Five Interesting Facts About Marie Antoinette

Discover some interesting facts about Marie Antoinette

Jacob Wilkins
Lessons from History

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A painting of Marie Antoinette by Joseph Ducreux, 1769 (Wikimedia Commons)

Marie Antoinette was the Queen of France, who was beheaded in 1793 at the height of the French Revolution. Given the French Revolution is one of the most important events in European history, it’s hardly surprising the end of Marie Antoinette’s life is the most well-known part.

But Marie Antoinette wasn’t just the victim of a bloody revolution. She lived a fascinating life from the moment she was born, and though she certainly wasn’t an inspirational figure, there are still plenty of interesting facts to know about her.

1. Marie Antoinette Wasn’t French

A painting of Marie Antoinette at the age of seven by Jean-Étienne Liotard, 1762 (Wikimedia Commons)

Given Marie Antoinette was the Queen of France during the French Revolution, many people assume she was French.

This assumption is incorrect. Marie Antoinette was actually Austrian. As the youngest daughter of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis, Marie Antoinette had an idyllic childhood and spent her time inside some of the most beautiful royal buildings in Austria, including the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna.

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