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G’s Gistorical Griday: Marie Antoinette (Part 1 of 2)
Posted by G
July 31, 2009
Categories:  Teach Me!
11
comments

I’m baaaaaack. And I had to rack my brain for someone else to write on. Who did I come up with? Marie Antoinette. You’ve probably seen the movie and if you haven’t, you should. It’s pretty darn good. Ready for uprisings, Bastille storming and beheadings? I know I am! I apologize if it’s as skimpy as a “dancer’s” outfit, it’s the first of two parts, so it sets up all the juicy stuff.

Marie Antoinette was born Maria Antonia Josepha Joanna to Holy Roman Emperor Francis I and Empress Maria Therese of Austria. She was child number 15. They sure weren’t lacking heirs, were they? I know what they were doing all the tiiiiime. Bow chicka wow wow. Muahahahahaha.

When she was a wee youngin’, her ‘rents promised her delicate hand in marriage to King Louis XV of France’s grandson in an effort to smooth relations between the two countries. Eventually, itty bitty Maria Antonia grew and grew and grew and reached the ripe marrying age of 14. What did she do? She got shipped off to France of course. Like the piece of uterus she was. I’m not saying she was, they saw her as that. Put the guns down! Don’t shoot!!!!!

OK, so Maria reached The Rhine and she had to shed every bit of Austria away before crossing into France. Yes, that included clothing. Creepy, eh? Never want to try the whole stripping down in front of strangers thing. Nope, never. Right-o. So after the hand-off, Maria met the King and her betrothed, Louis-Auguste and then guess what they did. They got married in 1770 and the pressure cooker was turned on. Oh and her name was changed to Marie Antoinette, can’t forget that. It’s kind of a big deal.

According to like everything, the royal couple never consummated their marriage until a long arse time after they were married. Like, looooong tiiiiime, but we’ll get to that later. So they were married, but had no kiddies, not to mention, Marie snubbed some people like the King’s mistress among others. The rumors went around like crazy. If you think high school is bad, try dealing with all of this as a teenager. Married to the heir with no heirs of your own, having to smooth relations between France and Austria and not fitting in, then having people wanting your butt shipped back to Austria. That’s a lot! Plus, she was on display for everyone’s scrutiny. The gal didn’t like it one bit. I wouldn’t either. She also developed a habit for partying with the Princesse de Lamballe, the Comtesse de Polignac and the Comte d’Artois…Recipe for disaster, eh?

Eventually, this nasty little thing called Small Pox claimed the King’s life in 1774 and then in 1775, Louis-Auguste was crowned King Louis XVI of France and Marie became Queen. Oh dear, dear, dear. They still hadn’t done the deed yet either. Which means they still had no kids and people were still spreading those nasty rumors blaming Marie Antoinette. Poor girl. and it only gets worse from here. If you don’t think so, I ask you this: How can it get worse than losing your head? HMMM?! And awww…uprisings, stormings, and beheadings will have to wait. Sorry!

Tune in next week for the good stuff and by “the good stuff,” I mean the blood, the guts, and the revolution. VIVE LE FRANCE!

I will leave you with this question though. What would you have done as young Marie Antoinette?

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G

July 31, 2009

Awww man, her head isn’t cut off. Tradition broken haha.


Marilyne

July 31, 2009

Vive LA France hehe! :P one of those French gender rules…:P I haven’t seen the movie but I don’t know why because I love those kinds of historical movies…hum.. if I would have been her, I don’t know how I would have reacted because what she was dealing with was so different then our present living realities. As for the rumors…I think the rumors would have brought me down, not to mention the possibility to end up under la guillotine!


Jenipher

July 31, 2009

Have to love Gistorical Gridays! :D

Really! Are you asking me that question?! My problems nowadays aren’t as bad as hers…so what would I do?! I seriously dunno. How about taking a ship elsewhere to a foreign country where no one knew me or something like that? At least I’d skip the guillotine. haha. me and my crazy ideas! :P


Ashley20

August 1, 2009

What?!!
G you can’t end a Tradition without a beheading. LOL
Serious disappointment :(
No but what would have done I don’t know if I’d still be married to the guy.


Kathy

August 1, 2009

Please accept my deepest apologies for breaking the headless tradition. I have updated the picture. Better late than never? ;)

I watched the movie. You know what I’d like to know? How they were able to hold those huge hairpieces on their heads like that. Did they do special neck strengthening exercises? Cuz that hair was serious yo.


Kailin

August 1, 2009

@Kathy – I like your sense of humor.

@ G, what is this fascination you have with women in history who were beheaded and victimized that you have a common beheading theme? This should be renamed, “G’s Grisly Gistorical Gridays” LOL

I have to write in on Marie Antoinette because she was so pivotal in changing the face of history. A victim of circumstances, of the times, and of politics, the poor girl (despite being royalty) didn’t know what she was getting into when she became Queen of France. Unfortunately, her awful unequal relationship with her husband, whom she barely knew, didn’t help. Being the King of France and being of France, he could’ve made it easier for Marie to adjust to royal life in France. Instead of empowering her where she can help him rule side-by-side, he kept her naive and powerless to the point she was blamed for everything the French hated. She’s not completely innocent, as well, she could have been more sensitive to the needs of her people.

There are many amazing women in history who are able to overcome gender barriers of their times to become the true contributor to history – Marie Curie, Susan B. Anthony, Florence Nightingale, Queen Victoria, Harriet Tubman, Elizabeth Blackwell, Joan of Arc.

These women were not “walking uterus,” like you called Marie Antoinette, but women who didn’t find their gender was a barrier to becoming the strong but sensitive women, mothers, caregivers, and leaders that they were. Queen Victoria ruled England for the longest time, in an era known as their Golden Age, and she was also a mother and wife. She was barely 18 when she was became Queen. So yes, she was young like Marie Antoinette was young, but she was also someone who knew she had to win the hearts of her people in order to rule well.


G

August 1, 2009

Well, Kailin, my newsletter gals were strong and butt kickers so I thought I’d throw some beheadings in to grab attention hahaha. Epic historical fails to help you learn what not to do! :D

Have no fear, Ashley! Kathy saved the day!


Marianne

August 1, 2009

@ Kailin: lol Marie Antoinette was the only one who actually got beheaded. The other 2 didn’t :D and the picture thingy is an inside joke, because the first one got messed up and for some reason the head didn’t show in the post, so we joked it was fitting since there was a lot of beheading going on back then.

and unfortunately a lot of beheading went on back then, so unless we just want to ignore unpleasant historical times, there’s not much we can do to skip it. nor should we.

it’s only been 3 gistorical gridays, though! so give it some time and I am sure Gertie will get around to talking about thousands of amazing women who made history.


G

August 1, 2009

Oh the fond memories of that Mary Tudor Mursday hahaha.

Right-o, I shall gradually make my way to all the gals…Some of the gals…Most of the gals…Oh you get it haha.


Kailin

August 2, 2009

well, thanks for your explanation, ladies.


Kailin

August 2, 2009

@Mari – I know Marie Antoinette is the only beheading, but so was Anne Boleyn, which G mentioned in the Bloody Mary one. Lots of beheadings, and I’m not saying that you should skip over the history or use humor to explain it. Just the patterns so far, as acknowledged by everyone here because there’s even an inside joke of beheadings, show this is the theme so far so “ghastly” may be appropriate. “Ghastly” or “Grisly”. “Grisly Gistorical Gridays” – this is my dry sense of humor, very similar to the kind used in British humor.

G asked the question how would you stand to be in the shoes of Marie Antoinette? My answer was found by using the example of Queen Victoria and other women leaders, pioneers in history. That’s why it is great to study a balance of historical women figures.

I knew I’d get Mari to instantly get out of her “illness” that she had to skip Mursday. The “good vibes” I sent probably helped.

@Kathy – we’d done good, girl. We’d done good. :D