Marie Antoinette Case

Marie Antoinette

Marie Antonia Josepha Joanna was born November 15, 1755 to Empress Maria Thérèsa of Austria and the Holy Roman Emperor Francis I. At the age of fourteen, Marie Antoinette was sent off to marry Louis-Auguste, the heir to the French throne. The reason behind the marriage was to preserve the alliance between France and Austria. King Louis XV died of smallpox in 1774, so Louis-Auguste stepped up in the King's place. Marie Antoinette and Louis Auguste lived different lives for a while, then finally consummated and gave birth to four children: Marie Thérèsa Charlotte, Louise Joseph, Louise Charles, and Sophie Béatrix. During this time, people thought low of Mary Antoinette. They saw the Queen as immoral, ignorant, extravagant, and adulterous.

With France on a brink of bankruptcy and harvest being poor, King Louis XVI declared that the Estates General would hold a meeting to address the financial crisis. During this meeting, the Jacobin Club was formed. They became increasingly radical, with leaders of the Reign of Terror emerging from it.

One of these leaders, Robespierre, called for the removal of the King, declared terror, and executed many people who were against the Revolution. After the Reign of Terror and its re-enforcement there was an estimated 18,500-40,000 lives taken. This finally ended July 27, 1794 with the fall of Robespierre.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly formed. The government, who was concerned by their aggressiveness, started gathering troops outside of Paris. The people of Paris were worried about the troops, so they scoured the city for weapons. They came upon the Bastille prison, where they overtook the guards to get weapons and gun powder.

On August 22, 1789 the National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. With this, "All hereditary titles are abolished, eliminating automatic special rights or privileges for people "born into royalty."" King Louis then secretly writes his cousin, Charles IV of Spain, in October exploring the possibility of a foreign coalition to end the Revolution.

The Royal family attempted to flee Paris, but was brought back. Robespierre once again called for the removal of the King and the Royal family was imprisoned in the Temple. King Louis was tried for treason, found guilty, and was executed by the guillotine. Queen Marie Antoinette was imprisoned, then