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CONTROVERSIAL OPINION:
Marie Antoinette gets way too much flack. She was a literal child (14), when she married into the French royal family, and in addition to the immense culture shock, was also the target of intense ridicule that dehumanized her and was meant to make her cry.
Marie Antoinette gets way too much flack. She was a literal child (14), when she married into the French royal family, and in addition to the immense culture shock, was also the target of intense ridicule that dehumanized her and was meant to make her cry.
Her husband was ABSOLUTELY useless, both in bed and outside of it, but because he was Dauphin, no one could criticize him...therefore the lack of sex (and an heir) was placed squarely on Marie’s shoulders. Leading to even more intense mocking and humiliation.
Marie Antoinette became Queen of France at *19.*
A depressed, lonely, alienated, abused teenager who suddenly has access to all the money she could want? You cannot tell me a modern-day 19 year old would act any differently. Her behavior was entirely appropriate to her age.
A depressed, lonely, alienated, abused teenager who suddenly has access to all the money she could want? You cannot tell me a modern-day 19 year old would act any differently. Her behavior was entirely appropriate to her age.
This isn’t an endorsement of royalty. Obviously lots of inane nonsense followed (which only makes “sense” if you think about how folks conceptualized “Royal blood” back then), but she was no worse than any other French royal. She is, however, a convenient historical scapegoat.
Marie Antoinette was only 37 when she died. She was not particularly bright or able or socially adept (which is the problem with a monarchy built on a cult of personality...like the Sun King), but nor was she exceptionally dissipate.
The fact that she receives so much more bile than her exceptionally dull, sub-average husband is because she’s a woman. And it was easy for male historians to blame a woman’s love of jewelry and clothes for the revolution.
Marie Antoinette’s biggest “crimes” were that she was lonely, depressed, neglected, not bright, loved clothes, completely lacked any political acumen (despite the extraordinary demands of her mother, Empress Marie Theresa) and was unable to successfully charm the populace.
Her last few years (as well as the last few years of her son, who was literally tortured and neglected to death at the age of 10) are cruel and sadistic. By the time she died, she looked nearly twice her age.
I have lots of thoughts on various European monarchies because I get obsessed with topics and have to learn everything about them (which is why I’m a lingerie expert now), but I just wanted to get that off my chest.
