-STORE   -HOME PAGE   -DVD   -KAT NEWS   -MUSIC   -METAL VIDEOS   -HOT PHOTOS   -ARTICLES   -RADIO   -GUESTBOOK   -KAT BIO   -CLASSICAL  COMPOSERS   -GENIUSES   -REVIEW COPIES   -LINKS   -CONTACT KAT		MARIE ANTOINETTE MARIE ANTOINETTE BIOGRAPHY 1755-1793   The Famous Queen of France who was claimed to have said "LET THEM EAT CAKE!" while the peasants were starving.   Marie Antoinette was born in Vienna, Austria on November 2, 1755 - the 15th child of Austrian Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Francis I. As a child, Marie Antoinette met Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart when he came to perform for Marie Antoinette's Imperial family. Legend has it that after the concert, while Mozart (who was about the same age as Marie Antoinette) was playing with the children, slipped and Marie caught him. Mozart stated "I'll marry you someday."  But, Marie Antoinette's mother wanted her to marry the future King of France.   At the age of 15, Marie Antoinette married the Crown Prince of France in order to strengthen the French monarchy's ties to Austria. In 1774, The Crown Prince of France became King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette became the Queen of France.   Marie Antoinette was extremely independent and refused to follow court protocol. She was resented by the Parisians because of her foreign birth and extravagant lifestyle. The peasants thought she was arrogant and Marie became the target of vicious gossip and was accused of having affairs with both men and women. Marie appointed her friends to palace positions over more qualified people. All of this lead to accusations of corruption and illicit sexual behavior and was called the "Austrian Whore." The masses began using Marie Antoinette as a scapegoat for their frustration with the Monarchy.   Unemployment and hunger were widespread among the peasants in France and they blamed the Queen for their problems. There were vicious stories made up about Marie Antoinette by the common Parisians. One story was that she asked why the peasants were angry and a person answered "Because they have no bread" to which Marie Antoinette declared "LET THEM EAT CAKE!" Marie Antoinette actually never said those words, but the people hated her so much, they were ready to believe it.   In 1789 The French Revolution began. There was rioting and the the masses began storming the palace. Marie Antoinette became the target of revolutionaries. After plotting with her brother Leopold II of Austria for military aid in fighting off the revolutionaries, Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI and her children fleed Paris only to be caught by a Parisian and sent back to Paris under guard.   Marie Antoinette negotiated secretly with monarchist factions and her brother, Emperor Leopold II to save the monarchy. News of her plotting and scheming enraged the French and when Austria went to war with France, in 1792, the royal family were charged with treason, ending the monarchy. Louis was charged with treason, sentenced to death and executed in 1793.   On October 16, 1793, Marie Antoinette was tried for treason. Palace servants who wanted to get even with her provided false testimony in the trial. After only 1 hour, the jury sentenced her to death.  On October 16, 1793, Marie Antoinette was BEHEADED by the guillotine. Marie Antoinette was the ONE FIGURE who triggered the anger of the French people into a full revolution.      The contents of all music, photos, graphics, text and videos are protected by copyright and may not be used or reproduced without prior express written authorization from the publisher.