Marie Antoinette

2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793

Marie Antoinette (1755-1793) was the last queen of France before the French Revolution, born an Austrian archduchess as the daughter of Empress Maria Theresa. Married to Louis XVI, she became a symbol of royal extravagance and was widely vilified by revolutionary propaganda. She was tried by the Revolutionary Tribunal and executed by guillotine in October 1793.

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Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Marie Antoinette.

Life events

Born in Vienna as Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria
2 November 1755

She was born at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, the fifteenth child of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Married Louis-Auguste, Dauphin of France, at Versailles
16 May 1770

The marriage sealed the Franco-Austrian alliance arranged by her mother and Louis XV.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Relationship ✓
Became Queen of France upon the accession of Louis XVI
10 May 1774

When Louis XV died, her husband ascended the throne as Louis XVI and she became queen consort at age eighteen.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Gave birth to her first child, Marie Thérèse Charlotte
19 December 1778

After more than eight years of marriage, she bore her first child, known as Madame Royale, at Versailles.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Personal ✓
Reputation damaged by the Affair of the Diamond Necklace
1785 – 1786

Although she was innocent of the fraud, the scandal severely damaged her public reputation and that of the monarchy.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓
Attempted escape from Paris in the Flight to Varennes
20 June 1791 – 21 June 1791

The royal family fled Paris in disguise but was recognized and arrested at Varennes, deepening distrust of the monarchy.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓
Imprisoned with the royal family in the Temple after the fall of the monarchy
13 August 1792

Following the storming of the Tuileries on 10 August 1792, the royal family was imprisoned in the Temple fortress in Paris.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓
Tried and convicted of treason by the Revolutionary Tribunal
14 October 1793 – 16 October 1793

After a two-day trial, she was found guilty of treason and other charges and sentenced to death.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Other ✓
Executed by guillotine at the Place de la Révolution in Paris
16 October 1793

She was guillotined at age thirty-seven, nine months after the execution of Louis XVI.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓