The Lost King of France: A True Story of Revolution, Revenge, and DNA by Deborah Cadbury Page B
Authors: Deborah Cadbury
Ads: Link
enemies; just to see her own son, an army of guards would follow her. “My only hope,” she said, “is that my son at least can be happy … . When I am very sad, I take my little boy in my arms, I kiss him with all my heart and this consoles me for a time.”
While Marie-Antoinette was writing in code to her brother, the Emperor Leopold, asking him to support the French monarchy, Fersen went on a desperate diplomatic tour of European capitals. In February 1792, he risked his life in a daring mission to return to France in disguise to see the queen in the Tuileries. Despite their efforts, in March the Austrian Emperor Leopold II died suddenly, to be replaced by Marie-Antoinette’s nephew, Francis II. Marie-Antoinette could not be sure that Emperor Francis would intervene on her behalf and feared betrayal.
By spring 1792, the new powers in France were growing increasingly militaristic, convinced that neighboring countries would be forced to act against their own population’s possible political awakening. Rumors were rife of an immediate attack against France by an alliance of Austrians and Prussians, supported by émigré forces. Soon there were calls upon all patriots to defend their country as the warmongering verged on hysteria. In April, France declared war on Austria. Marie-Antoinette’s position became intolerable. Many people were convinced that l’Autrichienne who wished to “bathe in the blood of French people” was an enemy agent, betraying the nation. When a French campaign in the Netherlands went badly, fears were mounting that the Austrians and Prussians would march on Paris and restore the “royal tyrants.”
Despite the pressures of war the Assembly continued to persecute the clergy. Any priest still loyal to Rome denounced by more than twenty citizens was to be deported to the French colony of Guiana, a fate that
was certain death, since leprosy and malaria were endemic in the colony. This decree was sent to the king for his approval. After much heart searching and anguish, he again used his veto and refused to sign this decree.
The very next day, June 20, 1792, thousands of citizens, angered by the king’s use of his veto, gathered around the palace. “This armed procession began to file before our windows, and no idea can be formed of the insults they said to us,” wrote Marie-Thérèse. On their banners was written, TREMBLE TYRANT; THE PEOPLE HAVE RISEN, and we could also hear cries of “Down with the veto! And other horrors!” Thirteen-year-old Marie-Thérèse witnessed what happened next. “Suddenly we saw the populace forcing the gates of the courtyard and rushing to the staircase of the chateau. It was a horrible sight to see and impossible to describe—that of these people with fury in their faces, armed with pikes and sabers, and pell-mell with them women half unclothed, resembling furies.” In all the turmoil, Marie-Antoinette tried to follow the king but was prevented. “Save my son!” she cried out. Immediately someone carried Louis-Charles away and she was unable to follow. “Her courage almost deserted her, when at last, entering my brother’s room she could not find him,” wrote Marie-Thérèse.
Meanwhile, the crowd surged upstairs armed with muskets, sabers and pikes. Madame de Tourzel describes the ordeal. “The king, seeing that the doors were going to be forced open, wanted to go out to meet the factionists and try to control them with his presence.” There was no time. The doors to the king’s rooms were axed down in seconds and the crowd burst in shouting, “The Austrian, where is she? Her head! Her head!” Élisabeth stood valiantly by her brother, and Madame de Tourzel describes her great bravery as she was mistaken for the queen. “She said to those around her, these sublime words: ‘Don’t disabuse them. If they take me for the queen, there may be time to save her.’”
The revolutionaries turned on the king and demanded that he sign the decrees of
While Marie-Antoinette was writing in code to her brother, the Emperor Leopold, asking him to support the French monarchy, Fersen went on a desperate diplomatic tour of European capitals. In February 1792, he risked his life in a daring mission to return to France in disguise to see the queen in the Tuileries. Despite their efforts, in March the Austrian Emperor Leopold II died suddenly, to be replaced by Marie-Antoinette’s nephew, Francis II. Marie-Antoinette could not be sure that Emperor Francis would intervene on her behalf and feared betrayal.
By spring 1792, the new powers in France were growing increasingly militaristic, convinced that neighboring countries would be forced to act against their own population’s possible political awakening. Rumors were rife of an immediate attack against France by an alliance of Austrians and Prussians, supported by émigré forces. Soon there were calls upon all patriots to defend their country as the warmongering verged on hysteria. In April, France declared war on Austria. Marie-Antoinette’s position became intolerable. Many people were convinced that l’Autrichienne who wished to “bathe in the blood of French people” was an enemy agent, betraying the nation. When a French campaign in the Netherlands went badly, fears were mounting that the Austrians and Prussians would march on Paris and restore the “royal tyrants.”
Despite the pressures of war the Assembly continued to persecute the clergy. Any priest still loyal to Rome denounced by more than twenty citizens was to be deported to the French colony of Guiana, a fate that
was certain death, since leprosy and malaria were endemic in the colony. This decree was sent to the king for his approval. After much heart searching and anguish, he again used his veto and refused to sign this decree.
The very next day, June 20, 1792, thousands of citizens, angered by the king’s use of his veto, gathered around the palace. “This armed procession began to file before our windows, and no idea can be formed of the insults they said to us,” wrote Marie-Thérèse. On their banners was written, TREMBLE TYRANT; THE PEOPLE HAVE RISEN, and we could also hear cries of “Down with the veto! And other horrors!” Thirteen-year-old Marie-Thérèse witnessed what happened next. “Suddenly we saw the populace forcing the gates of the courtyard and rushing to the staircase of the chateau. It was a horrible sight to see and impossible to describe—that of these people with fury in their faces, armed with pikes and sabers, and pell-mell with them women half unclothed, resembling furies.” In all the turmoil, Marie-Antoinette tried to follow the king but was prevented. “Save my son!” she cried out. Immediately someone carried Louis-Charles away and she was unable to follow. “Her courage almost deserted her, when at last, entering my brother’s room she could not find him,” wrote Marie-Thérèse.
Meanwhile, the crowd surged upstairs armed with muskets, sabers and pikes. Madame de Tourzel describes the ordeal. “The king, seeing that the doors were going to be forced open, wanted to go out to meet the factionists and try to control them with his presence.” There was no time. The doors to the king’s rooms were axed down in seconds and the crowd burst in shouting, “The Austrian, where is she? Her head! Her head!” Élisabeth stood valiantly by her brother, and Madame de Tourzel describes her great bravery as she was mistaken for the queen. “She said to those around her, these sublime words: ‘Don’t disabuse them. If they take me for the queen, there may be time to save her.’”
The revolutionaries turned on the king and demanded that he sign the decrees of
Similar Books
