Maria Antonia had a relatively carefree childhood, spent mostly at the
Schönbrunn Palace which was off-limits to the rest of the court. She
was educated in religious and moral subjects as well as music,
tapestry, embroidery and painting. However, she did not study academic
subjects and her reading and writing skills were poor.
In 1765 Maria Antonia's father died suddenly of a stroke. Her mother, left to
run the Empire with her son Joseph II, became a remote figure as she devoted
much of her time to matters of state.
In 1766 an epidemic of smallpox several members of the royal family. Antonia,
who had had the disease at a young age was immune and found herself the only
available bride for the Dauphin of France. A marriage between a daughter of the
Empress and the Dauphin had been arranged as part of the alliance between
Austria and France following the Seven Years War. The marriage took place in
1770 and she was given the name Marie Antoinette, Dauphine of France.
Marie Antoinette was popularly received when she made her first official
appearance in Paris in 1773. At court, however, she was coolly received, particularly by
the King's mistress Madame du Barry who was firmly against the Austrian
alliance.
On 10th May 1774 Louis XV died and Marie Antoinette and her young husband became
King and Queen of France. Although the couple got on well enough, Louis
was unemotional and showed little affection towards his wife. He rarely shared
the same bed and it is believed that the marriage was not consummated for
several years. Marie Antoinette was blamed for the lack of an heir both by the
French and her mother. Deprived of affection Marie Antoinette formed a close
friendship with the Princesse de Lamballe and her brother the Comte d'Artois and
began to spend her time gambling and buying clothes. Her frivolous behaviour was
criticised and her popularity decreased. She also changed many established court
practices, opting for less formality, which was disapproved of by older court
members.
In 1778 Marie Antoinette gave birth to a daughter, Marie Thérèse Charlotte and
in 1781 gave birth to a son and heir, Louis Joseph Xavier François. Two
more children followed in 1785 and 1787. Although the birth of an heir to the
throne did, in part, restore some favour to the Queen, she was still criticised
for her lack of interest in political affairs and for giving positions to her
favourites. Her popularity decreased further with the Affair of the Diamond
Necklace, she was accused of having an affair with a Cardinal in order to obtain
an expensive diamond necklace for herself. The country was nearing bankruptcy
and Marie Antoinette was held responsible.
1789 saw the formation of the Estates General and demands on the King for more
rights. The dismissal of the finance minister, Jacques Necker, who sympathised
with the Estates General led to riots in Paris and the storming of the Bastille
on July 14th. In August the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
proclaimed France a Republic. The King and Queen were moved to the Tuileries in
Paris and placed under house arrest.
In September 1792 the monarchy in France was officially ended. Louis was put on
trial for undermining the first French Republic in December and executed by
guillotine in January 1793. Marie Antoinette was tried and found guilty of
treason on October 14th and was executed by guillotine on October 16th 1793.Source: http://www.historyonthenet.com/Historical_People/marie_antoinette.htm
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