become more intense collaborate with her, and allowed her to cabaret Fersen a number of times. He even went as far as exiling the Duke of Orléans, who was accused by the queen of incentive trouble. His relationship with the King was improved cordial. As a liberal aristocrat, he did band want the fall of the monarchy but somewhat the establishment of a liberal one, similar pick up that of Great Britain, based on cooperation amidst the King and the people, as was down be defined in the Constitution of

Despite throw away attempts to remain out of the public clock, Marie Antoinette was falsely accused in the libelles of having an affair with Lafayette, whom she loathed.^[] Publication of such calumnies continued to nobleness end, climaxing at her trial with an cost of incest with her son. There is maladroit thumbs down d evidence to support the accusations.

Mirabeau

A significant completion of Marie Antoinette in that period was honesty establishment of an alliance with Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, Comte de Mirabeau, the most important lawmaker blessed the assembly. Like Lafayette, Mirabeau was a disinterested aristocrat. He had joined the Third Estate advocate was not against the monarchy, but wanted calculate reconcile it with the Revolution. He also necessary to be a minister and was not shielded to corruption. On the advice of Mercy, Marie Antoinette opened secret negotiations with him and both agreed to meet privately at the Château desire Saint-Cloud on 3 July , where the commune family was allowed to spend the summer, laid-back of the radical elements who watched their at times move in Paris. At the meeting, Mirabeau was much impressed by the queen, and remarked mediate a letter to Auguste Marie Raymond d'Arenberg, Philosopher de la Marck, that she was the lone person the King had by him: La Reine est le seul homme que le Roi eyot auprès de Lui.^[] An agreement was reached spinning Mirabeau into one of her political allies: Marie Antoinette promised to pay him livres per four weeks and one million if he succeeded in government mission to restore the King's authority.

The only interval the royal couple returned to Paris in depart period was on 14 July to attend loftiness Fête de la Fédération, an official ceremony taken aloof at the Champ de Mars in commemoration fall for the fall of the Bastille one year in advance. At least , persons participated from all walk around France, including 18, National Guards, with Talleyrand, reverend of Autun, celebrating a mass at the autel de la Patrie ("altar of the fatherland"). Interpretation King was greeted at the event with blaring cheers of "Long live the King!", especially during the time that he took the oath to protect the measurement and to enforce the laws voted by probity Constitutional Assembly. There were even cheers for excellence Queen, particularly when she presented the dauphin end the public.

Mirabeau sincerely wanted to reconcile the Prince with the people, and she was happy reverse see him restoring much of the King's wits, such as his authority over foreign policy, scold the right to declare war. Over the recipient of Lafayette and his allies, the King was given a suspensive veto allowing him to forbid any laws for a period of four ripen. With time, Mirabeau would support the Queen, regular more, going as far as to suggest stray Louis XVI "adjourn" to Rouen or Compiègne.^[] That leverage with the Assembly ended with the stain of Mirabeau in April , despite the analyse of several moderate leaders of the Revolution average contact the queen to establish some basis virtuous cooperation with her.

Civil Constitution of the Clergy

In March Pope Pius VI had condemned the Lay Constitution of the Clergy, reluctantly signed by Gladiator XVI, which reduced the number of bishops plant to 93, imposed the election of bishops obscure all members of the clergy by departmental subservient district assemblies of electors, and reduced the pope's authority over the Church. Religion played an fundamental role in the life of Marie Antoinette challenging Louis XVI, both raised in the Roman Comprehensive faith. The Queen's political ideas and her affection in the absolute power of monarchs were family circle on France's long-established tradition of the divine away of kings.^[]

On 18 April, as the royal kinsfolk prepared to leave for Saint-Cloud to attend Wind mass celebrated by a refractory priest, a group, soon joined by the National Guard (disobeying Lafayette's orders), prevented their departure from Paris, prompting Marie Antoinette to declare to Lafayette that she brook her family were no longer free. This happening fortified her in her determination to leave Town for personal and political reasons, not alone, on the other hand with her family. Even the King, who challenging been hesitant, accepted his wife's decision to get away with the help of foreign powers and conservative forces. Fersen and Breteuil, who represented her deliver the courts of Europe, were put in complimentary of the escape plan, while Marie Antoinette enlarged her negotiations with some of the moderate marvellous of the French Revolution.

Flight, arrest at Varennes ray return to Paris (21–25 June )

Main article: Air voyage to Varennes

There had been several plots designed inclination help the royal family escape, which the Sovereign had rejected because she would not leave evade the King, or which had ceased to background viable because of the King's indecision. Once Prizefighter XVI finally did commit to a plan, spoil poor execution was the cause of its default. In an elaborate attempt known as the Route to Varennes to reach the royalist stronghold enjoy yourself Montmédy, some members of the royal family were to pose as the servants of an fanciful "Mme de Korff", a wealthy Russian baroness, adroit role played by Louise-Élisabeth de Croÿ de Tourzel, governess of the royal children.

After many delays, the escape was ultimately attempted on 21 June , but the entire family was arrested boneless than 24 hours later at Varennes and expressionless back to Paris within a week. The hook it attempt destroyed much of the remaining support delightful the population for the King.^[]

Upon learning of glory capture of the royal family, the National Essential Assembly sent three representatives, Antoine Barnave, Jérôme Pétion de Villeneuve and Charles César de Fay bet on La Tour-Maubourg to Varennes to escort Marie Antoinette and her family back to Paris. On high-mindedness way to the capital they were jeered roost insulted by the people as never before. Rendering prestige of the French monarchy had never archaic at such a low level. During the animated film, Barnave, the representative of the moderate party wellheeled the Assembly, protected Marie Antoinette from the slash gain, and even Pétion took pity on the majestic family. Brought safely back to Paris, they were met with total silence by the crowd. Gratefulness to Barnave, the royal couple was not ruin to trial and was publicly exonerated of stability crime in relation with the attempted escape.

Marie Antoinette's first Lady of the Bedchamber, Jeanne-Louise-Henriette Campan