May162013

ornamentedbeing:

18th Century Commemorative Medal - Execution of Marie Antoinette, 1793

Accession Number: 1885N1536.12

‘… It was intended to exploit the popular feeling of revulsion in Britain caused by the French Revolution…’
© Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery

marie antoinette execution french revolution 

April232013
vivelareine: Rules for Marie Antoinette When Marie Antoinette departed from Vienna on April 21st, 1770, she was given several pages written by her mother, Maria Theresa—not strictly a letter, but “rules to be read once a month” that were meant to guide the dauphine in her new life, both religiously and politically. Some excerpts from Maria Theresa’s “rules” for her daughter: When you wake up, you will immediately upon arising go through your morning prayers on your knees and read some religious text, even if it is only for six or seven minutes without concerning yourself about anything else or speaking to anyone. You must always conform to French customs and never try to introduce anything new. You must not do anything unusual, nor site our customs, nor ask that they be imitated; on the contrary, you must absolutely lend yourself to what the Court is accustomed to doing. Read no book, even the most indifferent, until you have received your confessor’s permission: this is a particularly important point in France because books are published … which, although they are full of agreeable erudition, can nonetheless be pernicious to religion and morals. Ask M. and Mme de Noailles what you must do in every case, demand that they tell you how, as a foreigner who wants to please your new country, you must behave. Answer everyone pleasantly, with grace and dignity: you can if you want to. You must also learn how to say no. Do not take on any recommendations; listen to no one if you want to have peace.

vivelareine:

Rules for Marie Antoinette

When Marie Antoinette departed from Vienna on April 21st, 1770, she was given several pages written by her mother, Maria Theresa—not strictly a letter, but “rules to be read once a month” that were meant to guide the dauphine in her new life, both religiously and politically.

Some excerpts from Maria Theresa’s “rules” for her daughter:

  • When you wake up, you will immediately upon arising go through your morning prayers on your knees and read some religious text, even if it is only for six or seven minutes without concerning yourself about anything else or speaking to anyone.
  • You must always conform to French customs and never try to introduce anything new. You must not do anything unusual, nor site our customs, nor ask that they be imitated; on the contrary, you must absolutely lend yourself to what the Court is accustomed to doing.
  • Read no book, even the most indifferent, until you have received your confessor’s permission: this is a particularly important point in France because books are published … which, although they are full of agreeable erudition, can nonetheless be pernicious to religion and morals.
  • Ask M. and Mme de Noailles what you must do in every case, demand that they tell you how, as a foreigner who wants to please your new country, you must behave.
  • Answer everyone pleasantly, with grace and dignity: you can if you want to. You must also learn how to say no.
  • Do not take on any recommendations; listen to no one if you want to have peace.

(via hoop-skirts-and-corsets)

marie antoinette factoids the more you know 

April112013

vivelareine:

… On the 23rd [of September] Her Royal Highness played piquet with M. le comte de Provence. M. le dauphin was present, holding a baguette in is hands, and amused himself by hitting the comte de Provence’s arm with it. The prince became impatient and after a few warnings, which did not stop this teasing, M. le comte de Provence jumped on the baguette and tried to tear it away from M. le dauphin. The quarrel heated up; but Mme la dauphine seized the baguette, tore it to bits and ended the dispute.

—Ambassador Mercy to Maria Theresa, 14 August 1772

(Or: The time the future Louis XVI whacked his brother with a baguette until they got into a fight and Marie-Antoinette had absolutely none of that nonsense.)

I love instances of historical ladies being badass - it makes me feel so much better about my bossy-ness.

(via hoop-skirts-and-corsets)

marie antoinette king louis xvi 

February282013

vivelareine:

Vivelareine’s ‘Masquerade’ Marie Antoinette Giveaway

No paper faces on parade here, but an assortment of goodies sure to keep everyone guessing until midnight! Your identity will be kept a mystery under this stylish sequined H&M mask, while your lips will sparkle even past midnight with Rimmel London’s royal Jewel in the Crown lip gloss. When you’re not flirting with Swedish counts to the sounds of Bow Wow Wow, curl up behind a gilded staircase with a copy of The Queen’s Confession: The Story of Marie Antoinette, written by Her Highness of nom de plumes, Victoria Holt—just one of the many pseudonymous of writer Eleanor Hibbert. After your unmasking, take home this chic souvenir of your wild night: a custom colorized magnet of the queen of MGM, Norma Shearer, as—who else?—Marie Antoinette.

To Enter [Entry Open Until 8 pm EST, March 5th, 2013]

Because Tumblr’s Giveaway guidelines technically do not allow entry through Tumblr “social gestures” (including reblogging) you can only enter this giveaway by leaving me a message in my inbox. Just mention that you are entering the giveaway in your message—something like “Entering the giveaway!” is fine.

This giveaway is open to Tumblr users only—no anonymous entries!

Winning

Entry is open from 10 pm EST on February 26th until 8 pm EST on March 5th, 2013. I will pick one winner at 8:30 PM EST on March 5th, 2013 using a random generator and announce the winner at 9 PM EST on March 5th, 2013.

Good luck!

Official Rules and Eligibility

Prize(s)

The winner of this giveaway will receive:

One used copy of The Queen’s Confession by Victoria Holt; One new sequined masquerade mask from H&M; One custom Marie Antoinette magnet; One new tube of Rimmel London’s ‘Jewel in the Crown’ Stay Glossy lip gloss. (Retail value: Appx USD20.00)

Rules/Eligibility

All entrants must be 18 years or older and residents of the United States. All entrants must be Tumblr account holders.

Note: This giveaway is not associated, administered, sponsored or endorsed by Tumblr.

Please feel free to reblog this post to share the giveaway with your followers! :)

(via hoop-skirts-and-corsets)

contests marie antoinette masquerate giveaway 

February232013
vivelareine: She is an amiable and honest woman, a little young, thoughtless, but at bottom with feelings of honesty and virtue, an understanding of her position, and really respectable. With all that, she is clever and sees things so clearly that I have often been surprised. Her first reaction is always the best, ifs he stayed with it and thought about it a little more, and if she listened a little less to the people who urge her on, of which there are armies,… she would be perfect. The desire to have fun is very powerful in her, and since people are aware of it, they prey on that weakness, and those who give her the largest amount of and the most varied pleasure are listened to and treated well. —Joseph II on his sister Marie Antoinette in 1777

vivelareine:

She is an amiable and honest woman, a little young, thoughtless, but at bottom with feelings of honesty and virtue, an understanding of her position, and really respectable. With all that, she is clever and sees things so clearly that I have often been surprised. Her first reaction is always the best, ifs he stayed with it and thought about it a little more, and if she listened a little less to the people who urge her on, of which there are armies,… she would be perfect. The desire to have fun is very powerful in her, and since people are aware of it, they prey on that weakness, and those who give her the largest amount of and the most varied pleasure are listened to and treated well.

—Joseph II on his sister Marie Antoinette in 1777

(via hoop-skirts-and-corsets)

marie antoinette 

January202013
omgthatdress: “Grand Habite” believed to have belonged to Marie Antoinette 1780s The Royal Ontario Museum

omgthatdress:

“Grand Habite” believed to have belonged to Marie Antoinette

1780s

The Royal Ontario Museum

dress marie antoinette historical clothing 

March262012
historical-nonfiction: Marie Antoinette, when hearing about the starving peasants and Parisians’ unrest, actually said “Let them eat brioche.” Brioche is a sweet bread, eaten by royalty and nobility in France. She was essentially saying, give them our bread. Which is really a very kind thing to do. Unfortunately, that didn’t quite tally with what the Revolutionaries wanted to think of her, so they started what has proved to be an extremely successful smear campaign that most still believe today.

historical-nonfiction:

Marie Antoinette, when hearing about the starving peasants and Parisians’ unrest, actually said “Let them eat brioche.” Brioche is a sweet bread, eaten by royalty and nobility in France. She was essentially saying, give them our bread. Which is really a very kind thing to do. Unfortunately, that didn’t quite tally with what the Revolutionaries wanted to think of her, so they started what has proved to be an extremely successful smear campaign that most still believe today.

(Source: )

history marie antoinette let them eat cake 

Page 1 of 1