The Question of Marie-Antoinette: The Queen and Public Opinion before the Revolution

Abstract

Did scandalous representations of Marie‐Antoinette help to bring on the Revolution? This old and new question is examined in this article. The number and circulation of writings, talk and imagery before 1789 were less than historians assume. Scandal‐mongering had largely aristocratic origins, and was promoted by money‐hungry writers not always successful. Its range was predominantly in Versailles and Paris, and its resonance among provincials was limited. Public response was ambiguous, not just unquestioned acceptance but also scepticism and criticism, along with praise for the queen. Scandalous diatribes were intricately related to political developments. Beginning in 1787 mounting opposition to royal policies triggered venomous attacks against Marie‐Antoinette which intensified in 1789 and later. Scandal‐mongering against the queen did not undermine the regime, but opposition to Bourbon policy and action fomented scandalous attacks as an arm of combat.

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