Marie Antoinette, the 18th century French Queen, is one of the most famous women in history. But what was her net worth and how did it change throughout her life? In this guide we will explore Marie Antoinette’s finances, assets and income to get an understanding of her overall financial situation.
Introduction
Marie Antoinette was born in Vienna, Austria on November 2nd 1755. She grew up with privilege and status as the youngest daughter of Emperor Francis I and Empress Maria Theresa. At the age of 14 she married the future King Louis XVI of France and at 19 she became Queen of France and Navarre. Marie Antoinette lived a lavish lifestyle for which she received much criticism from both peers and commoners alike.
Despite her royal standing, very little information about Marie Antoinette’s wealth has been passed down to modern day historians. As such, it can be difficult to gain an accurate estimate of her total net worth. However, by examining the surviving evidence from her life and times, we can piece together an approximate picture of her financial situation throughout her lifetime.
Background Information
When Marie Antoinette arrived in France in April 1770, she brought with her two million livres (roughly equivalent to $200 million today) as part of her dowry. This money was kept separate from the French treasury and formed the basis of Marie Antoinette’s personal fortune. The rest of her financial situation comprised of inherited funds, allowances granted to her by her husband and any additional investments made during her reign as queen.
Early Life Financial Situation
Prior to becoming queen, Marie Antoinette had access to significant resources. Her father provided her with a generous allowance that allowed her to live comfortably even before marrying into royalty. Additionally, she also had access to private wealth inherited from her ancestors that would have contributed towards building up her own fortune over time.
Reign as Queen of France
Upon ascending to the throne, Marie Antoinette immediately set out to create a luxurious court atmosphere filled with parties, banquets and extravagant dress and decoration. To fund this lifestyle she drew upon her considerable personal fortune supplemented by further financial support from King Louis XVI who paid for many of their luxuries. During this period Marie Antoinette accumulated vast sums of wealth through taxes collected across Europe and lucrative trade agreements established between France and other nations.
Impact of the French Revolution
The onset of the French Revolution in 1789 changed the country dramatically. With no king or monarchy left in power, all of Marie Antoinette’s possessions were seized by revolutionaries and redistributed among the people. By the time of her death in October 1793, Marie Antoinette’s fortune had dwindled significantly due to inflation caused by hyperinflationary policies imposed by revolutionary leaders.
Lifestyle During Captivity
After being captured during the revolution, Marie Antoinette was sent to prison where she lived for three years under harsh conditions. Due to her imprisonment, Marie Antoinette was unable to draw upon any sources of income or receive regular payments from outside sources. It is believed that she relied largely on donations from sympathizers to cover basic needs while incarcerated.
Escape Attempts and Their Financial Implications
In August 1792, Marie Antoinette attempted to escape Paris but failed due to bad weather preventing them from crossing the border safely. Although it is not known exactly how much money was spent on the escape attempt, it is likely that it amounted to thousands of francs – a substantial sum for that era. Additionally, there were several unsuccessful attempts to negotiate Marie Antoinette’s release from captivity with various European powers which would have cost considerable amounts of money as well.
Death and Final Assets
In October 1793, Marie Antoinette died from illness while imprisoned at La Force Prison in Paris. Upon her death, her remaining assets were auctioned off to cover unpaid debts owed to creditors including those incurred during her escape attempt. Any leftover funds went back into the state coffers rather than being distributed amongst heirs as per French law at the time.
Conclusion
Overall, Marie Antoinette’s financial situation varied greatly over the course of her lifetime. From having access to immense wealth prior to becoming queen, her fortunes quickly diminished after the onset of the French Revolution leading up to her eventual death in poverty in 1793. Despite this decline in wealth however, Marie Antoinette still managed to make lasting contributions to culture and fashion which continue to shape society today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much money did Marie Antoinette bring with her when she moved to France?
A: When Marie Antoinette arrived in France in April 1770, she brought with her two million livres (roughly equivalent to $200 million today).
Q: How much money did Marie Antoinette have access to before becoming Queen?
A: Prior to becoming Queen, Marie Antoinette had access to considerable resources. Her father provided her with a generous allowance and she had access to private wealth inherited from her ancestors which would have contributed towards building up her own fortune over time.