After the storming of the Tuileries, Marie Antoinette and her family sought refuge with the Legislative Assembly. After a terrifying day, they were given lodgings at a nearby convent. However, they would not be allowed to stay there.
On 13 August 1792, the family was moved to the Temple, a medieval fortress used as a prison, where they could be more easily guarded. It consisted of two structures, a palace and Tower, divided into a Great Tower and Small Tower. Marie Antoinette had always feared the Tower and prophesized in the convent that they would be sent there, saying, “You will see that they will put us in the Tower. They will make that a real prison for us.”1
Their arrival at the Temple took place in the palace, where they were served dinner. They were so exhausted that the Dauphin fell asleep at the table. For now, the family would be housed in the Small Tower while lodgings were prepared for them in the Great Tower. King Louis XVI received a bedroom on the third floor and a study in the turret. Marie Antoinette, Elisabeth, Marie Thérèse, the Dauphin Louis Charles, the Princess of Lamballe, the Marquise de Tourzel, her daughter Pauline and the waiting woman Madame Navarre slept on the floor below him. On the first floor, they had an antechamber, a dining room and a turret lined with books. They arrived with very little but were able to order some items.
On 19 August, the Princess of Lamballe, the Marquise de Tourzel, Pauline and the waiting woman were removed from the Temple for interrogation. Marie Antoinette pleaded to keep the Princess of Lamballe with her, claiming she was a royal relative. It was no use, and the Princess of Lamballe, the Marquise de Tourzel and Pauline were taken to the La Force prison. By some miracle, the Tourzels were rescued during the September Massacres, where prisoners were targetted. The Princess of Lamballe was not so fortunate. She was hastily brought before a tribunal, where she refused to denounce the King and Queen and stated, “I have nothing to reply, dying a little earlier or a little later is a matter of indifference to me. I am prepared to make the sacrifice of my life.”2 She was then ordered to the exit for the Abbaye Prison, which was code for execution. She was taken outside, where she was lynched by a mob.
Varying stories survive regarding the brutality, but what is certain is that her head was cut off and put on a pike. Her naked body was also ripped open and put on another pike. These were then paraded through Paris, and taken to the Temple, where it was paraded in front of the window of the dining room. By some mercy, Marie Antoinette did not see the head of her friend.
Following the horrors, the family tried to keep a routine in the Temple. The Dauphin received lessons from his father, while Marie Thérèse received lessons from her mother. They were permitted to take walks in the compound and exercised there as well. Nevertheless, Louis Charles suffered from nightmares and was often visibly distressed and nervous. Finally, in September 1792, the monarchy was abolished, and France was proclaimed a republic. In October, the family was moved to the other Tower. The King and the Dauphin were on the second floor, while Marie Antoinette, Marie Thérèse and Elisabeth were on the third floor.
On 11 December, Louis Charles was taken from his father to his mother, and he certainly sensed that something was wrong. The King’s trial had begun, and he was told he could see his children, but only if they did not see their mother or aunt as long as the trial lasted. Thus, he refused. The trial continued throughout December and early January. The vote for his execution ended with 361 in favour – a majority of just one. Due to this close majority, another motion for a reprieve was made, which was rejected with a majority of 70. 20 January 1793, he was informed that he would be executed within 24 hours. Later that day, he was finally reunited with his family.
He gave them their blessing but refused to spend the night with them. He promised to see them in the morning, but their sobs still echoed as they left him. He was executed the following day without seeing his family again to spare them the agony. Shouts of joy reached the ears of Marie Antoinette and Madame Elisabeth, the latter of whom exclaimed, “The monsters! They are satisfied now!”3 Marie Antoinette was unable to speak, but she, Elisabeth and Marie Thérèse curtsied deeply for the new – titular – King – the seven-year-old King Louis XVII.
On 3 July 1793, Louis Charles was forcibly separated from his family. He “flung himself into my mother’s arms, imploring not to be taken from her”, wrote Marie Thérèse.4 Marie Antoinette refused to give him up, telling the guards they would have to kill her first. After being threatened that all would be killed, Marie Antoinette dressed him and handed him over. Louis Charles “kissed us all very tenderly and went away with the guards, crying his heart out.”4
Marie Antoinette became obsessed with seeing just a glimpse of Louis Charles as he passed on the way to exercise. There was just one place in the cell from where she could just see him and spent entire days there as a result.
On 2 August 1793, Marie Antoinette was removed from the Temple to the horror of Elisabeth and Marie Thérèse.5 Marie Antoinette was guillotined on 16 October 1793.
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