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A year after revolution swept off her throne , Marie Antoinette stood on trial for her life , accused of crimes against French Republic . She was nearing 38 , but she appeared far older than her years , as there barely remained a trace of the lovely , carefree Austrian princess , who became a French Queen , while she was still a teenager . It was a long journey for a frivolous woman , who was a terrible ruler , but changed in spite of herself , showing an outstanding courage and dignity through deeply personal tragedy …

Marie Antoinette was born to a life of unimaginable wealth and unquestioned privilege . Austria was a great empire spread over central Europe and her mother was its ruler. The Empress always behaved towards her daughter more like a head of state than an affectionate mother . As she once said about her own children : - “ They are born to obey ! “ . When she wanted to build an alliance with France , Austria ‘s centuries old rival , she commanded Marie Antoinette to marry the heir to the French throne , Louis the 16 th . On April 21 , 1770 , Marie Antoinette said goodbye to Austria forever . She was just 14 , armed only with her charms and the instructions of her mother , - “ Be well my dearest child , a great distance will separate us , do so much good to the French people , they can say I sent them an angel “ . Which indeed , became a valid statement , until Louis the 15 th , the King of

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France passed away . Louis the 16 th , who was a 15 year old shy, introverted teenager , with no disposition to rule, and Marie Antoinette , were to be crowned shortly after , the King and the Queen of France , but the reality was , they were to young to reign .. Louis the 16 th : When my grandfather passed away , he left France in the brink of chaos and economic collapse . France was in a big debt as a country . But despite France’s state of despair , the Queen and I continued to splurge on expensive and lavish items . Marie Antoinette : I was living in a fantasy world , while King was interested only in hunting and preferred rather than quite lifestyle , I had all the pleasures of the night life - gambling , opera , theater , never ending dancing balls . Being homesick , I surrounded myself with young and fun people , never really caring if they were my true friends . Male peasant : Us , simple people , we had no voice within the government. The second Estate continued to implement even more harsh taxes , therefore increasing our constant starvation and suffering . Female peasant : With barely enough food to feed ourselves , thousands of children were dying due to the unbelievably cruel winters . After a poor harvest , the cost of flour rose , causing a shortage of bread . Since it was a

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staple of French diet , people started to turn into savages for a small loaf of bread . Male peasant : We were running out of options , we wanted equality , liberty and democracy , and we would stop at nothing to achieve this goal ! Marie Antoinette : While Versailles was an oasis of extravagance , France was suffering and corrupted , and even the heavens seemed angry with us . I was completely unaware of my surroundings , ignoring my country’ s painful existence and trying to compensate my unhappy marriage with the finest jewelry you could find in Europe and the most exquisite wardrobe , a Queen could ever have. Little did I know that tribulation first , will make me realize who I really am .. Louis the 16 th : Until one day I received a letter of complaint from the radical republican , Maximillien Robespierre . It stated : “ Do you know why there are so many needy people ? It is because your luxurious existences devours in one day the substance of a thousand man ! “ On June 20 th 1789 , the 3 rd Estate held a meeting at the hall in Paris . They found the place locked and believed it was arranged by King Louis the 16 th to end their demands . Instead , they held their meeting at a nearby tennis court . And there it was proposed that the 3 rd Estate would form an alliance and were to be remained assembled ( National Assembly ) , until a new constitution was written . Agbas 4

Marie Antoinette : I firmly believed the fact that royal power should be absolute and unchanging . While king did not respond well under the pressure , having a nervous breakdown , I decided to take this matter in my own hands . I had no intention to share power with the pack of mad men ! A couple of weeks later , on July 14 th , angry citizens broke into the fortress of Bastille in an attempt to capture arms and ammunition . The crowd easily broke into the arsenal and wanted the Bastille’s Governor . He was captured , stabbed and shot , then dragged through the streets of Paris . Louis the 16 th : When I came back from a hunting trip , my messenger barged in and said : “ Sire , the Bastille has fallen! “ . I asked , “ Is it a revolt ? “ He replied with : “ No , it is a revolution ! “ . Marie Antoinette : On October 5 th , 1789 , a hungry mob of 7.000 working class women decided to march to our residence at Versailles . They blamed me for shortage of bread , while shouting threats of rape and death in my name .

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Louis the 16 th : Queen tried to convince me to escape to Austria with the children , but I absolutely refused . That same night , sensing she was the target of the mob , she slept alone , separating herself from us . Marie Antoinette : The very next day the crowd demanded from me to come to the balcony . I went outside with muskets being pointed at me and bowed my head . The king and I , along with our children , were forced to move to Paris. We were lost , dragged away , perhaps to death . When Kings become prisoners, they are very near it . We were never to see Versailles again … On January 20 th , 1792 , after a month long trial , Louis the 16 th was convicted and sentenced to death by guillotine . The Queen watched as he was taken by carriage , surrounded by thousands of armed men , to his own death . He was to be the first victim of the Reign of Terror . Marie Antoinette plunged into a deep mourning , refusing to eat , her health starting to deteriorate rapidly . Nine month after the execution of her husband , the King Louis the 16 th , Marie Antoinette was convicted to death on several charges against French republic , being carried off in a criminal cart to be guillotined on October 16 th , 1793 . Marie Antoinette : I have just been condemned to death . But not a shameful one , since this one is only shameful to a criminal . I am calm , as people are , whose consciousness is clear . Adieu , Adieu.. Agbas 6

After the execution , Marie Antoinette’s served head was held high , before screaming crowd . The last Queen of France and a symbol of royal dynasty was buried in an unmarked grave .