Anaya Nolan
Marie Antoinette, the wife of King Louis XVI, was the sister of Emperor Joseph II, who was also known as the Holy Roman Emperor. Joseph II was the brother-in-law of King Louis XVI. Marie Antoinette was an Austrian princess who arrived at the French Court at the age of fifteen. She was the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Francis I and Habsburg Empress Maria Theresa. Her marriage to Louis XVI was partly the work of the Duke de Choiseul, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and one of the principal architects of the reconciliation between France and Austria. Marie Antoinette was executed by guillotine on 16 October 1793. However, there is no information about what happened to her brother, Emperor Joseph II.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Louis XVI |
| Relation to Marie Antoinette | Brother-in-law and husband |
| Year of execution | 1793 |
| Burial place | Madeleine cemetery, later transferred to the Basilica of St Denis |
| Number of children with Marie Antoinette | 4 |
| Marie Antoinette's brother | Joseph II |
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What You'll Learn
- Marie Antoinette's brother, Joseph II, visited Versailles in 1777
- Joseph II's intervention led to the consummation of Antoinette's marriage to Louis XVI
- Joseph II supported his sister's interests in advancing Austrian interests in foreign policy
- Marie Antoinette's brother, Archduke Ferdinand, stood in for the dauphin at her wedding
- Joseph II was disappointed in his sister's lack of success in politics
Marie Antoinette's brother, Joseph II, visited Versailles in 1777
Joseph II was concerned about his sister's reputation and the couple's failure to consummate their marriage. He lectured Marie Antoinette about her responsibilities as a wife and queen, and recommended a small surgical operation for Louis XVI. The visit had the desired effect: the marriage was consummated on 18 August 1777, and a child was born the following year in December 1778.
Joseph II also had political motives for his visit. He wanted to secure the French king's support for his claim to Bavaria, which was contested by Saxony and Prussia. Marie Antoinette's intervention in this matter obliged France to adopt a more favourable position towards Austria, which was a disaster for the queen's image. She was named "l'Autrichienne" (a pun meaning "Austrian" or "bitch") and was accused of siding with Austria against France.
Joseph II's visit to Versailles was part of a larger trip to France, where he was curious to discover the kingdom and meet his brother-in-law. He was eager to see Paris and Versailles, and his simplicity made him extremely popular in the capital. Marie Antoinette organised a lavish celebration for him in the Petit Trianon during his second visit in the summer of 1781.
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Joseph II's intervention led to the consummation of Antoinette's marriage to Louis XVI
Marie Antoinette, the last Queen of France before the French Revolution, was married to her brother Archduke Ferdinand's proxy, Louis Auguste, Duke of Berry and Dauphin of France, who later became King Louis XVI. Marie Antoinette's eldest brother, Joseph II, also known as Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, played a significant role in ensuring the consummation of her marriage to Louis XVI.
Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI's marriage was not consummated for the first seven years, which plagued their reputations. The queen had abandoned the marriage bed due to the king's phimosis, which prevented him from consummating the marriage. Joseph II, concerned about his sister's situation, decided to visit Versailles in 1777. He travelled incognito under the false name of the Count of Falkenstein to preserve his freedom of movement and avoid the constraints of protocol.
During his visit, Joseph II gradually gained the trust of Louis XVI, who eventually confided in him. Joseph II offered his sister words of affection and reassurance and presented her with his reflections on her responsibilities as a wife and queen. He instructed her to change her attitude towards the king and recommended a small surgical operation for Louis XVI. Joseph II also described the couple's sexual problems in a letter to one of his brothers, calling them "complete fumblers." However, with his advice, Louis XVI improved his performance in the marriage bed, and the marriage was finally consummated in August 1777.
The consummation of the marriage had a positive outcome, as the couple went on to have four children: Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte, Louis-Joseph, Louis-Charles, and Sophie-Hélène-Béatrix. However, Marie Antoinette's initial failure to produce an heir inspired slanderous reports of her alleged extramarital affairs.
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Joseph II supported his sister's interests in advancing Austrian interests in foreign policy
Marie Antoinette was the sister of Joseph II, the Holy Roman Emperor. She was the last queen of France before the French Revolution and the establishment of the French First Republic. Marie Antoinette was born in Vienna on 2 November 1755 and became Queen of France at under 20 years of age. She was the wife of King Louis XVI, who ascended the throne on 10 May 1774.
Marie Antoinette was an Austrian princess, born Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria. Her marriage to the Dauphin Louis, heir to the throne, was partly the work of the Duke de Choiseul, who helped orchestrate the Franco-Austrian Alliance. Marie Antoinette's role in advancing Austrian interests in foreign policy was significant. Her involvement in political affairs was influenced by court factionalism, and she played a crucial role in aiding the American Revolution. She secured Austrian and Russian support for France, resulting in the establishment of the First League of Armed Neutrality, which halted Britain's attack. Marie Antoinette's political influence was perceived to greatly benefit Austria, and she was able to obtain her brother Joseph II's support against Great Britain in the American Revolution. She also neutralised French hostility towards his alliance with Russia.
Marie Antoinette's brother, Joseph II, supported her interests in advancing Austrian interests in foreign policy. He visited her in France under the name of "Count Falkenstein" to reaffirm the Franco-Austrian alliance. Joseph II also wrote to his sister, assuring her of his commitment to the alliance after the death of their mother, Empress Maria Theresa, in 1780. He attempted to help Marie Antoinette and her family during the French Revolution, planning a rescue attempt that ultimately failed.
Marie Antoinette's association with Austria, the rival nation of France, further tarnished her image. She was nicknamed "l'Autrichienne," a pun in French meaning "Austrian," but with a derogatory connotation. Her involvement in politics was often met with scorn, and her attempts to advance Austrian interests faced opposition from King Louis XVI and Vergennes, the foreign minister. Despite her efforts, Marie Antoinette's brother, Joseph II, was disappointed by her lack of success in promoting Austrian interests.
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Marie Antoinette's brother, Archduke Ferdinand, stood in for the dauphin at her wedding
Marie Antoinette, born Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria, married the Dauphin of France, Louis Auguste, before she met him and without him being present. On 19 April 1770, a wedding ceremony and banquet took place in her native Austria. Her brother, Archduke Ferdinand, stood in as a "proxy" groom and said the future king's vows on his behalf. This was necessary so that when Marie Antoinette first arrived in France, she would do so as a married woman.
Marie Antoinette formally renounced her rights to the Habsburg domains. On 14 May 1770, she met her husband at the edge of the forest of Compiègne. A ceremonial wedding took place on 16 May 1770 in the Palace of Versailles, and the day ended with the ritual bedding. The couple's failure to consummate the marriage plagued their reputations for the next seven years. Marie Antoinette's dress was made before her arrival in France and was too small, revealing some of her corsetry and chemise.
Marie Antoinette's brother, Joseph II, visited Versailles in 1777 and wrote to one of his brothers about the couple's sexual problems. He described them as "complete fumblers" but, with his advice, Louis XVI was able to improve his performance. In March 1778, Marie Antoinette became pregnant, and their daughter, Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte, was born on 19 December 1778.
Marie Antoinette's third pregnancy was confirmed in March 1781, and she gave birth to Louis Joseph Xavier François, Dauphin of France, on 22 October 1781. Joseph II visited his sister again in July 1781 to reaffirm the Franco-Austrian alliance, but rumours circulated that she was sending him money from the French treasury. Marie Antoinette's political influence was seen to benefit Austria.
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Joseph II was disappointed in his sister's lack of success in politics
Marie Antoinette, the wife of King Louis XVI, was the sister of Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II. Joseph II was disappointed by his sister's lack of success in politics. Marie Antoinette's political influence never exceeded that of the royal mistresses of Louis XV. Her unpopularity was at its peak when the Estates-General convened at Versailles in May 1789, as she was regarded as an associate of the king's brother, Charles, comte d’Artois.
Marie Antoinette's early attempts to get involved in politics were clumsy and met with scorn by the Court. Madame Adélaïde, aunt of Louis XVI, gave her the derogatory nickname "The Austrian", which stuck with her until her untimely death. Marie Antoinette's efforts to secure the return to power of Étienne-François de Choiseul, duc de Choiseul, in 1774 were unsuccessful. She also failed to prevent the fall of finance minister Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot in 1776.
In foreign policy, Marie Antoinette's attempts to advance Austrian interests were met with opposition from Louis XVI and Vergennes. One example of this was the Peace of Teschen, signed on 13 May 1779, which ended a brief conflict between Austria and France. Marie Antoinette's intervention on behalf of Austria gave the impression that she had sided with Austria against France, damaging her image.
Marie Antoinette's brother, Joseph II, visited Versailles in 1777 and lectured her on her responsibilities as a wife and queen. He instructed her to change her attitude towards the king and recommended a small surgical operation. Joseph II's visit had the desired effect, and the marriage was consummated on 18 August 1777. Marie Antoinette gave birth to a daughter, Marie-Thérèse Charlotte, Madame Royale, the following year on 19 December 1778.
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Frequently asked questions
Marie Antoinette had several brothers-in-law, including:
- King Louis XVI's brother, Charles, comte d'Artois.
- King Louis XVI's brother, the Count of Provence.
- Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II.
Marie Antoinette was close with her brother-in-law, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, who was also her brother. He visited her in Versailles in 1777, and she was delighted to see him. He also gave her advice on her marriage to King Louis XVI.
However, he also lectured her on her behaviour and responsibilities as a wife and queen. He also described her and her husband as "complete fumblers" in a letter to his brother.
Marie Antoinette was executed by guillotine on 16 October 1793. Her brother-in-law, King Louis XVI, was also executed by guillotine on 21 January 1793.
Her other brother-in-law, Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, tried to prevent a counterrevolutionary crusade against France.
After Marie Antoinette's death, her brother-in-law, the Count of Provence, recognised her son Louis-Charles as King Louis XVI's successor. In 1815, the remains of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were transferred and buried in the Basilica of St Denis.
