MARIE ANTOINETTE(1755-1793) The French queen, wife (since 1770) of Louis XVI. The daughter of the Austrian emperor. Executed during the French Revolution.
The victims of senseless human cruelty in the history of a long time remain in people′s minds, as if constantly reminding us of our own irrational and imperfect. Of course, the behavior of Marie Antoinette can be found lapses that allegedly led her to the guillotine, but they seem completely irrelevant to the fateful circumstances of the history of France, a country where the young Austrian princess dropped out to take the crown. Marie Antoinette was the youngest daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and Francis I, the rulers of the Holy Roman Empire. When she was ten years old, her father died, leaving the empire to his wife and eight children. Maria Theresa was quite a business woman, she not only well managed state, but also arranged for their offspring successful future. The most brilliant match the Austrian Empress ugotovila youngest daughter. Marie Antoinette was betrothed to the heir of France - Louis. The girl tried to bring up as a future queen. She did not know what the failure, and learned to command and feel confident among thousands to her. However, the character of Marie Antoinette grew up carefree, fun and flirtatious, not too attractive, but very easy to communicate with the living vivid temperament. Because the girl was younger, then it certainly spoiled. When Marie-Antoinette had gathered to go to France, her fifteen years, has maintained unwavering conviction that, thanks to his charm, she will always be able to achieve what she wanted. So, dressed in a satin dress, bejeweled bride left home to more than ever there is no return. In parting, the mother gave the girl the little gold watch, which will forever remain a talisman Marie-Antoinette. At the boundary of the bride met the wonderful wedding train, headed by the grandfather of Prince, live the king - Louis XV.  Photo — «Marie Antoinette» Latter, the estate was considered a great expert on the part of the fair sex, was pleased with his own choice for a grandson. Princess was the most charm, and it certainly will to the French court. But the groom Louis a few disappointing Marie Antoinette. A clumsy fellow, foolish young man is most interested in the life of good food, but did not give the same now from the French throne, the more so as the groom stood in awe before the princess. Will take years, but Louis will also admire his wife, as on the first day of their acquaintance. The wedding took place May 16, 1770. Decorated motorcade followed through the streets of Paris, enthusiastic crowds shouted toasts a happy bride. Each of the girls would be in her place. But grandiose fireworks ended sadly: started now pandemonium - people rushed to the freebie, in the crush, many died. When dead bodies were taken out for identification, the city crept ominous rumors that bloody omen not bring happiness to young. But despite the tragedy, the first years of life of Marie Antoinette at the Palace of Versailles differed little from the happy childhood holidays. Louis did not wish to participate in social life, sweating and blushing at the sight of the adored wife. Princess, not particularly sad, gathered appropriate for a circle of young people who love to hold a nights entertainment. They played cards, danced, made fun of the heir. Especially liked the joker the clock in the palace, thus creating confusion. In 1774, Louis XV died of smallpox. Young couple has full power, but this did not change their lifestyles. The new king is still a lot of eating in the evening to sleep in a chair and recorded in his diary: "Today, nothing has happened", and Marie Antoinette continued to amaze the Parisians to their extravagant behavior. It changed its image and a tinted ladies turned into a village simpleton. The New Face of Queen in harmony with a small palace, cottage type - Small Trianon, where she lived, the royal couple.  Photo — «Marie Antoinette» Women go crazy with the new fashion, introduced Marie Antoinette, giving excellent earnings of barbers and tailors. Few people realized that straw hat the queen is worth more than a house of ordinary citizen. At twenty-three years, Marie Antoinette first became a mother, and for the six years she gave birth to four children, of whom only two survived: Maria Theresa and the Dauphin Louis. Queen adored her babies, but for public affairs and entertainment, it has little time left for children. However, public affairs themselves were preparing for entertainment. Queen lived for pleasure and not hide it. She spent the royal treasury on friends, clothes, trips and parties. King, a man of meek and patient, put up with all the whims of his wife, and when the advisers were insisting on reducing the "pocket money" Queen, that Marie Antoinette had made their dismissal. While the royal couple quietly existed in your cozy little world, the country′s festering for catastrophic events. Historians are many causes leading to social upheaval. We will not describe the misery of ordinary French or philosophical reasons freethinking, will not condemn the frivolity of the ruling classes. We will only say that Louis XVI′s request to lower taxes even refused to listen to proposals, calling them "insane. " Naturally, the anger of the people descended on "this foreigner," all the old admiration of the crowd seemed melted into hatred. Now, instead of admiring girls whisper in the street now and then heard the rude jokes about the queen: that once Marie Antoinette was told that the ordinary French people have nothing to eat - no bread. To which the Queen replied: "So let them eat cakes and pastries. Marie Antoinette felt that she had a natural right not to pay attention to the discontent of citizens. She maintained a frivolous calm, confident that all this will pass.  Photo — «Marie Antoinette» But the catastrophe still broke. 14 July 1789 the whole world shuddered at the atrocities in Paris - a carefree "capital of the world. We do not know what guided the Queen - attachment to her husband, duty, the former self-confidence, but having the opportunity to flee, she chose to stay with the king, although all close departed crowned captives. October 5 angry Parisian mob stormed Versailles, and the next day the royal family was brought under arrest in the Tuileries Palace. Almost two years spent here in prison, Louis and his family. Initially they were treated loyal: the children lived with their parents and, finally, the queen was able to carry with them most of the time. June 20, 1791, the royal couple made a desperate attempt to escape, but it ended in failure, that prompted the revolutionaries to address the plight of those arrested without delay. They were transferred to a dark building in the heart of Paris. Louis XVI all could not believe that the subjects could deprive him of his throne, and stubbornly refused to comply with the demands of the revolutionaries. In January 1793 the trial started, which led the king in bewilderment: the sentence he was deprived of the throne is not - life. Before his death, Louis spent the last two hours with his family, having received so much love from his wife, as he had never seen before. Marie Antoinette spent the night without sleeping, watching for the parent gold watch, as the time knock the last minute of their reign. In the morning, sailed over Paris, the bells, the queen knew that her husband was no more. Following the execution of Marie Antoinette for some time continued the previous existence, but one night it came to the three men to take away her son. Queen rushed to the child with a cry that she did not give Louis had better kill her first, but the rapists were unyielding. A few days Marie Antoinette was transferred to the Conciergerie prison.  Photo — «Marie Antoinette» In a small damp cell it not for a moment left alone, even during the morning and evening dress, she has taken away all things, including the small gold watch - its mascot. Somehow I managed to win comb and powder. I poured the last sad days in jail. Marie Antoinette asked for needles and thread, to occupy himself embroidery, but this request was denied. Then she nadergala threads of ragged curtains hanging in the chamber, and wove a kind of grid. However, her spirit was not broken until the end, the queen managed to maintain correspondence with the French emigrants, she tried to bribe a guard and escape from prison. The Convention and the Committee of Public Safety used the members of the royal family as a bargaining chip to eliminate the danger of intervention - after all, Marie Antoinette was a foreigner. For a while negotiations were under way, but under the pressure of public opinion 16 October 1793 the court sentenced to death the queen. On the day of execution, Marie Antoinette went up very early hours was not, so that she could not keep track of time. With the queen′s maid put on her white dress. Security followed her every step, and finally sentenced exclaimed: "In the name of God and decency, I beg you, leave me alone even for a minute!" The logged-in camera executioner otstrig gorgeous hair of Marie Antoinette: that was his trophy. She put in a dirty wagon and drove through the streets of Paris. The crowd hooted threatening and insulting her. The guillotine was not far from the palace of the Tuileries, at the Revolution Square. When Marie Antoinette was taken to the scaffold, she inadvertently stepped on his leg executioner. "Excuse me, sir, I did not purposely. These were the last words of the French queen. |
