Significance

• Marie Antoinette was an enemy of the reforms in France. Even though she was very similar to the typical 18th century woman in that she was not even close to being equal with men, she helped provoke the turbulence that led to the French Revolution. The monarchy in France was overthrown on Aug. 10, 1792.
  
  

Birth

• Daughter of Austrian Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I, Marie Antoinette was born on Nov. 2, 1775. Her mother, Maria, ruled the Habsburg Empire in Vienna from her palace, Schonbrunn. Marie was not only the youngest child, but also the favorite. She was spoiled and was brought up assuming that she would one day be queen of France. Her parents' marriage was arranged. The marriage cemented the Franco-Austrian alliance, which upset many French citizens.
  
  

Marriage and Queenship

• In 1770, at age 15, she married 16-year-old Louis XVI of France. Louis XV was the king of France when Marie and his grandson wed. On May 10, 1774, Louis XV died, making Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette king and queen of France. The French citizens were not thrilled to have a foreign queen, especially because Marie did not speak French upon arriving at the royal palace. She was disliked even in her own palace because of her Austrian background, and eventually the hatred would lead to her demise.
  
  

Corruption

• Soon after her marriage, Marie became known for extravagances that included sleigh racing and opera balls, and she quickly became addicted to gambling. Marie would insist on removing ministers who advised her not to spend so much on herself. Not only did the citizens of France recognize that she was misusing their tax money, but they also noticed the corruption she was initiating in the courts through her removal of ministers with whom she disagreed.
  
  

French Revolution

• In addition to her support of Austria, many French revolutionaries were very upset with Marie Antoinette because her response to their complaints that many peasants had no bread to eat allegedly was "Let them eat cake!" France declared war on Austria in April 1792, and French citizens were increasingly enraged by Marie's unrelenting support of Austria. Popular hatred of her provided incentive for the revolution that ended the French monarchy.
  
  

Death

• Marie Antoinette spent what was left of her short life in Parisian prisons. On orders of the National Convention, Louis XVI was executed in January 1793. Later that year, in August, the queen was placed in solitary confinement. Two days after her appearance before the Revolutionary court on Oct. 14, Marie Antoinette was guillotined.