MarieAntoinette

Marie Antoinette was born an Archduchess of Austria in 1755, the daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I. She married Louis-Auguste, Dauphin of France, in 1770, a union intended to strengthen the alliance between Austria and France. Upon her husband's accession to the throne as Louis XVI in 1774, she became Queen of France.

Initially, Marie Antoinette was popular, but her extravagance and perceived indifference to the plight of the poor soon led to widespread criticism. She became a symbol of the excesses of the French monarchy. Her association with alleged scandals, such as the Diamond Necklace Affair, further damaged her reputation, though her direct involvement remains debated by historians.

During the French Revolution, the royal family was placed under house arrest. In 1793, following the abolition of the monarchy and the execution of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette was tried by the Revolutionary Tribunal. She was convicted of treason and other charges and was guillotined on October 16, 1793, at the age of 37. Her life and death have been the subject of numerous historical accounts, dramas, and films, solidifying her place as a controversial and enduring figure in history.