Marie Antoinette

Marie Antoinette was the Queen consort of France as the wife of Louis XVI from 1774 until the French monarchy was abolished in 1792.

Marie Antoinette was the Queen consort of France as the wife of Louis XVI from 1774 until the monarchy was abolished in 1792. Born an Austrian archduchess, she became a central figure of the French Revolution and was executed in Paris in 1793.

What it is

Marie Antoinette was the Austrian-born Queen consort of France, married to Louis XVI. She served as queen from 1774 until the monarchy was overthrown in 1792. Her public image became tied to criticism of court spending and hostility toward the monarchy during the French Revolution.

Why it matters

Marie Antoinette remains a major historical symbol of the French Revolution and the collapse of the ancien régime. Her life is often discussed in connection with royal privilege, political crisis, and myth-making, including the disputed 'let them eat cake' quote. In Canada, she is a well-known figure in classrooms and reference works as a symbol of monarchy's decline in modern European history.

Key details

Born Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna in Vienna in 1755, she married Louis-Auguste in 1770. She became queen in 1774, was imprisoned after the monarchy's abolition in 1792, tried by the Revolutionary Tribunal, and executed by guillotine on 16 October 1793 at age 37.