-
Birth
Marie Anotinette was born November 2nd, 1755 in Vienna, Austria. She was the 15th child born to Maria Theresa, Empress of Austria and Francis I, the Holy Roman Emperor (The Biography Channel Website). -
Lisbon Earthquake
On November 3rd, 1755 at 9:30 A.M. an eathquake hit the center of the Atlantic Ocean. The Lisbon Earthquake's impact was not only on Portugal, but all of Europe. For generations to come it was known as the Great Lisbon Earthquake (Grun 349). -
Raid of Berlin
On October 11th, 1760 during the Seven Years War, Austrian and Russian forces took over the Prussian capital of Berlin for several days. After raiding money from the city, and with the arrival of Prussian reinforcements, the occupiers left. There were later rumors that the Russian commander Count Tottleben had gotten a personal bribe from the Prussians to leave the city alone. There was damage done that took years to fix (Grun 471). -
Britain Repeals The Stamp Act
After months of protest in America, the British Parliament repealed The Stamp Act. The Stamp Act was a tax created to raise money for the British army in America (Grun 354). -
Boston Massacre
British troops fired into a Boston mob, who were fighting against British troops at the customs commission. The first to die was Crispus Attucks, a fugitive slave and merchant seaman. Followed by four other deaths among the forty-five patriots. This was later known as the first battle in the American Revolution, which began five years later and was used for the colonists cause of rebellion (Grun 360). -
Creation of the Eraser
April 15th, 1770 Joseph Priestley a clergy man, recorded his discovery of Indian gum's ability to erase lead pencil marks from paper. These were the first erasers which Priestley called a "rubber" (The Biography Channel Website). -
Married
In May of 1770 Marie Antoinette was sent to France to be married at the age of 15. On May 16th she married Louis Auguste. The marriage was arranged and she did not adjust to married life very well, she was very homesick (The Biography Channel Website). -
Became Queen
On May 10th, 1774 Louis XV of France died. Marie Antoinette's husband, Louis Auguste succeeded the French throne as Louis XVI. This made Marie Antoinette, at 19 years old, Queen of France (The Biography Channel Website). -
Bank of Ireland Founded
The Bank of Ireland was founded in 1783 in Dublin, Ireland. It's a commerical bank and one of the traditional 'Big Four' banks in the country. It has a unqiue spot in Ireland banking history (Grun 363).
Exact date unknown -
Affair of the Diamond Necklace
August 17th, 1785 was the day that damaged Marie Antoinette's reputation. Countess de Lamotte, an adventuress, persuaded Cardinal de Rohan that he would gain Marie Antoinette's favor if he bought her a necklace with 647 diamonds costing $3,360,000. But the Cardinal delivered the necklace to a woman impersonating the Queen. When the jeweler wanted the money from Marie Antoinette she realized she was unknowingly used in a giant swindle. Many people thought she was guilty (Farmer 139). -
Hameau de la Reine
Marie Antoinette built Hameau de la Reine in 1786. It was an extravagant retreat near the Petite Trianon in Versailles. Its purpose was to be used as a safe environment for her children to play and learn. She feared her children would grow up isolated because of their family history (Vidal). -
Attempts to Escape
Marie Antoinette escapes with her family from the Tuileries Palace in Paris. They are found and captured in Varennes, were they returned to Paris and then were arrested (Grun 368). -
Imprisoned at Palais du Temple
Louis XVI was arrested by the republicans on September 21st, 1792 and just a couple hours later the National Convention captured the monarchy. The royal family was then taken to the forbidding Temple Fortress and imprisoned. The king, queen, their two children and Louis's sister Elisabeth were heavily guarded. They were rescued by Loyalists (The Biography Channel Website). -
Louis XVI Dies
On January 11th, 1793 Marie Antoinette's husband Louis XVI was executed at the guillotine for treason (The Biography Channel Website). -
Trial
Marie Antoinette was put on trial October 14th, 1793. She was accused for many outrageous accounts including theft, murder, adultry, and communicating with the enemy. Only one of these accusations were true. She was sending French War plans to the Austrians (Plain 71). -
Execution of Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette died on October 16th, 1793. She was beheaded at the guillotine like her husband several months before. She was beheaded for sending French War plans to the Austrians (The Biography Channel Website).
