Marie Antoinette Information

Archive for April, 2008

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Marie Antoinette Jacket

Question: was marie antoinette a real redhead or was she a blonde?

I bought a book just a few months ago and in the jacket it talked about how when she was executed you could see her roots which were “auburn”.
here’s the quote verbatum “red-headed, intelligent, and arduous queen who lost her head to the guillotine”
and then the book says how you can tell she had been a redhead because apparently being one back in the day was “unacceptable”

Answer: It's always been depicted that she was blonde. Maybe she was a natural red head, but I dunno if they had hair dye back then. Maybe it was blood at the roots. Go to google and find as many pictures of her as you can.

French Revolution Events Timeline

Question: Does anyone have a creative way of making a timeline?

I need to make a timeline listing 10 significant events of the
French Revolution. It can be on a A3 poster (possibly a bit bigger)
or be made into a book.

Answer: Sure. Read this suggestion and see what you think.
****Sketch out a plan to make your creative time-line that you can make into a book; which will consist of at least 10 pages in its core.
Plan on having that "book" be of an accordion-fold construction.
No seams to sew together, no brads or ring-binders. Can you picture this so far, like I can?
The idea of a "fold-out-able" timeline would make a really neat booklet.
And, you can do this.
****Get a bunch of old magazines that no-one cares about being cut -out -of-with scissors. Get a clear & certain verbal Okay if these are not your magazines, please. Got any flea markets or Goodwill or Salvation Army Thrift Stores near your home where you could buy for cheap some old National Geographic magazines? Maybe just trace the shape of the Eiffel Tower with tracing paper. That's a symbol of France recognized around the world, too.
****Make a collage to symbolize each of those 10 events on 10 pages that you cut-out of a standard thickness of poster board. Or, you could do a drawing or simple painting of something about that event. Use your imagination and resources.
***Perhaps just copy the colors of the French flag and "fleur de lis" emblem from page to page as accents and borders that connect page to page of your 10 event-10 page book.
***
Since most notebook paper is 8 1/2 by 11 inches--give yourself some over-sized margins all around the basic 8 1/2 by 11 "heart" of the page. Let's say the pages of your "timeline book combo" will each measure 14 1/2 " wide by 18" tall. That will give you side margins of 3 inches on either side, 3 inches at the top, and 4 inches at the bottom of each page.
***
You could hand-print, write, or type in larger-than-usual size letters the basic information about each event on the separate sheets of 8 1/2 x11 inch paper....colored paper, "parchment", "eggshell" copy paper you can buy at a copy shop or office supply store.
***
Then--with or without illustrations or ornamentation--carefully "tack" the 8 1/2" x 11" paper to the near or exact center of your already connected and accordion-pleated 14 1/2 by 18 inch poster-board "book". (By "tack to", I mean with little dots of glue on the backs of each corner or whatever works best for you.)
***
I believe that you may want to "play with" your format first to see what will and will not work for you. Sorry, I don't have the time, materials or work space to figure all of this out for you. Just hope I've given you some helpful ideas in accomplishing what will be actually your work once it is completed.
***Sounds fun and interesting to me****Good Luck. Enjoy.

Real Time Search Event

Marie Antoinette Movies

Question: We just saw the movie, Marie Antoinette. What happened to their children?

I mean historically, were they also killed? did they live long enough to procreate? Are there living heirs to the old french throne?

Answer: Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI had 4 children.

Marie Therese was the oldest child was imprisoned during the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror, before being allowed to leave for Austria. She would live in different parts of Europe (including) France before dying in 1851
The next child was Louis-Joseph. He would also be imprisoned and die in 1789 (most likely of tubercolosis).
The third child was Louis-Charles. He was also imprisoned as well. He would die in 1795 of tubercolosis as well.
The last child was Sophie Beatrix. She lived less than a year. Most likely it was due to one of many childhood diseases that ran rampant in those days.
The only one to marry was the oldest daughter. She had no children though.

Louis Xvi Kids

Bastille Day is much like Independence Day in the United States – It is the celebration of a new form of government. Bastille Day symbolizes the overthrow of the old monarchy and the beginning of the French republic.

The Bastille

The Bastille was built in 1382 and was originally used to defend the east side of Paris from attack. The Bastille had walls more than 80 feet high and was surrounded by a moat. Hundreds of years later, the French monarchy converted The Bastille into a prison to lock up people who didn’t agree with their decisions. People were jailed by arbitrary decision of the King. The Bastille was, in particular, known for holding political prisoners whose writings had displeased the royal government. The prisoners inside the Bastille were given no trial – they were placed there under the king’s orders and only he could decide when and if they would be freed.

The Bastille became a symbol of the absolute and arbitrary power of King Louis XVIÂ’s Ancient Regime.

For the peasant class, the Bastille stood as a symbol of the hypocrisy and corruption of the aristocratic government – controlled mostly by nobility and clergy. The monarchy wasn’t just undemocratic. The king and the aristocracy also owned the land and extracted not only the rent, but imposed taxes and restrictions on the people.

The French people of all classes were frustrated with many of the problems of their government, including wanting the king to share his absolute powers, the right to own land and vote, tithes and feudal rights, religious staff wanting more money.

The Beginning of the Revolution

Due to these many reasons, the French people stormed and seized The Bastille on July 14th, 1789. Violent peasants pillaged and burned chateaux, and destroyed records of feudal dues.

At the time of its capture, the Bastille only held seven prisoners. But the storming of the prison was a symbol of liberty and the fight against oppression for all French citizens. By capturing this symbol, the people signaled that the kingÂ’s power was no longer absolute: power should be passed on to the Nation and be limited by a separation of powers.

The storming of the Bastille was the beginning of the French Revolution that toppled King Louis XVI and the aristocracy. For all citizens of France, the storming of the Bastille came to symbolize liberty and democracy in the struggle against oppression.

Modern Day Celebrations

Bastille Day was declared a French national holiday on July 6th, 1880. Bastille Day has such a strong signification for the French because the holiday symbolizes the birth of the Republic.

Bastille Day is commemorated world-wide. For instance, in Philadelphia people dressed as French revolutionaries mark the day by singing the La Marseillaise, the French national anthem.

In France, the day holds many festivities. Military parades are held in the morning, the largest of which takes place on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris in front of the President of the Republic. The parade opens with cadets from certain schools, followed by infantry troops, which are then followed by motorized troops. During the entire parade, aviation flies above. In recent times, it has become customary to invite units from FranceÂ’s close allies into the parade. For instance, in 2002 cadets from the United States Military Academy paraded.

Bastille Day also falls during the running of the Tour de France, and is traditionally the day upon which French riders will make a special effort to take a stage victory for France.

Parisians celebrate this national holiday with colorful arts festivals and raucous parties. Many cities hold fireworks during the night. It is also customary that firefighters organize dancing parties.

Everyone is encouraged to raise a glass of champagne and toast the national freedom theyÂ’ve enjoyed for more than 200 years.

Celebrate Bastille Day at Home

This July, why not join the citizens of France in a celebration of national freedom and plan a Bastille Day fete, complete with gourmet French chocolates.

Jane S. Roseen is the Owner and President of Harmony Sweets. Harmony Sweets is an international gourmet chocolate shop focusing on individual consumers purchasing gourmet chocolates from around the world for their friends and relatives, corporate gift-giving, and wholesale sales to retail outlets across North America.

Website: [http://www.harmonysweets.com]

Marie Antoinette Plates

It was a quiet Saturday night along the streets of Melbourne when my sister and I went to The Botanical, an iconic restaurant in South Yarra.

The occasion was her birthday so this was a special treat. It is difficult taking her out to a restaurant as she is an incredibly fussy eater and a vegetarian.

Luckily for me she was willing to give the only vegetarian dish on the menu a go, it was the Pea & Ricotta Gnudi with Spring Herbs, Snow Pea Tendrils & Flowering Zzucchini. Being a lover of seafood I ordered the Scallops with Truffles and White Asparagus. A side order of mashed potatoes was ordered just in case.

I love trying different types of wines and have a love of any sweet red. I asked our waiter for his opinion and he recommended the 2004 Pepper Tree Reserve Merlot, Wrattonbully. It sounded wonderful so I said yes. It was very light and sweet. I was happy.

A plate of oil with a squirt of balsamic vinegar was perfect with the lovely bread we were given. I love balsamic vinegar so it was another plus.

The Botanical is long in dimension and light and airy. The high ceiling is painted white and the floor is a light honey coloured timber.

We sat near the kitchen where you can clearly see the chefs cooking up a feast. I loved the glass cabinet against the wall which stretched half the length of the restaurant on the opposite side of the kitchen that was elegantly filled with wine.

Our meals arrived and I was extremely happy and surprised to find my sister loved her meal. It was a bit fancier than she is used to but she thoroughly enjoyed it. The mashed potatoes were just like mamma makes.

My scallops were juicy and delicious. I have never had truffles before but I loved the smokey flavour they had. The white asparagus was tender and cooked to perfection.

Once the meal was finished we were full to the brim but I never say no to dessert. Especially this dessert. It was 24crt gold leaf Valrhona Chocolate Nemesis with Warm Brandied Cherries & Pistachio Sauce.

The Nemesis came on a large square platter. Our neighbours ooh’d and ahh’d at it but were not game to try it.

In one corner was a small saucepan still warm with cherries cooked in brandy. In the other corner was a bowl of hazelnut ice cream. The other corner had s small jug of smooth pistachio sauce. Finally in the last corner was the chocolate nemesis. A square piece or rich yet light chocolate cake with a square piece of 24 carat gold leaf draped across the centre.

I loved the warm cherries in the pan. It is such a delightful touch. I loved the ice cream. It had a lovely crunch to it. Was it honeycomb pieces or was it hazelnut bits on top?

I loved pouring the light green smooth, creamy pistachio sauce over the ice cream. The burst of green colour was brilliant. The cake was sublime and it was such a fantastic treat to eat 24 carat gold leaf. I felt like Marie Antoinette with her head still on. It was overly indulgent. It was divine. It was sublime. I say let them eat cake!

This is The Botanical.

Article by Sia.