Portrait of Marie Antoinette (1755-93)

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Queen of France before the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette (1755–93) gains notorious fame for being overthrown by French revolutionaries and publicly guillotined after the abolition of the monarchy. Born as the 15th child of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, and Empress Maria Theresa, Marie grew up with a sibling population of 16 children. In Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace and Hofburg Palace, Marie Antoinette spent her childhood learning to sing, dance, and play music, typical for a royal woman of the time. Marie and her siblings would perform for their parents in the evenings at court, entertaining the royal family with their skills. Growing up, Marie shared a governess with her elder sister, Maria Carolina, and the sisters remained close throughout Marie's life. At age 14, Marie married the heir to the French throne, Louis-Auguste, Duke of Berry and Dauphin of France, by proxy on April 19, 1770. Together they had four children: Marie Thérèse Charlotte, Louis Joseph, Louis Charles, and Sophie Hélène Béatrice. The Treaty of Versailles in 1756 marked a significant moment for both France and Austria as they agreed to support one another after the outbreak of the Seven Years' War (1754–63), a series of battles fought over British and French colonies in the US. At just 18 years old, Marie became Queen of France when her husband inherited the throne as King Louis XVI. Marie gave birth to their first child, Marie Thérèse Charlotte, in December 1778. On October 14, 1793, after months of imprisonment, Marie was put on trial and found guilty of treason. Two days later, at age 37, the queen suffered a similar fate as her husband and was executed by guillotine. The Legislative Assembly in France voted for the monarchy to be abolished on September 21, 1792. The bodies of Louis XVI and Marie were discovered during the restoration of the monarchy in France in the early 19th century.