Marie Antoinette -

 

http://lewebproject.com/Biography/Marie2.jpg

 

 

Pays/Ville

Vienna, Austria

 

 

 

Details Personnels:

Although I am well known for my title as Queen of France, I was born at the Hofburg Palace in Austria as Maria Antonia. Being the second youngest of 15 children, I recieved little attention from my parents. I only recieved the priviledge of being married of to the Dauphin of France because of an outbreak of smallpox which killed my sisters who hadn't yet been married off. Having had smallpox as a child, I was immune. After being crowned queen of France, I was offered little action in government because of the king and court's anti-Austrian sentiments. Because the main purpose of the marriage was to solidify the alliance between France and Austria, an heir was needed to confirm the alliance. This became a troublesome task as the king was uncooperative and caused a stir in the French people. My pressure to create an heir intensified when my sister-in-law, the comptesse d'Artois gave birth to a son. Afterwards, I gave birth to my first daughter Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte which further pressed me to give birth to a male heir. Finally, I gave birth to an heir, Louis-Joseph Xavier Francois. After this, my popularity with the French people and the court began to decline. Events like the Diamond Necklass Affair, the creation of the Hameau de la reine and several accusations of having affairs all put me out of favor with the French people.

 

 

 

Date de Naissance:

November 2, 1755

 

Date de Mort:

October 16, 1793

 

Sexe:

Female

 

Croyances Politiques:

As Queen of France, I support the French monarchy.

 

 

Croyances Religieuses:

I am Roman Catholic and I attended the Chapel Royal in Versailles.

 

 

Situation de Famille:

Married to King Louis XVI

 

Enfants:

Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte (1778-1851), Louis-Joseph Xavier Francois (1781-1789), Louis Charles (1785-1795)

 

http://mentalfloss.cachefly.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/MarieAntoinette.jpg

Marie Antoinette and her children: (left to right) Marie Thérèse, Louis Charles and Louis Joseph.

 

 

Metier:

Queen of France.

 

 

Interets/Loisirs:

• music and harpsichord
• singing and acting
• historical novels
• hot air balloons
• learning English

 

 

http://filipspagnoli.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/marie-antoinette-1769-70.jpg

Marie Antoinette playing the harpsichord.

 

 

Accomplissements:

• abolished segregated dining spaces
• developed a more simplistic and femine style (abandonment of wide-hooped panniers and heavy make-up) [picture below]
• built a theatre for courtiers who were interested in singing and acting
• personally attended to the upbringing of my children and fought for the right to educate them myself 

 

 

http://www.blastmilk.com/decollete/gallery/chemise_dress/lebrun_marie_antoinette_1783-thumb.jpg

Marie Antoinette in a simple "Muslin" dress. This portrait was extremely controversial as it was considered improper for a queen.

 

 

Amis:

• Madame Elisabeth
• Princesse de Lamballe    
• Duchesse de Polignac
• Compte d'Artois

 

 

Citation Memorable:

"I put on my rouge and wash my hands in front of the whole world!"

"I was a queen, and you took away my crown; a wife, and you killed my husband; a mother, and you deprived me of my children. My blood alone remains: take it, but do not make me suffer long."

 

 

Mon Influence sur la Culture Francaise

     Marie Antoinette was an especially important queen in French history because she was the last queen of France. Although she was not a favorite of the French people during her time, she remains an important figure today. She is a symbol of the wealth and luxury of the French nobility. Her countless dresses, shoes, accessories, diamonds and her beautiful castle and hameau are a testimate to the grandoise lives of French royalty. 

     However, even though she was considered frivolous and known as the Queen who spent France into debt almost singlehandedly, she is still a model for women. She was independent, strong-willed, brave, smart, charming, beautiful and stylish, but also cared strongly for her children and even fought for the right to look after them herself. Her lack of attention as a child taught her to be independent. Also, she was a very brave woman; moments before her death a priest next to her said: "This is the moment, Madame, to arm yourself with courage," she responded, "Courage! I have shown it for years; think you I shall loose it at the moment when my sufferings are to end?"

     Today, Marie Antoinette is an pop icon of beauty and 18th century fashion. Her extravagant wide-hoop panniers, heavy white make-up and over the top hairstyles are our mental standard for court fashion. However, Marie Antoinette also started a fashion that presented women in a more natural way with less make-up and more modest dresses (shown in the portrait above).

 

http://imagecache.allposters.com/images/pic/BRGPOD/67543~Marie-Antoinette-1755-93-Queen-of-France-1779-Posters.jpg

Marie Antoinette in a wide-pannier court dress.

 

Notes:

 You can make up your own profile section

 

 

Resources:

"Marie Antoinette." Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed. 17 Vols. Gale Research, 1998.

Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009 < http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC>.

 

"Marie-Antoinette." Historic World Leaders. Gale Research, 1994.

Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2009 < http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC>.