The start of Marie Antoinette’s trial

Marie Antoinette, widow of Louis Capet, has, since her residence in France, been the scourge and the bloodsucker of France.¹

On 2 August 1793, Marie Antoinette had been moved from the Temple to the Conciergerie. She was kept there until the start of the trial on 14 October 1793.

Marie Antoinette had accepted the services of Chauveau-Lagarde and Tronçon-Ducoudray for her defence council. Both received the summons only hours before the start of the trial, and they arrived at her cell at six a.m. on the morning of the 14th. They found her dressed with “extreme simplicity.”² They were only able to spent a total of three short consultations with her as they went over the indictment. They found the amount of evidence overwhelming and tried to ask for a delay. Marie Antoinette, although initially unwilling to address the National Convention, wrote to them that “I owe it to my children to omit no way of entirely justifying myself of these charges. My defenders ask for a delay of three days. I trust that the Convention will accord this to them.”² Her request was ignored.

At eight in the morning, Marie Antoinette was escorted from her cell and taken to the Tribunal Hall. She was not chained up and walked freely in her black robe and bonnet. The crowds murmured as she walked in. Her maid later reported that they had taken her without allowing her to eat and drink, perhaps to weaken her before the tribunal. She remained standing as the jurors came into the hall and sat to her right. The judges sat on a platform on her left. Her council sat close by at a different table.

The president of the tribunal opened the session with the words, “Citizens, you have come to assist in the judgement of a woman whom your eyes have seen upon the throne and that you see, at this moment, at the bench reserved for the greatest criminals. The Tribunal, always equitable, requests that you be calm and peaceful. The law prohibits any sign of your esteem or condemnation.”³ The jurors were then sworn in, which took an hour.

After the indictment was read against her, the witnesses were called. There would be a total of 41 testimonies, of which 13 were detrimental to her defence. The others were other neutral or favourable. Among other things, the witnesses spoke of “orgies”, which caused the downfall of France’s finances.⁴ They also alleged that Marie Antoinette molested her own son, to which she replied, “If I did not respond, it is because nature refuses to respond to such an allegation made against a mother.” She then appealed to the women in the room, “I appeal to the hearts of all mothers who are present in this room.”⁵

During recess, she was allowed to drink a little soup but she was weakened from a continual hemorrhage. Nevertheless, she had remained dignified throughout it all. It wasn’t until 11 in the evening that court was finally adjourned for the day. Chauveau-Lagarde later wrote, “That one could realise, if possible, all the fortitude the queen must have had to endure the fatigue of such long and horrible proceedings; on show before an audience; having to fight to defend herself against bloodthirsty monsters with traps set for her; and at the same time keep a demeanour worthy of herself.”⁶

As she returned to her cell, Marie Antoinette became faint. The lieutenant who helped her was arrested the following morning.

The trial would continue the following day.

1. Marie Antoinette’s darkest days by Will Bashor p.155
2. Marie Antoinette’s darkest days by Will Bashor p.172
3. Marie Antoinette’s darkest days by Will Bashor p.174
4. Marie Antoinette’s darkest days by Will Bashor p.175
5. Marie Antoinette’s darkest days by Will Bashor p.181
6. Marie Antoinette’s darkest days by Will Bashor p.191