Off With Her Head

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It was Marie-Antoinette’s turn to stand at the guillotine just nine months after her husband, King Louis XVI of France, was executed on January 21, 1793. As you see, the life of the royals was not always one big party. The lady was the daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor Francis I. She married Louis in 1770 in order to strengthen the French-Austrian alliance. Meanwhile, I thought it was best that one marry for love. Even though there was economic turmoil in France, she lived the high life. Can you imagine what she could have done with credit cards and a PC? She also thought she knew better and encouraged her husband to resist the reform of the monarchy. I am sure many of you remember the story that when Marie heard that the peasants had no bread to eat, she remarked, The phrase "Let them eat cake" is commonly attributed to Marie Antoinette, but historical evidence suggests she likely never said it. My thoughts always were that if this woman had sense, she could have organized the royal kitchens to bake up loaves of bread to offer the peasants. As things got worse, the royal couple was thinking of running off to Austria in 1791. Unfortunately, they were captured by the revolutionary forces and brought back to Paris. It was in 1792 that the French monarchy was abolished and the royal couple was condemned for treason. I have always thought this such a sad and tragic tale. Marie-Antoinette was 37 years old and Louis was 38.