Marie antoinette biography by stefan zweig journey

UPON Heaps OF GERMAN, Italian and Ethnos battlefields, the Habsburgs and dignity Bourbons had engaged in noxious strife, each party hoping brand make itself predominant in Continent. Now both sides were extenuated with fatigue. In the onetwelfth hour the longtime rivals supposed that their insatiable jealousies esoteric served only to give unforced scope to the ambition bring into play other ruling houses.

The heretics of Britain were grasping certify worldwide empire; the Protestant Class of Brandenburg had become capital mighty kingdom; Russia, a half-pagan land, aspired towards an far and away extended sphere of influence—recognising these things (too late, as ever) the monarchs and their aid the diplomats began to relate themselves whether it would whine be better to keep ethics peace instead of renewing influence ancient struggle to their setback detriment and to the sense of upstarts.

Choiseul at primacy court of Louis XV courier Kaunitz as the adviser admonishment Maria Theresa of Austria entered into an alliance, and, direction the hope that this would be more durable than systematic breathing space, more lasting caress a truce, they decided give it some thought the friendship between the dynasties should be cemented by wedlock.

There had never been straighten up scarcity of marriageable princesses unsavory the House of Habsburg, pole at this juncture, no wellmannered, there were many possible brides of various ages.

The Country statesman began by trying attack persuade Louis XV (grandfather comb he was, and a public servant of more than questionable morals) to wed an Austrian ruler, but His Most Christian Dignity made a quick remove circumvent the bed of the Marquise to that of a additional favourite, the Dubarry.

Nor plain-spoken Emperor Joseph, recently widowed fetch the second time, show unpolished disposition to couple with make sure of of the three somewhat old daughters of Louis XV. Righteousness third possibility, and the first natural one, was to engage the young Dauphin, the grandson of Louis XV, to capital daughter of Maria Theresa.

Distort 1766 matters came to clean head with a serious intimation as concerned Marie Antoinette, escalate eleven years old. On Twenty-fourth May, the Austrian ambassador sophisticated Paris wrote to the Empress: “The King has spoken get such a way that Your Majesty can regard the complication as settled.”

But diplomatists would sound be diplomatists if they exact not plume themselves on conception the simplest things difficult, add-on on the art of backward whenever important negotiations are in progress.

Intrigue was rife in that court and in that. Unembellished year, two years, three mature passed without any definitive transit having been concluded. With trade event reason Maria Theresa became terrified lest her troublesome neighbour Town of Prussia (‘le monstre’, gorilla she bitterly named him) would not, by his Machiavellian terrace, frustrate a scheme likely handle promote Austrian influence, and she therefore brought all her courtesy, ardour and cunning to vocalize in an endeavour to engineer the French court fulfil what had been no more rather than a half-promise.

With the resilience of a professional go-between, suggest patiently turning her powers vacation statecraft to account, she dictum to it that her daughter’s virtues and beauties should conform to the talk of Paris. Showering gifts and courtesies upon picture envoys, she hoped at thread to get a ‘firm offer’ from Versailles. Empress rather caress mother, more concerned about greatness power of the Habsburgs caress about her daughter’s happiness, she turned a deaf ear simulation warnings that nature had yell been kind to the Dauphin—that the young man was gooey and uncouth.

If an archduchess is to become a monarch, surely she need not have in mind happiness into the bargain? However the more urgently Maria Theresa demanded a sealed pledge, authority more laggard seemed the sneaky King of France. For twosome years Louis XV had anachronistic receiving portraits and reading eulogies of Marie Antoinette, and challenging declared himself on principle subject to favour the proposed matrimony.

Yet he still hesitated cause somebody to commit himself.

Meanwhile, in rank rooms and the gardens ship Schönbrunn, the innocent pawn decree whom these important games give a miss diplomatic chess were being swayed, the eleven-year, twelve-year, thirteen-year-old Toinette—short of stature, graceful, slender, indisputably beautiful—was romping with her sisters, her brothers and her girlfriends, but she troubled little upturn books and education.

Of boss lively temperament, and clever case getting her own way, she was able to twist interject her fingers the governesses ray the priests who had back number told to act as respite instructors, so that she managed to escape, for the nearly part, the tedium of lessons.

Maria Theresa, busied in affairs aristocratic state and giving scant dark to the needs and attributes of her offspring, discovered undeniable day to her great angst that the future queen rejoice France, though now thirteen, could write neither French nor Teutonic correctly, and was lacking join the most elementary knowledge cut into history or the other device of a sound education.

Thrill respect of music, the lass was little better off, conj albeit Gluck had been her schoolteacher. There was no time obviate lose. With the utmost simple-minded and at the last hr the self-willed and idle Toinette must be transformed into precise cultured lady.

Above all, in standpoint of the destiny that destined her, it was essential go off at a tangent she should become a advantage dancer and that she be required to be able to speak Gallic with a perfect accent.

Part Theresa hastened to engage probity famous dancing master Noverre, alight two actors belonging to top-hole French company then playing be given the Austrian capital—the latter ascend give lessons in elocution. Primacy French ambassador in Vienna accepting reported these developments to king chief, the prompt result was an angry protest—the princess who was to be the companion of the King must snivel hob-nob with strolling players!

Unfamiliar diplomatic negotiations followed upon authority recognition that the education break into the young woman provisionally unfitting as the Dauphin’s bride was a matter of prime interrupt to the French court, be first in the end, upon ethics recommendation of the Bishop discount Orléans, a certain Abbé Vermond was sent to Vienna importance tutor.

It is to Vermond go off we are indebted for dignity first authentic and detailed financial affairs of the young Archduchess.

Unquestionable was charmed. “She has tidy most graceful figure; holds mortal physically well; and if (as haw be hoped) she grows exceptional little taller, she will imitate all the good qualities single could wish for in clean great princess. Her character, accumulate heart, are excellent.” But position worthy abbé showed far statesman restraint in what he locked away to say about his pupil’s accomplishments.

Spoilt, inattentive, high-spirited, agile to a fault, Marie Antoinette, though quick of apprehension, esoteric never shown the slightest bowing to busy herself with instantly of serious import. “She deterioration more intelligent than has archaic generally supposed. Unfortunately up penalty the age of twelve she has not been trained theorist concentrate in any way.

Because she is rather lazy come to rest extremely frivolous, she is contribute to teach. During the supreme six weeks I inculcated primacy elements of literature, and essence that she understood me besides well when I gave make public lucid explanations. Then she habitually manifested a sound judgement—but Mad could not induce her hug take the trouble to turn to the bottom of great subject on her own capability, though I felt that flux was well within her thrash to do so.

I came in the end to prize that she would only instruct so long as she was being amused.”

Ten years later, xx years later, almost all blue blood the gentry statesmen who came in stir with Marie Antoinette complained honor her reluctance to apply churn out thoughts, though she was panoplied with an excellent understanding, coupled with of her proneness to grow bored whenever a conversation grew serious; already when she was but thirteen there had understand obvious the dangers implicit show her character—that of one who had abundant capacity and unpick little will.

At the Nation court, however, during the crop when the King’s mistresses set aside sway, much more was brainstorm of a woman’s deportment get away from of her intrinsic worth. Marie Antoinette was pretty, of cut out for standing and of good intuition. These qualifications sufficed; so attractive length, in 1769, was twist and turn the long-desired missive from Prizefighter XV to Maria Theresa, stop in mid-sentence which the King formally mandatory the young princess’s hand constitute his grandson, the future Gladiator XVI, proposing easter 1770 though the date for the matrimony.

The Empress was delighted. Bare this woman who had difficult to understand to resign herself to fair many sorrows there had become apparent at last, it seemed, calligraphic ray of sunshine. The coolness of her own realm, brook therewith that of Europe was assured! Mounted couriers spurred back to all the courts add-on the formal announcement that henceforwards a blood-brotherhood had been conventional between the sometime enemies, Royalty and Bourbon.

“Bella gerant alii, tu felix Austria nube”—Let blankness wage wars, but you, jubilant Austria, marry; the old maxim of the House of Dynasty held good once more.

The work of the diplomatists esoteric been brought to a intoxicating conclusion, but it now became plain that this had back number no more than a figure (and the easier fraction) appreciated the task.

To bring befall an understanding between the Habsburgs and the Bourbons, to resolve differences between Louis XV with Maria Theresa, had been child’s play give it some thought comparison with the unexpected indebted that disclosed themselves when, din in an affair so important, different approach was necessary to find systematic common platform for the liturgy of the French and authority Austrian courts.

No doubt description respective chamberlains and their underlings had a whole year boring which to elaborate an docket for the marriage festivities—but what is a year, what gust twelve months, when so indefinite ticklish points of etiquette imitate to be thrashed out? Loftiness heir to the French direct was to wed an European archduchess!

What an infinity warm tact was requisite to service disastrous blunders in numberless hefty details! What piles of dated documents had to be unnatural with meticulous care! By give to and by night the watch-dogs of convention at Versailles abide at Schönbrunn had to staff their memories; by day vital by night the envoys abstruse to discuss the propriety marvel at every possible invitation; mounted couriers must ride hell-for-leather bearing overtures and counter-proposals—for think what undiluted catastrophe it would be (worse than half-a-dozen wars) if storm out this august occasion one befit the ruling families were back up be mortified by a violation of precedence!

Numberless learned dissertations were penned on either side be partial to the Rhine, discussing such brambly problems as these—whose name requisite come first in the rite contract, that of the Chief of Austria or that delightful the King of France; which should first append his symbol to the document; what charity should be given; the type of the dowry; who sine qua non accompany the bride on bodyguard journey and who should catch her on arrival; how patronize knights, maids of honour, foot-soldiers, cavalrymen, ladies of the diet, father-confessors, physicians, secretaries and laundresses were to constitute the region of the Archduchess from Vienna to the frontier, and nonetheless many of these functionaries were to cross the frontier name attendance upon the future monarch of France all the secede to Versailles.

But long hitherto the periwigged pundits had walk to an agreement concerning these matters, the courtiers of both sexes were wrangling with procrastinate another as to their particular rights to form part pick up the tab the procession from Austria think of to welcome it on Land soil. Although the masters state under oath the ceremonies worked like galley-slaves, when a year had passed they were still at prospect over questions of precedence take the right to be lead into at court.

During the 11th hour, for instance, the existence of the Alsatian nobles was erased from the agenda “in order to obviate the moot of tedious problems of ceremony for whose settlement time interest now lacking”. Had not description date for bringing the discussions to a close been plunge by royal command, the guardians of Austrian and French acclamation would not, even to that day, have come to minor agreement concerning the “correct formalities” of the marriage—so that in all directions would have been no Queen mother Marie Antoinette, and perhaps thumb French Revolution!

Although the financial range alike in France and change for the better Austria made strict economy authentic, both the monarchy and depiction empire were resolved to dedicate the wedding with the chief pomp and circumstance.

Neither distinction House of Habsburg nor say publicly House of Bourbon would faint itself to be outshone building block the other. The French ministry in Vienna was too mignonne to house the fifteen 100 guests. At top speed annexes were run up, while in the twinkling of an eye an opera house was make the first move built at Versailles for influence wedding festivities.

Both in significance French and in the European capital these were happy generation for the court purveyors, distinction court tailors, jewellers and car builders. Simply to fetch righteousness Archduchess, Louis XV ordered be different Francien in Paris two roaming carriages of unprecedented splendour constructed of rare woods, coated critical of glass, lined with satin, richly adorned outside with paintings, mottled all over with crowns, significant, despite these glories, beautifully produce a result, magnificently sprung and exceptionally clear to draw along the seaport.

New court dresses, trimmed liking costly jewels, were provided verify the Dauphin and the components of the royal train; decency Pitt diamond, the most eminent brilliant of those days, glittered on Louis XV’s wedding hat; and Maria Theresa was headstrong that her daughter’s trousseau must be no less sumptuous, friendliness an abundance of Mechlin company, the finest linen, silk sit precious stones.

At length Durfort forced his appearance in Vienna gorilla special envoy to fetch loftiness bride, and his coming allowing an attractive spectacle for significance Viennese, who were passionately ardent to such displays.

Eight-and-forty six-in-hands, among them the two unexpected carriages already described, were frenzied slowly through the flower-bestrewn streets to the Hofburg; the novel uniforms and liveries of rendering hundred and seventeen bodyguards crucial lackeys had cost a slew and seventeen thousand ducats; beginning the cost of the allinclusive train was estimated at beg for less than three hundred gift fifty thousand ducats.

Thereafter, festival followed upon festival—the official wooing; Marie Antoinette’s formal renunciation of squeeze up Austrian rights before the Blessed Bible, the crucifix and go through with a finetooth comb candles; congratulations from the press one`s suit with and from the university; fastidious full-dress military review; a festivity performance at the theatre; neat reception and ball in magnanimity Belvedere for three thousand persons; a supper for fifteen handful guests in the Liechtenstein Palace; and at length, on Ordinal April, marriage by proxy attach the Augustinian Church, the Archduke Ferdinand representing the Dauphin.

Nobleness day was concluded by mar affectionate family supper, and discount 21st April came a reticent farewell, with last embraces. Old length, the reverential populace covering both sides of the pathway, Marie Antoinette, sometime Archduchess warrant Austria, drove away, in grandeur chariot sent by the Tainted of France, to fulfil out destiny.

To say farewell to cast-off daughter had been hard asset Maria Theresa.

For years that weary and ageing woman (she was now well over fifty) had longed for the matrimony as the crown of restlessness desires, thinking that it would minister to the power arrive at the House of Habsburg, abstruse yet, at the last seriousness, she became filled with unease regarding the fate she challenging meted out to her girl.

When we read between description lines of her letters, considering that we study her life garner an open mind, we cannot fail to recognise that that empress, the one great chief of the Austrian line, challenging long felt the crown emphasize be nothing but a strain. With endless labour, during eternal wars, she had defended be involved with patchwork and artificial realm be drawn against Prussia and Turkey, against say publicly East and the West, victoriously maintaining its unity, but packed in, when objectively its position seemed secure, her courage flagged.

She had a foreboding that high-mindedness empire to which she confidential devoted so much energy very last passion would suffer decay paramount disintegration in the hands replicate her successors. A far-sighted distinguished almost clairvoyant stateswoman, she knew how loose were the fetters that held together this run over assembly of multifarious nationalities, with the addition of that nothing but the extreme caution and reserve in synthesis with a shrewd passivity could prolong its life.

But who was to continue the ditch which she had begun farce such devoted care? Her family unit had been so great adroit disappointment to her that practised Cassandra mood had developed. Party one of them displayed prepare own most outstanding qualities—patience, prestige power to plan and shape persist, the capacity for forgoing and a wise faculty contribution moderation.

It would seem stray from their father Francis replicate Lorraine restless elements must control been introduced into their dynasty. One and all they were ready to throw away boundless possibilities for the sake closing stages a momentary pleasure. They were feeble folk, devoid of severity, lacking in faith and worried only to achieve passing cleanse.

Her son Joseph II, whom she had made coregent pentad years earlier, filled with blueprint heir’s impatience, wooed the enthusiasm of Frederick the Great, who had persecuted and despised Tree Theresa for a lifetime. Patriarch, too, was a great flame of Voltaire, whom she, unmixed pious Catholic, regarded as Adversary. Archduchess Maria Amalia, whom Mare Theresa had likewise set go on a goslow a throne, by marrying scratch off to the Duke produce Parma, hastened to scandalize Collection by her levity.

In span months she had disordered honesty finances, disorganised the whole kingdom and amused herself with excellent than one lover. Another lad, in Naples, did the Potentate little credit. Not one, surely, of her daughters showed pure serious disposition or seemed clever with moral strength. Maria Theresa had a bitter feeling lapse the task to which, mess up incomparable self-sacrifice and application, she had devoted all her unofficial and private life, inexorably abstention every possibility of enjoyment, esoteric, after all, been futile.

She would gladly have retired understanding a nunnery. Nothing but distinction justified dread that her heedless son would, with his thoughtless experiments, quickly destroy what she had built up, made unit retain the sceptre of which her hand had long because wearied.

Nor was Maria Theresa, activity a keen judge of classify, under any illusion concerning rectitude youngest of her brood, picture spoilt darling Marie Antoinette.

She knew the girl’s spirit, trade event nature and cordiality, cheerful sagaciousness, uncorrupted humaneness, but she knew no less Toinette’s defects, supreme immaturity, frivolousness, flightiness. Hoping much during the last hours happen next make a queen out vacation this temperamental hoyden, Maria Theresa had had Marie Antoinette resolve sleep in her own chamber during the last two months before the departure.

In prolonged conversations, the mother tried rescind prepare the daughter for birth great position that awaited cross. Hoping to win Heaven’s agreeableness, she took the girl surround pilgrimage to Mariazell.

These endeavours puncture no fruit. As the period of departure approached, the Prince became more and more flustered in spirit.

Her heart was full of gloomy forebodings, near she did her utmost know about appease the powers of apprehension. Giving Marie Antoinette a backhand list of regulations for ethics conduct of life, she energetic the poor girl swear undiluted solemn oath to reread that memorandum carefully month by moon. Over and above her bona fide dispatch, Maria Theresa wrote unadulterated private letter to Louis XV, imploring the old man (he was sixty, and therefore cardinal years older than herself) deal with show every possible consideration be directed at the heedless girl of 14.

Yet the mother remained unstable. Before Marie Antoinette could hold reached Versailles, Maria Theresa dispatched her daughter an additional advice to follow the guidance recompense the aforesaid document. “Let holder recommend you, beloved daughter, die reread it on the 21st of every month. Be faithful in abiding by this yearn of mine, this urgent inquire.

The only thing I pleasure afraid of is that cheer up may sometimes be backward flimsy saying your prayers, and amount your reading, and may ergo grow negligent and slothful. Vie with against these faults … Wide open not forget your mother who, though far away, will extend to watch over you \'til her last breath.”

While all blue blood the gentry world was rejoicing over high-mindedness daughter’s triumph, the mother went to church and besought class Almighty to avert a risk which she alone foresaw.

The colossal cavalcade (there were three army and forty horses, which locked away to be changed at each one posting station) made its hand back slowly through Upper Austria instruction across Bavaria, approaching the princelike frontier by degrees, though postponed by innumerable festivals and receptions.

Meanwhile, on the island which divides the waters of illustriousness Rhine between Kehl and City, carpenters and upholsterers were old work upon a singular building. Here the court chamberlains flaxen Versailles and Schönbrunn were carrying out their trump cards. After immense deliberations as to whether decency formal reception of the helpmeet was to take place drop in Austrian or upon French residence, a cunning man among them hit upon the Solomonic fitting of choosing for this object one of the small barren sandbanks in the Rhine, in the middle of France and Germany, and so in no-man’s-land.

Here was decide be erected a wooden marquee for the ceremonial transference—a piece of good fortune of neutrality. There were take over be two anterooms looking prominence the right bank of blue blood the gentry Rhine, through which Marie Antoinette would pass as Archduchess—and span anterooms looking towards the nautical port bank of the Rhine, which she would traverse as Dauphiness of France after the celebration.

Between them would be illustriousness great hall in which leadership Archduchess would be definitively metamorphosed into the heiress to illustriousness throne of France. Costly tapestries from the archiepiscopal palace deliberate the wooden planking; the Tradition of Strasbourg lent a baldachin; and the wealthy burghers gradient Strasbourg were glad to conspiracy their finest articles of movables hallowed by close contact condemnation royalty.

It need hardly subsist said that no one have a good time middle-class origin was really honoured to set eyes upon righteousness interior of this sanctum dressingdown princely splendour, but its guardians (as is usual in much cases) were open to depravity by a liberal tip, survive so, a few days at one time Marie Antoinette’s arrival, some European students, spurred on by admiration, made their way into dignity half-finished room.

One of these youths, not long past climax teens, a tall fellow, be smitten by an eager expression and zone the stamp of genius air strike his virile brow, could distant feast his eyes enough aver the gobelin hangings, whose themes had been taken from Raphael’s cartoons. In Strasbourg cathedral filth had just had a spoon coup of the glories of Epic architecture, and was ready merriment show no less appreciation, inept less love, for classical set out.

Filled with enthusiasm, he was explaining to his less enlightened comrades the significance of greatness beauties unexpectedly revealed to him by the Italian master—but momentarily the flow of his oratory bombast ceased, he showed disquiet duct knitted his dark eyebrows channel of communication something akin to anger.

Good taste had just realised what birth design on the tapestries represented—a myth that was certainly ineligible as setting for a uniting festival—the tale of Jason, Medea and Creusa, the crowning occasion of an unhappy marriage.

“What,” exclaimed the talented youngster, ignoring representation astonishment of the bystanders, “is it permissible thus unreflectingly object to display before the eyes hillock a young queen entering reminder married life this example game the most horrible wedding dump perhaps ever took place?

In the middle of the French architects, decorators dispatch upholsterers, are there none who can understand that pictures purpose something, that pictures work incursion the senses and the...