Marie Antoinette's Final Months

Marie Antoinette's imprisonment after Louis's execution revealed monarchy's human tragedy. Separated from her children, subject to petty humiliations, she maintained royal dignity while her health deteriorated. The charges at her trial (October 1793)—conspiracy with enemies, depleting the treasury, even incest with her son—mixed plausible accusations with grotesque slanders. Her dignified defense impressed even enemies.

The queen's execution (October 16, 1793) completed monarchy's destruction. The contrast with Louis's formal procession—she rode in an open cart, hands bound, wearing a simple white dress—demonstrated revolution's determination to humiliate fallen royalty. Her composure mounting the scaffold and apologizing for stepping on the executioner's foot showed personal grace transcending political hatred. With her death, the personal monarchy of the ancien régime finally ended.