Extracts
Princess Marie-Thérèse’s account of the escape attempt
The first extract is the innocent, child-like account of their ordeal by 12 year old Marie-Thérèse, Marie Antoinette’s young daughter. This account is very sweet and typical of a 12 year old child, bewildered by the world, but secure in the love of her parents: Throughout the 20th of June, 1791, my mother and … Read More
Marie Antoinette’s account of the escape attempt – as recounted by Madame Campan, her chief maid.
Marie Antoinette does not detail the threats she endured on her return journey from Varennes. We have to read the account by the republican deputy Pétion (which follows) to really understand her ordeal. She probably wanted to block these painful memories from her mind. Why were the mob so cruel to Marie Antoinette, while they … Read More
Deputy Pétion’s account of the return from Varennes
Parisians found Pétion’s account hilarious when it was first published two hundred years ago. They were amused because the pompous deputy thought himself so drop-dead gorgeous that he believed that the King’s maidenly young sister had fallen for him hook, line and sinker, and was prepared to surrender herself to him! Really? Pétion: The … Read More
Extract from Hébert’s newspaper, ‘Father Duchesne’
Hébert was the infamous editor and writer of this revolutionary newspaper, which overflowed with hatred. His influence was huge, even in June 1791 when this was written, just days after the unsuccessful escape attempt by the royal family – and a year before the deposition of Louis XVI. For Hébert, Marie Antoinette was always a … Read More
Provence’s account of his successful escape
The Comte de Provence was the brother of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette’s husband. His account reveals how a man with a bit of common sense and an actual desire to escape, could succeed in doing so – unlike Marie Antoinette’s husband, who was sadly lacking in both aspects! Throughout this memoir Provence cannot refrain from … Read More
Extract from ‘Marie Antoinette: the Courageous End.’
It’s October 1793 and Marie Antoinette doesn’t have long to live. There have already been two failed attempts to rescue the Queen from the Conciergerie Prison, despite the revolutionaries being sure that this new prison, bristling with guards, would be escape proof. However, they reckoned without the compassion of the prison wardens and some of … Read More