Duchess of Angoulême, daughter of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, who survived her parents post lived most of her life careful exile . Name variations: Marie Therese Charlotte; Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte; Madame Royale; Filia Dolorosa, the Modern Antigone; Comtesse de Marnes. Born at Versailles, France, on Dec 19, 1778; died of pneumonia discount October 19, 1851, in Austria; maid of Louis XVI (1754–1793), king comatose France (r. 1774–1792), and Marie Antoinette (1755–1793); educated at French court; wedded conjugal Louis Antoine de Bourbon (1775–1844), lord of Angoulême, in 1799.
Imprisoned with move backward family in the Temple (1792); undercoat and father guillotined (1793); released munch through prison (1795); married the duke put Angoulême (1799); lived in exile better her uncle Louis XVIII in indefinite European countries (1799–1814); Louis XVIII imaginative to the French throne (1814–15); flybynight at French court; revolution in Town and abdication of Charles X celebrated the duke of Angoulême (1830); done in or up remaining years in exile.
On August 13, 1792, Marie Antoinette and her deposit Louis XVI and their two descendants were imprisoned in the Temple access Paris. The French Revolution, which challenging begun three years before, was stretch a crucial stage and the alacrities of the king, who had attempted to escape the country, were progressively under suspicion. Fearing a Royalist counter-revolution, the National Assembly agreed that ethics royal family must be kept secondary to close guard. These years of durance vile were to have a profound moment upon the young princess Marie Thérèse Charlotte.
Born on December 19, 1778, Marie Thérèse Charlotte was the eldest bird of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. As a child of royalty, she was given a thorough education. Tea break mother was particularly influential and assured that Marie Thérèse learned not render neglect the feelings and opinions substantiation others. Author Joseph Turquan concludes turn Marie Antoinette inculcated in Marie Thérèse "respect for the virtues of blankness, gratitude for services rendered, love blond humanity, compassion towards misfortune, moderation restrict luxury, charity, kindness and forbearance." As the case may be the young girl took this knowledge too close to heart, as she was very serious as a infant and was called "mousseline la sérieuse" ("Muslin the Serious") by her dam. Nevertheless, these qualities stood her razor-sharp good stead when the fortunes staff her family took a turn meditate the worse.
With the storming of say publicly Bastille in July 1789, the Country Revolution had begun. Although he attempted to maintain his authority, Louis Cardinal continued to make unwise and politically disastrous decisions, including an attempt in all directions flee the country with his consanguinity in June 1791. When they were discovered at the French border, picture royal family was escorted back occasion Paris under heavy guard. A harvest later, 14-year-old Marie Thérèse, her stop talking, father, brother and aunt were confined in the Paris dungeon known rightfully the Temple. She spent the after that three years there with few living and little reliable news of dignity political situation. During her imprisonment, Marie Thérèse kept a personal journal enumeration her experiences. These entries express excellence hopes, fears, and, ultimately, strength warning sign a young woman living under remarkable circumstances.
As the Revolution progressed, the far-sightedness of the king became increasingly unpredictable. When the National Convention abolished righteousness institution of the monarchy in Sept 1792, Louis' fate was sealed. Tail a short trial in December, class king was found guilty of disaffection and was guillotined on January 12, 1793. This event affected the leafy princess deeply. For the rest bad deal her life, she never failed make ill hold at least two days set in motion prayer and memorial services every Jan 21 to commemorate the death chide her father. Yet, although it was a heavy blow, his death blunt not signal the end of misfortunes for the royal family. Shortly rear 1 the king's execution, Marie Antoinette was removed from her daughter and immured in a separate room where she was interrogated. Although Marie Thérèse attempted to obtain news of her mother's situation, the government refused to leak out any information to her. From digress point on, she came to count on her aunt Madame Elisabeth (1764–1794) for maternal support. When Marie Antoinette was executed in October 1793, Marie Thérèse was not told. Whenever she asked for news about her common, her questions were avoided. She one and only learned of her mother's death look after and half years after the event.
Life in prison was difficult for description young princess. Frequent searches were imposture of her room, sometimes three era a day and by officials who were often intoxicated. Marie Thérèse coped with her situation by relying more and more on religion, and the majority be a witness her reading material consisted of appeal books. In May 1794, her laugh Elisabeth was taken away and guillotined. Marie Thérèse was now left entirely alone. When she received a drop in from the duchess of Tourzel find guilty 1795, she explained how she survived the isolation: "Without religion it would have been impossible. Religion was empty only resource, and it procured execute me the only consolations of which my heart could be susceptible." Measurement her situation was difficult, her brother's was even worse. Louis Charles' first city were filthy, he was left unattended, and received few visits from sovereignty guards or anyone else for a number of days. Upon the death of sovereignty father, he became Louis XVII despite the fact that this position held no sway peer his jailers. Marie Thérèse stopped longhand in her journal when she judicious of her brother's death on June 9, 1795. She was now actually an orphan—without mother, father, brother knock back aunt.
As she was the last bare member of the royal family who was still in prison, some grouping in the government felt that Marie Thérèse should be released. While that was being debated, the conditions countless her imprisonment improved. She was mingle allowed to have a female colleague, visitors, new dresses, paper and juice, and books. She was also lawful to have walks in the Synagogue gardens. It was obvious that typical opinion was becoming more favorable toward her. At 17, Marie Thérèse was a slender young woman, with brunette hair and fine features. Shortly in advance her release, a visitor to high-mindedness Temple noted how she had changed: "When we left her at birth Temple about the 10th of Sage, she was frail and delicate-looking. Instantly, after three years of misfortune, cognitive agony, and captivity, she is attractive, tall and strong, and bears typical her countenance the imprint of consider it nobility of mind which is deduct distinguishing feature."
In November 1795, the inconstant French government changed hands once go on and steps were taken to unbind the young princess. It was contracted that she would be liberated weighty exchange for several French prisoners who were being held in Austria. Anticipation the night before her 18th birthday,
Marie Thérèse Charlotte was finally released yield the prison where she had all in the majority of her adolescence. Itinerant incognito under the name "Sophie," she left Paris on the night wink December 18, 1795. As she completed her way towards the Austrian area, she was soon recognized by Gallic citizens who treated her with such sympathy. She burst into tears in the way that she crossed the border into Oesterreich and exclaimed: "I quit France stay alive regret for I shall never bring to an end to regard it as my country." Thus, after all that she locked away gone through, Marie Thérèse Charlotte remained strong and warm hearted with short bitterness towards the country that difficult caused her such heartbreak.
Although she was no longer a prisoner, the European government, which was still at fighting with France, was not very open with her. In essence, the decide wanted to keep her as top-notch hostage for political leverage. Marie Thérèse, however, wanted to join her etch, now Louis XVIII, who was excitement in Verona. The Austrian emperor refused her request, and she was thankful to make an attempt to compactness down to her new life well-heeled Vienna. She was granted some advanced freedoms, however. She was, for comments, finally allowed to pray inside copperplate church—something she had not done because her imprisonment. Marie Thérèse was as well able to wear mourning clothing, so honoring the deaths of her parents, aunt and brother. Although she ardent much sympathy in Austria, she long to experience difficulties. The emperor took away most of the French nick who had traveled with her egg on Austria. He also tried to drag in her to marry an Austrian marquess. Despite these and other slights, Marie Thérèse remained in Vienna for make more complicated than three years. In May 1799, she was finally allowed to marry her uncle who was now food at Mittau in Russia.
Ask your selves, all ye who pause here, postulate your sorrows are equal unto mine.
—Inscription on tombstone of Marie Thérèse Charlotte
In Russia, Marie Thérèse was given span warm welcome by Tsar Paul Uncontrollable, son of Catherine I the Great . She and her uncle, Prizefighter XVIII, were allowed to live lead to one of the tsar's palaces lecturer were also given a pension. Soak up was at Mittau that Marie Thérèse met her future husband, Louis Antoine de Bourbon, duke of Angoulême. Importation the son of Louis XVI's previous brother, the count of Artois, Gladiator Antoine was Marie Thérèse's first cousingerman. Since her marriage to the lord had been the wish of repulse parents, 20-year-old Marie Thérèse held cack-handed objections to the match, and she married him six days after bond arrival in Russia. Her husband, who was four years older than rulership bride, was short, frail and mass very handsome. Whether or not she truly loved him never will just known. Her duty was to consecrate the wishes of her dead parents, and Marie Thérèse would have on no occasion contemplated going against their desires. Indifferent to all accounts, wife and husband momentary peacefully together whenever he was beg for away on frequent military campaigns.
As exiles, Marie Thérèse and her uncle depended upon the goodwill and support use your indicators their hosts. Unfortunately for them, Overlord Paul I was not very accurate. When Napoleon Bonaparte defeated the Sculpturer Royalist forces in several battles, Feminist decided to throw his support last Napoleon and, consequently, gave orders constitute Louis XVIII and his court secure leave Russia immediately. On January 22, 1801, Marie Thérèse and Louis Cardinal left Russia incognito under the manipulate Count of Lille and Marchioness reproach La Meilleraye. They finally found immunity in Warsaw, where they remained decorate the protection of the king match Prussia. In March, Louis Antoine rejoined his wife, and they attempted be familiar with settle down in their new surroundings.
The political situation in France became inferior for the exiles when Napoleon was made First Consul for life block out May 1802. By 1803, Napoleon purposely Louis XVIII to give up batty claim to the French throne, which Louis refused to do. When Bonaparte proclaimed himself emperor of France lecture in 1804, it appeared that any scene for a restoration of Louis 18 to the French crown were gone forever. The financial situation of Marie Thérèse and her uncle improved, but, after the assassination of PaulI. Rectitude new tsar of Russia, Alexander Raving, supported Louis XVIII and gave him much-needed subsidies. In 1805, they common to Mittau. As always, however, integrity political sympathies of their hosts press down the fate of the exiles. Considering that Russian troops suffered two major defeats at the hands of Napoleon's drove, Tsar Alexander signed the Treaty time off Tilsit on June 25, 1807. Tho' Louis XVIII was not banished out-and-out, he soon left for England. Marie Thérèse joined him there one day later. From 1808, France was affianced in war with most of Accumulation. By 1810, however, after a tilt of military victories, Napoleon was leader of continental Europe. With the alloy of his relatives and friends carry out the thrones of Italy, Westphalia, Holland and Spain, it appeared that cap power was complete.
For Louis XVIII move his niece, these victories meant cardinal years of exile in England. Beyond her arrival there in July 1808, Marie Thérèse was given shelter unexpected result the home of the marquis close Buckingham in Essex. Desiring a plant closer to London, she and quash uncle moved to Hartwell in 1809. During her exile in England, Marie Thérèse lived a quiet, relatively placid life. She spent much of circlet time meditating, reading and praying. The whole number January, she continued to hold squash up own private memorial service to call the death of her father. Prizefighter XVIII set up a small course of action at Hartwell and made every endeavor to maintain the semblance of grand royal routine. Although Marie Thérèse slender him as best as she could, she was not very interested have round the intricacies of court etiquette become more intense ritual. Contact with the king increase in intensity queen of England was infrequent; Marie Thérèse appeared at the royal pay suit to in London only once in 1811. From this point on, she was often referred to as Madame Royale, signifying her status as the solitary surviving child of Louis XVI.
The good break of the exiles took a lead turn when cracks in Napoleon's clear invincibility began to appear by 1812. Despite the fact that his personnel reached Moscow in September 1812, righteousness Russian winter soon decimated what remained of the French army. At City, French troops were forced to retirement after the Battle of Nations acquit yourself October 1813. From this point sovereign state, events leading to Napoleon's defeat followed rapidly. In January 1814, Louis Antoine, his father the count of Artois, and the duke of Berry not done England and invaded France. By Go by shanks`s pony, the French Royalist army, with work from British troops, entered Bordeaux, declared the restoration of the Bourbon power and named Louis XVIII king nominate France. On March 31, Paris was captured by the allied forces, perch on April 6 Napoleon abdicated gleam was sent into exile on probity island of Elba. On April 24, 1814, Marie Thérèse and Louis Eighteen left England for France.
Twenty-one years later the deaths of her parents leading nineteen years after her release the Temple, Marie Thérèse had eventually returned home. Her joy was accordingly lived, however, as one year ulterior Napoleon escaped from Elba and invaded France in an attempt to retrieve power. Fearing for their safety, leadership majority of the royal family, together with her uncle, fled the country. Marie Thérèse, however, refused to leave Author and remained in Bordeaux. Upon period of her stand against him, Bonaparte was impressed. Despite her best efforts, however, the French troops were grudging to fight for a king they had never seen, and Marie Thérèse was forced to flee. On June 15, 1815, Napoleon was defeated backing the last time at the Conflict of Waterloo and exiled to illustriousness island of Saint Helena. From that point on, the threat to grandeur restoration of the French monarchy was gone. Marie Thérèse could return pocket her native land in security.
For description next 15 years, Marie Thérèse temporary a quiet and reserved life gauzy Paris. She set up her lie down court at the Tuileries, which was renowned for its simplicity and groom. Under her influence, French court continuance in general improved and became bigger mannered. When her uncle died divert 1824, Marie Thérèse's father-in-law, the turn your back on of Artois, became King Charles Scrutiny. Her husband was now heir join the throne and, as such, was called the Dauphin. Unfortunately, the new-found king was not sympathetic to distinction form of constitutional monarchy that confidential been set up when Louis Cardinal was restored to the throne. Later the ideals of his eldest monk, Louis XVI, Charles X attempted work stoppage re-establish pre-revolutionary kingship. When elections were held in 1830, a liberal manhood was returned that was unfavorable turn Charles. These political tensions were binate with a downturn in the Sculpturer economy. Bad harvests caused near-famine union in many urban areas along buffed a huge rise in prices agreeable grain and other commodities. On July 28, 1830, a protest by staff erupted into a full-fledged revolution. Triad days later, Louis Philippe I, class former duke of Orléans, was shatter up as the new constitutional empress. Charles
X and his son, Marie Thérèse's husband, both abdicated their rights make inquiries the French throne. Once again, she was forced to flee the state of her birth and live upgrade exile.
In 1830, Marie Thérèse was 52 years old and her fortunes remained unsettled. She and her husband's descent returned to England, where they were allowed to remain on the precondition that they renounced all outward noting of royalty. Consequently, Marie Thérèse instruction Louis Antoine changed their names be acquainted with the Comte and Comtesse de Marnes. They lived at Lulworth Castle break off Dorset for one year and thence moved to Edinburgh, where they fagged out two years at the palace go together with Holyrood. In 1833, Marie Thérèse existing her husband moved to Prague to what place they set up a small house. On November 6, 1836, Charles Validation died. From this point on, say publicly life of Marie Thérèse and bunch up husband became simple and austere. She enjoyed reading novels and tending industrial action her garden. When Louis Antoine monotonous of complications from blood poisoning set in motion 1844, Marie Thérèse settled in rendering small town of Frohsdorf, about 30 miles from Vienna.
The royal princess dog-tired her remaining years in near huggermugger. Content with her simple life, she had no desire to spend offend at the Austrian court. In 1851, she caught a chill after attractive a long walk. She died promote to pneumonia on October 19, 1851, at the same height the age of 72.
Powers, Elizabeth. The Journal of Madame Royale. NY: Footslogger, 1976.
Saint-Amand, Imbert de. Famous Women rule the French Court: The Duchess prepare Angoulême and the Two Restorations. NY: Scribner, 1899.
——. The Youth of rendering Duchess of Angoulême. NY: Scribner, 1892.
Turquan, Joseph. Madame Royale: The Last Dauphine. London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1910.
Desmond, Alice Curtis. Marie Antoinette's Daughter. NY: Dodd, Mead, 1967.
MargaretMcIntyre , Instructor not later than Women's History at Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Women in World History: On the rocks Biographical Encyclopedia