So just who was Marie Antoinette!?

In the summer of 2013 Ben and I were lucky enough to visit the Palace of Versailles. Though I would like to say I was horrified by the great splendor of a palace built from the relentless taxing of the poor, I couldn't help but find it all quite beautiful. We never actually made it into the house due to possibly the longest queues I have ever witnessed and my inability to wait patiently. (I should probably also mention I was 35 weeks pregnant at the time!) So instead we resorted to walking the grounds (and stopping off at almost every toilet on the way...thank you Olivia.) Upon arriving in Marie Antoinette's garden Ben asked the illusive question…who was Marie Antoinette? Assuming my husband thinks I am an expert of history in all areas (I fear I may be kidding myself here…) I spieled something off about her being wife of King Louis XVI, but really I actually knew incredibly little. So I vowed when I got home I would do some research! 

Though I don’t profess to be all knowledgeable in this area, what I do feel is a degree of sympathy for this woman who to me, whilst not without fault, was a victim of birth and circumstance. As the fifteenth child of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I, from an early age, Marie Antoinette understood she would have little say in the direction of her life. Her mother was a women whom she feared more than loved, stating in relation to her daughters ‘They are born to obey and must learn to do so in good time.’

As unexpected, she had little say in her choice of spouse and in April 1770 was married to Louis Auguste, Dauphin of France. Marie Antoinette fell victim to the fate of a princess who married into a foreign country; she would become both a hostage to France but also was expected to be an ambassador for Austria. This factor would later contribute to her downfall, France believing she was attempting to control the Kings political actions in favour of Austrian interests. However it is believed she was not politically minded and was often criticized by her Austrian counterparts for failing to promote any policy in favour of Austria. Marie Antoinette gave birth to four children, two of whom however, sadly died. Many would agree that despite her other pursuits, her children were the greatest joy in her life. Her Brother Emperor Joseph II noted that the private role of mother was the only one that really suited her.

In her early years as Queen, Marie Antoinette was looked upon quite favourably. Acts of generosity and kindness were publically broadcast by onlookers and her love for children also furthered her image of caring, frequently singling out children in the crowd to ask for their name. It is evident she was fully aware of the privileged life she led when she stated in a letter to her mother just after their coronation ‘It is quite certain that in seeing the people who treat us so well despite their own misfortune, we are more obliged than ever to work hard for their happiness.’ The King was also more forward thinking than his predecessors, evidenced when asked about gifts for his daughter he stated ‘she would undoubtedly prefer to go without her jewels rather than the public should go without bread.’

The first few years of her marriage were lonely for Marie Antoinette as she endured being mostly ignored by her husband. She found solace in the opera and theatre, and loved to reward members of her household with gifts. Her late night card parties arguably sullied her reputation as she gambled away a great deal of money. However whilst I do not excuse this behaviour I do feel sympathy for this young girl who, disappointed with her marriage and somewhat homesick, simply turned her attention to other pursuits.

It wasn’t long however before Marie Antoinette became a focus for attack in the release of pamphlets and leaflets claiming her spending extravagant and her political interests incompatible with those of France. In terms of spending however she was not unusual in her extravagance, often simply behaving in the way she was expected to as Queen of France. In fact she was noted to have stated ‘We have more need of ships than diamonds!’ For all the criticism of the revolutionaries, here to me seemed to be two monarchs actually fairly compassionate to (or at least understanding of) the plight of the poor. Whether or not this was simply the result of a changing nation that required the monarchy to at least present themselves in this way, I am not sure. However I do at least believe that Marie Antoinette was not wholly to blame for the revolution (despite the views of those such as Thomas Jefferson), rather tensions that had been brewing for some time finally had an outlet. Unfortunately for Marie Antoinette perceptions were changing and the public were no longer giving way to this monarchical society under which they believed all their suffering was spawned.  

In 1793 Marie Antoinette was tried and convicted by the Revolutionary Tribunal of treason to the principles of the revolution. Prior to undertaking any research on Marie Antoinette I fear like many others I considered her to be an example of all that was wrong with society at the time, however I now find that I do lean towards the sympathetic viewpoint, believing her to be a victim from birth. She was clearly a devoted mother and would likely have been quite happy devoting her life to a family, yet birth defined her path and as such she would face the difficulties of life under the public eye. She was born into privilege at the wrong time, but then again, was there ever a good time to be born into privilege?