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20 May 1789
I am the fifteenth child of Austrian Empress, Maria Theresa, and the Holy Roman Emperor, Francis I. I was born at Hofburg Palace in Vienna on 2 November 1755 and christened Maria-Antonia-Josepha-Johanna. Maria to honor the Virgin Mary, Antonia to honor Saint Anthony of Padua, Joesepha to honor my eldest brother Archduke Josef, and Johanna to honor Saint John of Evangelist. Everyone called me Maria-Antonia all through my childhood.
I was brought up with my sister, Maria-Carolina, who was two years older than me. She was my best and closest friend. I was quite upset when she was married to King Ferdinand of Naples. Although we still write to each other, it is a horrible feeling to loose your best friend.
My mother did not begin my education until my sister, Johanna-Gabriella died of smallpox in 1762. I became the next victim of my mother’s political games. Since a new peace treaty had been signed between Austria and France to, my mother thought it would be a grand idea to have me King Louis XV’s grandson and heir to the French throne, Louis-Auguste. I never wanted to be married to anyone.
I left Vienna in April 1770 when I was only fourteen years of age. My mother’s parting words to me were, "Farewell, my dearest child. Do so much good to the French people that they can say that I have sent them an angel." I thought that she should have said something a little bit more pleasant and I could not stop sobbing.
Two and a half weeks later, I was handed over to some messengers from the French Court. Immediately, I was stripped from my Austrian clothing and was dressed in French finery. I thought it was quite ridiculous at the time. I was then taken to Strasbourg where a Thanksgiving mass was held in my honor. The streets of the city were covered with beautiful flowers. This was also the time that my name was changed to Marie Antoinette. The French did not want me to have my Austrian name, so they decided I should change it into something more French. A few days after the mass, I began my journey to the Palace of Versailles, my future home.
Within hours of my arrival at Versailles, Louis-Auguste and I were married. Louis-Auguste was a shy, distant, and awkward sort of person. He was only a year older than me.
I used to hate it when the Court was expected to eat in front of the public. It felt so degrading to be on display. I suppose I had become used to it by now.
On the tenth day of May in 1774, Louis-Auguste’s grandfather died from smallpox. I remember my husband saying, "Dear God, guide and protect us. We are too young to reign." Back then, I was not sure what he meant by that.
I gave birth to my first child on the nineteenth of December in 1778. I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and we christened her Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte. Unfortunately, I had to go through the humiliation of being on display during the birth. Having the public watch me eat my meals is one thing, but having them watch me give birth is much worse. I had three more children: Louis-Joséph born in 1781, Louis-Charles born in 1785, and Sophie-Béatrix born in 1786. I am very devoted to my children.
25 May 1789
Louis called for an Estates-General meeting today to try to settle a way to eliminate the national debt. Everyone was criticizing us, the Monarchy, and our policies. I have no idea why we are being criticized so much. I have a feeling Louis and I are going to run into a lot of problems.
7 June 1789
I cannot believe Louis-Joséph has passed away. I have been crying hysterically for three days. He was only seven. Seven-year-olds should not pass away so suddenly. Louis has been as upset as I have been over our loss. I doubt we will ever get over this.
14 July 1789
A mob invaded the Bastille Prison and seized control of the fortress. The Governor of the Prison was lynched. Louis immediately asked, “Is this a revolt?”
The man who brought us the news replied, “No, sire. It is a revolution.” A revolution? I am slowly starting to feel afraid of what is to come.
Many courtiers in the Palace had fled for the lives. I had my things packed and my children’s. I kept convincing Louis that we should flee to one of our country châteaus, almost anywhere that is far away from Paris. He just kept telling me that we should stay at Versailles, so I have to be an obedient wife and stay with him.
5 October 1789
I started asking Louis about leaving Versailles on a daily basis, he refuses to leave. I do not understand why he will not see that we are not safe here. There have been rumors all over the city that there might be an angry mob invading Versailles. I am scared to death that the rumors are going to come true.
6 October 1789
Versailles was attacked early this morning. All of my guards were massacred. My ladies-in-waiting and I escaped my chambers in time before the mob came in to ransack them. The whole matter was such a disaster, I am having a hard time remembering how, exactly, The Royal Family was captured. We were all taken to Tuileries Palace. We have some security, but I have my doubts that the Swiss Guard will be able to keep us safe. This is such a horrible mess. What is going to become of us?
14 July 1790
We were forced to attend the festivities thrown in honor of the anniversary of the fall of the Bastille. The celebrations symbolized everything that is most cruel and sorrowful that has happened to my family since this revolution started. I attended with a smile on my face and did not show my real feelings of the occasion.
10 August 1792
The Tuileries was attacked today by a mob. I was going to be brave and face the angry mob, even if it meant my own life. My ladies-in-waiting pleaded for me to think of my children instead. So, I reluctantly agreed and fled from the Palace with my husband and my children to the National Assembly.
I heard that the mob invaded the Palace and massacred the Swiss Guard. The Governor of the Tuileries, the Marquis de Champcenetz, managed to escape the with his life but he suffers from heavy wounds. What is this country coming to? Where did Louis and I go wrong? Simply put, we were not ready to rule a country when Louis’ grandfather died. We were not taught how to rule a country, we were only taught the art of etiquette.
13 August 1792
The whole family was arrested today.
22 September 1792
Louis, our children, Louis’ sister Elisabeth, and I were sent to Temple Fortress where we are imprisoned. We are heavily guarded her now. They are probably afraid that we will try to escape. However, we are not going to do anything as ignorant as that.
Apparently right after we were sent to be imprisoned here, angry riots broke out. Mobs invaded prisons and massacred anyone they thought to be a member of The Royal Family.
My dearest friend, Princesse de Lamballe, was captured and enticed to turn against me. When she refused, they sent heavy blows to her head with a hammer. They tore her body into pieces and placed her head onto a pike and set it outside our window. When I saw her head outside the window, I immediately collapsed and fainted. When I woke up, I could not stop trembling. I feel so horrible that she had to go through such a grisly death. May her soul be at peace.
11 December 1792
I am so upset. Louis was tried for treason today. I have no idea when they are planning on executing him. I just hope that it is not anytime soon. I am too upset to write any longer.
16 January 1793
I cannot believe that I have lost Louis. Last night he was allowed to have his last supper with us. Louis tried to get his young son to seek vengeance for his death. For a few hours, Louis, our son, and I embraced each other while Marie-Thérèse wept hysterically.
I watched Louis walk to the guillotine today. I could not bear to see him die. When I heard the crowd cheer for their King’s death, I collapsed onto the ground. I remember nothing else after that point.
16 May 1793
It has been exactly four months since my husband’s death and I still have not gotten over the loss. I suffer from convulsions and fainting fits constantly. I have no appetite and I have lost a lot of weight. I heard Marie-Thérèse whisper to my sister-in-law one day, "She no longer has any hope left in her heart...“ Perhaps I am, as Marie- Thérèse has started, unable to “distinguish between life and death,” I have lost someone I will love forever.
23 July 1793
A few commissioners arrived in our cell tonight. They took away my son because exiled royalists had proclaimed him Louis XVII shortly after my husband’s death. The Republican government has decided to isolate him in solitary confinement.
Louis-Charles flung himself into my arms and cried his eyes out. I held him close to me and bitterly yelled at the commissioners, “How could you? He is only an eight-year- old boy! How can you put him into confinement? I refuse to give up my son!”
“If you will not hand over the boy, then we will be forced to have you killed, madam,” one of the commissioners replied.
“I will take my chances.”
“Perhaps you will give up the boy if kill your daughter instead of you?” He pointed towards my Marie-Thérèse. I reluctantly released Louis-Charles to the commissioners. I may never see my son again.
2 August 1793
I cannot believe that the guards forced me to get dress so that they can take me far away from my daughter and sister-in-law. They woke up me at two o’clock in the morning. They transferred to me to Conciergerie Prison in Paris. I hated having to leave my daughter. I am afraid of what might happen to her, to all of my children. I will be praying for their safety.
I am no longer to be called Marie Antoinette. I am referred to as either Antoinette Capet or Prisoner Number 280. It feels so degrading not to be addressed by my real name. Although Marie Antoinette was not really my real name, I enjoyed be called by that the name. I became accustomed to that name, unlike Prisoner Number 280.
15 October 1793
I walked into the courtroom yesterday and everyone in the room had a shocked look on their faces. I heard someone whisper about how much my face looked aged. In total, there were forty witnesses who testified against me. The evidence that was given was absurd. Some fool testified that I abused my own son. When I was forced to respond to the charge, I said, “If I have not replied it is because Nature itself refuses to respond to such a charge laid against a mother."
Today I found out that I am to be executed tomorrow for treason.
Earlier today I worte a letter to my sister-in-law, Elisabeth. I also gave my love to my family and friends and asked my children not seek to avenge my death.
~~~~~
Today is the day I am to be guillotined, and I am waiting for my execution. A moment ago, a guard came into my cell to cut all of my lovely hair off and bind my hands behind my back. I must be strong for what’s to come.
The guard forced me into a common, run-down, slow moving cart and paraded me in front of the masses of people as it went down the streets of Paris. The people that ordered for my execution want to humiliate me in front of everyone.
We finally stopped in front of the Place de la Concorde where the guilliotine stood. I stepped out of the cart and stood still, staring at my fate. A priest walked up to me and said, “This is the moment, Madame, to arm yourself with courage."
I looked at him and smiled. "Courage? The moment when my troubles are going to end is not the moment when my courage is going to fail me," I responded to the priest.
As I walk onto the scaffold, I accidentally stepped on the executioner’s foot. “I beg your pardon, Monsieur. I did not mean to,” I said apologetically.
I slowly dropped to my knees in front of the guillotine and then lay my neck under the blade. In less than a minute, all of my troubles would be over.
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- Title: The Diary of Marie Antoinette
- Artist: Hintyli
- Description: A short story I wrote in 2005 on Marie Antoinette.
- Date: 11/04/2008
- Tags: marieantoinette historical
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Comments (1 Comments)
- Furious283 - 11/04/2008
- Just like your Cleopatra work, the story draws in the audience to stir sympathy and empathy for this great historical figure. 5/5
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