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Marie Antoinette is Born
Marie Antoinette was born in Vienna, Austria in 1755. Her mother was the empress of Austria, Maria Theresa, and her father was the Holy Roman Emperor Francis I. Marie Antoinette was the fifteenth of sixteen children and the youngest daughter of the royal couple (Plain 10). Few people know that her full name was Maria Antonia Josepha Joanna (The Biography Channel: Early Life). -
The Great Fire of Boston
The Great Fire of Boston destroyed 349 buildings. These buildings consisted of both residences, stores, and occupational buildings. The fire left 220 families homeless. The fire spread along Washington Street and wrecked one large and eight of nine small ships in its path (Boston History Before 1859). -
Atmosphere of Venus Discovered
About 250 years ago, a Russian astronomer, Mikhail Lomonosov, discovered a Venetian atmosphere. Venus was transitting the Sun when Lomonosov realized there was a bulge forming around Venus. For a "bulge" like that to appear, he knew there had to be something changing the direction of the Sun's light. Only a medium (atmosphere) could achieve this. At the time, many didn't believe in his discovery, but today Mikhail Lomonosov is credited with discovering Venus's atmosphere (Hyperspace). -
Gunpowder Explosion in Italy
The St. Nazaire Church in Brescia, Italy was the safe-keeper of over 207,000 pounds of gunpowder. During a thunderstorm in the summer of 1769, a lighting bolt hit the church and the current travelled through the vaults to where the gunpowder was located. This caused an explosion so large that it killed 3,000 people and destroyed one-sixth of the city. In response to this disaster, the British Parliament passed acts to prevent explosions involving gunpowder from ocurring again (Krider). -
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Famine of Bengal
During the Bengal Famine of 1770, the British had governed the province, but made no effort to help it's people. Over ten million inhabitants perished. At the time, this was about one-third of Bengal's total poulation. Thousands of lifeless men, women and children scattered every pond, brook, street, and road. Crops had not grown for years and the people who were still alive but hanging on by a thread ate anything that was left to hunt or had their very own farm animals to eat (Anirban). -
Fashion Icon for France
Marie Antoinette always looked like a queen from her strawberry blond curls to her extravagent dresses and jewelry. Her sense for fashion started to arouse when her dressmaker, Rose Bertin, had made her 300 ballgowns in one year. Each displayed a different arrangement of colors, but most were pastels which we still find in fashion today. Marie's dresses consisted of lace panels, ruffles, bows, rhinestones and silk. Hoop skirts and corsets were used to enhance a woman's body (Pederson). -
Queen of France
Marie Antoinette's husband and the Dauphine of France, Louis XVI, was the rightful heir to the throne of France. When Louis XV had passed, Louis XVI was crowned making Marie Antoinette the queen of France when she was just nineteen years old. Her parents were especially proud, of course, because the reason Marie was sent to France was to become queen. Little did anyone know that Marie Antoinette would be the last queen that France will ever see. -
Introduced Croissants to France
Marie Antoinette loved breakfast pastries with her morning coffee. Croissants were one of Marie Antoinette's favorite morning pastries. They originated in Vienna, where Marie Antoinette was born. Bakers in Vienna made the first croissants to celebrate their victory over Turkish armies. The shape of croissants recalled the crescent, the symbol of Islam, featured on Turkish flags. As soon as Marie introduced them, they were a hit in France (Versailles and More). -
Diamond Necklace Affair
It was no secret to any of the French subjects or even to herself that Marie Antoinette loved spending money on luxurious things. But in 1785, Marie Antoinette was falsely accused of purchasing a custom-made necklace with 647 diamonds encrested in it. At the time, France was in a deep economical slump. When the people discovered of her actions they were furious because they could barely provide food for their families to eat (Castelot 221). -
"Madame Deficit"
Marie Antoinette gained a title for herself by the French people of "Madame Deficit." She spent unimaginable amounts of money on customized jewelry and 300 ballgowns each year (Plain 27). The French eventually accused her of squandering the finances of France for her own pleasure (Castelot 221). This is when her nickname of "Madame Deficit" began and she held all the way to the day of her death. -
Russians Reach Alaska
Gerasim Izmailov, a Russian explorer, set out on the southern coast of Alaska. He and other Russian exploration accomplices gained land for Russia and befriended Alaskan natives. Today, Alaskan natives still have many Russian heraldic symbols that have become part of their folklore. -
Women's March to Versailles
France experienced a shortage of grain and bread became very expensive. This had a significant impact of the French people's lives because bread was usually served every day to eat. When the queen heard of the crisis, her response was "Let them eat cake!" This remark angered the French because it seemed their ruler didn't care if they suffered.The Women's March to Versailles was when a mob of women and men disguised as women set out against the French monarchy (Women's March to Versailles). -
Flight from France
After Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were forced out of their Palace in Versailles, France by 10,000 peasants, the royal family was relocated to Paris, France. Assuming that wasn't the last uprising, the royal couple made the risky decision to take their immediate family and escape to Vienna, where Marie Antoinette had heritage. They left in the middle of the night, but were quickly caught and forced back to Paris by a French soldier (The Biography Channel: Queen of France). -
Kentucky Becomes a U.S. State
After the American Revolution, the counties of Virginia beyond the Appalachain Mountains called the Kentucky County petitioned to become separated from Virginia. In 1792, Virgnia split and Kentucky became the fifteenth state of the United States of America. It's first Govenor was a military veteran from Virginia, Isaac Shelbey. Today it is the 26th most populated and 37th largest state in the U.S (Miller). -
Overthrown
When the king and queen of France were overthrown, France was at was with Austria and Prussia. After countless massacres in Paris, the National Convention destroyed the monarchy. Marie Antoinette and her husband and King of France, Louis XVI, were both arrested. The National Convention then enouraged the French citizens to favor the establishment of a French Republic (The Biography Channel: Queen of France). -
Marie Antoinette's Death
Marie Antoinette was beheaded just two hours after her two-day trial for being accused of treason and theft from the people of France, and sexually abusing her son (Plain 37). When an all-male jury found her guilty of all charges, she was sent to the guillotine where she lost her life later that day. She was the last queen of France (The Biography Channel: Death and Legacy).
