15 Interesting, Little Known Facts About Marie Antoinette
Last updated on November 7th, 2024 at 09:57 am
Ever wondered if all you’ve read about Marie Antoinette is true?
So much has been written about the last Queen of France, some of it true, some of it not. And many of the facts about Marie Antoinette aren’t what you’d expect.
Like many, I’m fascinated by this woman who, at the tender age of 14, left her home, family and everything she knew to marry the Dauphin of France.
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She was a pawn in a political game with no say in where she lived or who she married.
And when she got to the court in Versailles, these complexities were heightened to an overwhelming point.
But was she really the immoral, selfish, and indulgent girl history has painted her to be? One, who spent an obscene amount of money on clothes, parties and shoes whilst the rest of France starved?
Or was she a seriously misunderstood woman heavily influenced by her upbringing and the environment of the French court?
Quick Facts About Marie Antoinette
| Born | 2 November, 1755, Vienna |
| Full Name | Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna de Lorraine |
| Title at Birth | Archduchess of Austria |
| Married By Proxy | 19 April 1770 to the Dauphin of France |
| Wedding in Versailles | 16 May, 1770 |
| Husband | Louis XVI |
| Children | Four. Only Marie Therese survived to adulthood |
| Crowned Queen | 10 May, 1774 |
| Executed by Guillotine | 16 October, 1793 |
The Many Personalities of Marie Antoinette
Perhaps the most fitting description of Marie Antoinette is that of a woman embodying contradictions. She was charismatic and sociable, but equally happy to be out of the public eye enjoying a more simple life in her private hamlet known as the Hameau de la Reine.
Despite the image of her as solely indulgent, as depicted in the many movies made about her, Marie Antoinette showed moments of generosity and kindness. She was known to support charitable causes and adopted several children in need of help.
Deeply rooted in the belief in the divine right of monarchy, she held traditional views about the social hierarchy and her place within it.
This perspective was at odds with the rapidly changing political landscape of France, positioning her in opposition to the rising tide of revolutionary sentiment.
The latter years of her life, marked by personal loss, political upheaval, and public vilification, showcased her resilience.
Marie Antoinette faced her challenges with a certain stoicism, enduring her trial and execution with dignity. This aspect of her personality highlights a strength often overlooked amidst the focus on her earlier life.
The Truths and Untruths About Marie Antoinette
No 1 She didn’t say, “Let them eat cake”
One of the most enduring myths about Marie Antoinette is her callous remark, “Let them eat cake,” supposedly uttered upon learning that the French peasantry had no bread. However, there’s no historical evidence to suggest she ever said it.
It’s more likely that it originated as political propaganda, aiming to paint the queen as indifferent to the plight of the poor.
In fact, the phrase was first mentioned by Jean-Jacques Rousseau in his autobiography, “Confessions,” written when Marie Antoinette was just a child. Rousseau ascribes it to “a great princess,” without naming anyone specifically.
Historians speculate he might have been referring to Queen Marie-Thérèse, the wife of Louis XIV.
No 2 She wasn’t the most extravagant person at the Versailles Court
Versailles, for all its architectural grandeur and beauty, was a place of surprising squalor. The palace, lacking proper sanitation facilities, was notoriously dirty, with animals roaming freely, leaving little presents everywhere.
The filth of the palace floors meant that many nobles would change their footwear regularly, a practice driven by necessity as much as fashion.
Louis XVI’s brother, comte d’Artois, outspent the queen and many others in terms of his wardrobe. He is said to have ordered 365 pairs of shoes a year.
Several members of the court engaged in this rivalry of riches, each seeking to outdo the others in displays of wealth and luxury.
So, whilst Marie Antoinette was no innocent when it came to extravagant habits, she didn’t introduce luxury to Versailles, it was already there and well established.
She was not the most extravagant figure at court, and this reputation, although not completely unearned, was part of a broader culture of lavishness that defined the French nobility of her era.
No 3 She had her own Chocolatier in Versailles
Marie Antoinette loved chocolate, and, in France at that time, chocolate was a luxury only available to the nobility.
So, when she came to Versailles, she brought her own chocolate maker with her, known as “Chocolate Maker to the Queen”.
The queen’s love for chocolate also had a practical aspect. Sulpice Debauve, a royal family chemist, ingeniously combined medicine with chocolate to create what were known as “pistoles.” These chocolate “coins” were first developed for Marie Antoinette to help her take her medicine.
By infusing the bitter medicines of the 18th century with the taste of chocolate, Debauve made it far more palatable for the queen.
Debauve & Gallais, the chocolatier in Paris behind these pastels, still sells them today.
No 4 Her favourite flowers were cornflower
Marie Antoinette loved the colour of the blue cornflower that grew wild in the meadows. So much so, that she commissioned the Royal Sèvres Manufactory to create a special royal service adorned with motifs of pearls and cornflowers.
This love for the natural world was a common theme for her, most notably in her creation of the Petit Trianon as a pastoral retreat from court life.
No 5 She enjoyed dressing down as much as dressing up
Marie Antoinette’s infamous white dress showcased her passion for dressing down. This dress, known for its simplicity and scandalous departure from the heavily corseted and ornate fashions of the French court, was a muslin gown referred to as the “chemise à la reine” or “the chemise of the queen.”
The dress was revolutionary for its time, worn without stays or corseting, made from muslin, a fabric associated with the colonies and the burgeoning slave trade, and embraced a level of comfort and simplicity previously unseen in royal attire.
Its design was a stark contrast to the lavishly beaded and embroidered gowns that were the norm, making it a subject of scandal and intrigue.
The “chemise à la reine” was not just a fashion statement but a political one, igniting discussions and controversies that went beyond the confines of courtly fashion. It represented Marie Antoinette’s desire for personal freedom and a break from the rigid formalities of court life.
However, it also drew criticism for its perceived immodesty and for symbolising the queen’s detachment from the realities of French society at the time.
Despite the controversies, the “chemise à la reine” influenced fashion trends beyond France, with Marie Antoinette gifting muslin to friends, spreading the style across Europe, and leaving her mark on the fashion world in a very different way.
No 6 Marie Antoinette’s last words were an apology to her executioner
Marie Antoinette’s final words before her execution on October 16, 1793, were apparently an apology. According to popular accounts, as she prepared for the guillotine, she accidentally stepped on the foot of her executioner, Henri Sanson.
In response, she uttered a brief apology, “Pardonnez-moi, monsieur. Je ne l’ai pas fait expres”, meaning “Pardon me, sir, I did not do it on purpose,” or words to that effect, depending on the source.
It makes her so much more human, highlighting the stark contrast between her royal upbringing and the brutal reality of her final days. I have a respect for her I didn’t have before, and it makes me feel bitterly sorry for her.
No 7 She gave birth in full public view
Giving birth is hard enough, but imagine doing it in front of the French Court of Versailles. This practice was designed to ensure the legitimacy of the heir to the throne by having witnesses present to confirm the birth’s authenticity.
There was always that fear that a child could be smuggled in and lay false claim to the throne.
There was so much pressure in those days to produce a son and heir that they’d go to any lengths to secure the throne.
When Marie Antoinette gave birth to her first child, Marie Thérèse Charlotte, on December 19, 1778, the event was witnessed by a crowd that filled the room to a point where it was bursting at the seams.
According to historians, it was chaotic and suffocating, to the extent that the queen fainted due to the lack of air, prompting the king to get the windows opened so the fresh air could come in.
This led to a slight relaxation in the strictness of the practice for subsequent births, but the tradition of public royal births remained largely intact.
Things like this help you to see the intense scrutiny and pressures she faced as queen, where her personal and public lives were inextricably linked.
So, although she lived a very privileged life, it was a life that wasn’t her own and with many sacrifices, including her ultimate demise.
No 8 She was accused of molesting her son, Louis-Charles
It was political manipulation at its absolute best and was completely unfounded. The claim emerged during the height of the Revolution, a time of extreme political turmoil and widespread paranoia, where the monarchy was vilified, and its members were subjected to vicious rumours and accusations.
Louis-Charles, the second child and first son of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI was born in 1785 and was known as the Dauphin of France.
After the execution of his father in 1793, he was titled King Louis XVII by royalists, although he never actually ruled. During the Revolution, the royal family were imprisoned, and in July 1793, Louis-Charles was separated from his mother and placed in the care of a cobbler named Antoine Simon, who was appointed as his guardian by the revolutionary government.
The accusation of molestation was part of a broader campaign to discredit Marie Antoinette and justify the revolutionary government’s actions against her. In 1793, as part of the preparation for her trial, the revolutionary tribunal coerced Louis-Charles into claiming that his mother and aunt had sexually abused him.
These claims were baseless and were probably extracted through manipulation, reflecting the extreme lengths to which the revolutionaries were willing to go to vilify the queen.
Marie Antoinette was tried by the Revolutionary Tribunal on a variety of charges, including treason, depletion of the national treasury, and conspiracy against the security of the state.
The allegations of incestuous abuse were intended to shock and horrify the public so that any remaining sympathy for the queen, was stamped out.
And it worked. Marie Antoinette was convicted and executed by guillotine on October 16, 1793.
Unfortunately, Louis-Charles had an equally tragic ending and died in 1795 under harsh conditions during his imprisonment, his health and spirit broken by the ordeal he endured.
No 9 Her marriage wasn’t consummated for 7 years
What everyone seems to conveniently forget is that when Marie Antoinette got married, she was just 14, and Louis XVI was 15. They were kids, who didn’t have a clue what they were doing, which would explain why for the first couple of years, the marriage wasn’t consummated.
But, not surprisingly, it became the subject of much speculation and gossip, both within the Court of Versailles and across Europe, and Versailles was rife for gossip.
There has been a lot of speculation over why it took seven years to consummate the marriage. One theory suggests that Louis XVI suffered from a condition known as phimosis, a medical issue that can make erections painful and intercourse difficult or impossible. This condition was not uncommon and could have been corrected with surgery, which Louis XVI reportedly underwent later.
The pressure to consummate the marriage and produce offspring was immense, and the public nature of their marital difficulties only added to the stress and embarrassment for both Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI.
Not to mention, the royal pair were expected to navigate their intimate relationship with little to no instruction, in an environment where discussing such matters was taboo.
I find this strange in a court where mistresses were accepted, and everyone seemed to be jumping into bed with each other.
It wasn’t until 1777, after intervention from Marie Antoinette’s brother, Emperor Joseph II of Austria, who visited France and spoke with Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, that the marriage was finally consummated. And their first child, Marie Thérèse Charlotte, was born in December 1778.
No 10 She was called “Madame Déficit”
The title “Madame Déficit” was a derogatory nickname given to Marie Antoinette by her critics during the financial crisis that plagued France in the years leading up to the French Revolution.
By the late 1780s, France was in a severe economic and financial crisis, exacerbated by years of war, including involvement in the American Revolution, poor fiscal management, and an outdated tax system that placed the burden on the peasantry and the burgeoning third estate while largely exempting the nobility and clergy.
Amidst this backdrop of financial turmoil, Marie Antoinette’s expenditures on fashion, entertainment, and the construction and maintenance of her private retreat, the Petit Trianon, became symbols of the monarchy’s disconnect from the struggles of the French people.
The marketers of that time produced pamphlets with her image on them using this nickname, which helped to inflame the situation.
The queen’s lavish spending was not solely responsible for France’s financial woes, however, it became a convenient focal point for public discontent.
Her Austrian origins also made her a target for anti-monarchists, further fueling the criticism against her. The nickname “Madame Déficit” encapsulated the frustration and anger of a population burdened by taxes and poverty, who saw the queen as embodying the excesses and inequalities of the Ancien Régime.
No 11 She nearly escaped imprisonment during the Flight to Varennes
In June 1791, the royal family attempted to flee Paris and reach the safety of the royalist stronghold in Montmédy, near the northeastern border of France. The escape was meticulously planned but ultimately failed, and it is famously known as the Flight to Varennes.
Louis XVI’s hesitation and procrastination played a critical role in the failure of the escape plan. He was understandably worried about the consequences if the escape attempt failed and concerned over the loyalty of the troops and the people outside Paris.
Disguised as servants, they left the Tuileries Palace late at night on June 20 in a large carriage that made them very conspicuous and made their progress slower than it should have been. This combined with Louis’ insistence on stopping for various reasons, including meals and rest, made things worse.
But the final nail in the coffin was the king’s decision to reveal his identity to the postmaster in Sainte-Menehould, Jean-Baptiste Drouet, who recognised him from currency. Drouet then rode ahead to Varennes, where he and others set up a blockade to intercept the royal family.
They were arrested in Varennes on June 21, 1791, and taken back to Paris under guard. The king was now seen as a traitor to the revolution, having attempted to flee from his responsibilities and potentially gather forces to overthrow the revolutionary government.
It set the stage for the radical phase of the Revolution, the eventual abolition of the monarchy, and the execution of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
No 12 She was the target of political pornographers & gossip
Talk about kicking a person when they’re down. They never let up on Marie Antoinette, not for a second. Not only was she responsible for the entire debt of France and the poverty of the poor, but she was also sexually voracious and completely without morals.
She was depicted in a range of pornographic pamphlets that circulated in underground circles. These pamphlets portrayed her in highly graphic and sexually explicit scenarios, often involving multiple men and even women.
They were part of a genre known as “political pornography,” which used sexual scandal and moral depravity as metaphors for political corruption and abuse of power.
Alongside the pornographic depictions, rumours of her supposed affairs were rampant. These included allegations of relationships with both men and women, including the Swedish Count Axel von Fersen, with whom she was particularly close.
While historians debate the nature of her relationship with Fersen, it’s clear that the rumours were exaggerated for political purposes.
No 13 She adopted many children
Marie Antoinette wasn’t the frivolous, self-absorbed, party animal the revolutionaries tried to paint her as, well, not all the time anyway.
She had a compassionate side, especially towards children in need. Contrary to her portrayal as indifferent, she had a soft spot for orphans, adopting several during her time. This act of kindness extended from providing for their education and welfare to bringing them into the palace to live.
These are just four of the children Marie Antoinette took under her wing:
- Armand (François Michel Gagné): A boy nearly killed in an accident in front of her carriage. Marie Antoinette adopted him and his siblings, bringing Armand to live at Versailles. Despite her kindness, Armand turned against the royal family during the Revolution and died in 1792.
- Ernestine (Marie Philippine Lambriquet): Brought in as a companion for her daughter, Marie Thérèse Charlotte. After Ernestine’s mother died, the Queen fully adopted her, ensuring she was treated the same as her own children.
- Jean Amilcar: A young Senegalese boy gifted to the Queen, who, instead of making him a servant, had him baptised and cared for at the palace. Unfortunately, he died on the streets of Paris after the royal family could no longer support him during imprisonment and then ultimately death.
- Zoe (Jeanne Louise Victoire): One of three orphaned girls that Marie Antoinette decided to adopt after their parents died. Zoe was brought into the palace as a companion for Louis-Charles.
What happened to the children of Marie Antoinette?
The children of Marie Antoinette faced tragic and varying fates following the fall of the French monarchy. Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI had four children: Marie Thérèse, Louis Joseph, Louis Charles, and Sophie.
- Marie Thérèse Charlotte: The eldest, Marie Thérèse Charlotte, also known as Madame Royale, was the only child to survive into adulthood. After spending years imprisoned during the Revolution, she was released in 1795 and later married her cousin, Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême. She lived until 1851, dying at the age of 72 without any children.
- Louis Joseph, Dauphin of France: Louis Joseph, the eldest son and heir, died of tuberculosis in 1789 at the age of seven, before the Revolution intensified.
- Louis Charles (Louis XVII): After the execution of his parents, Louis Charles was proclaimed King Louis XVII by royalists, though he never ruled. He died in captivity in 1795 at the age of ten, officially from a scrofulous infection, though his imprisonment conditions were harsh and contributed to his poor health.
- Sophie Hélène Béatrix: The youngest child, Sophie, died at just eleven months old in 1787, well before the start of the French Revolution.
No 14 She made the ‘pouf’ hairstyle famous
The ‘pouf’ hairstyle became a hallmark of fashion among the French aristocracy and a symbol of the opulence and excess associated with Marie Antoinette’s court.
It was characterised by its extraordinary height and complexity, involving backcombing the hair to create volume and using various supports like wire frames, pads, and pomade to hold the structure in place.
The hairstyle was then adorned with an array of decorations, from feathers and flowers to miniature replicas of ships and even live birds, reflecting the wearer’s interests, allegiances, or current events.
Marie Antoinette’s adoption and adaptation of the pouf elevated it to a form of art and political statement. Her versions of the pouf often included elaborate themes and were designed to convey messages, celebrate events, or express personal interests.
For example, she famously wore a pouf that featured a model of the French ship La Belle Poule, commemorating a naval victory. This not only showcased her support for the French navy but also demonstrated the potential of the pouf as a canvas for expression.
But with this hairstyle came the fleas. To recreate this style it required extensive use of pomades made from animal fats and powders made from starch to maintain their structure and appearance. These substances, combined with the infrequent washing of hair and wigs, created a breeding ground for parasites.
To help with the discomfort caused by fleas and lice, a special tool known as a “head-scratcher” or “bilboquet” was developed. It allowed individuals to scratch their scalps without ruining their elaborate hairstyles or damaging their wigs.
The bilboquet was a real fashion accessory with a long, slender handle, often made of ivory, silver, or wood, which ended in a small set of prongs or a curved scratching element.
No 15 She was responsible for creating the first celebrity fashion designer
Marie Antoinette’s influence on fashion extended beyond her personal style choices. She played a pivotal role in creating what would, in today’s world, be a celebrity fashion designer.
Rose Bertin, often referred to as the “Minister of Fashion,” is considered by many to be the first celebrity fashion designer, a status she achieved mainly due to her association with the queen.
Born in 1747, she was a milliner and dressmaker who rose to prominence in Paris for her exquisite designs and innovative fashion sense. Her relationship with Marie Antoinette began in the early 1770s when Bertin was introduced to the queen.
Marie Antoinette, captivated by Bertin’s talent and creativity, quickly made her the official dressmaker of the court.
This endorsement provided Bertin with unprecedented access to the highest and most famous people in Paris society and allowed her influence in fashion to grow significantly.
Before Bertin, dressmakers and milliners were seen as mere craftsmen, but her collaboration with the queen elevated the profession to that of an artist and trendsetter. This transformation allowed designers to gain recognition for their work and to influence fashion on a broader scale.
What was Marie Antoinette’s Death Mask?
It all started with Marie Tussaud, founder of the famous Madame Tussaud’s in London. Due to her connections with the monarchy at the time, Marie found herself targeted by revolutionaries who labelled her a supporter of the royal cause, leading to her arrest.
The situation escalated to the point where she was prepared for execution by guillotine, complete with her head being shaved.
She was only released on the condition that she employed her skills in wax modelling to create casts of those who fell victim to the revolution.
These casts, known as ‘death masks’, were made from the actual severed heads of the deceased.
A horrible task at the best of times, it was made worse by the fact that many of the people she was forced to immortalise in wax were her friends. This included Marie Antoinette and her husband. Marie even had to hold the severed head of King Louis XVI.
FAQS: The Life of Marie Antoinette the Last Queen of France
What good things did Marie Antoinette do?
Marie Antoinette is known for her contributions to charity and social reforms during her time as queen. She provided financial support to various philanthropic projects, including the establishment of a home for unwed mothers and a hospital for women.
Additionally, she participated in efforts to modernize the French agricultural system, showing support for the American Revolution by aiding the American colonies, which further contributed to international diplomacy.
How old was Marie Antoinette when she died?
Marie Antoinette was 37 years old at the time of her death. She was executed by guillotine on October 16, 1793, during the French Revolution.
What was Marie Antoinette accused of?
Marie Antoinette was accused of several serious charges, including treason, depletion of the national treasury, and conspiracy against the security of the state. One of the most infamous accusations was her alleged involvement in the “Affair of the Diamond Necklace,” which significantly tarnished her reputation, although she was not directly responsible for this scandal.
Why is it called Marie Antoinette syndrome?
The term “Marie Antoinette syndrome” refers to a condition where someone’s hair suddenly turns white. The name comes from folklore, suggesting that Marie Antoinette’s hair turned white overnight before her execution due to extreme stress. However, there is no historical evidence to support this claim, and the phenomenon is more likely attributable to conditions such as alopecia areata or acute stress causing hair loss, leaving only the white hairs behind.
Final thoughts: Facts About Marie Antoinette
Whatever you may think of Marie Antoinette and the life she led, don’t be too harsh on her. She didn’t have the options and choices we have today as women.
She was destined to marry a boy she’d never met and then taken away from everything she’d ever known at a very young age.
Then, she was flung into the Court at the Palace of Versailles. They may as well have thrown her into the lion’s den.
She was a product of the world she lived in and didn’t create the gilded cage in Versailles, she simply stepped into it and tried to keep up with what was happening within it.
The best way to understand Marie Antoinette and the life she lived is to do a full tour of the Palace of Versailles and the Petit Trianon. It’s worth visiting and will help you put her life into perspective.
And if you want to know more facts about France, you’ll love this article.
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