Tea at Trianon: Mademoiselle de Sombreuil

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Mademoiselle de Sombreuil

One of the most chilling tales from the Reign of Terror. Share

4 comments:

Lele Piroutek said...: Hey, i'm from Brazil, and i just want to say that i absolutely love your blog! I love the things you explain about Marie Antoinette, she's my favorite historical figure. I was so shocked to discover here, that she adopted an african boy and took care of him as one of her own. I personally believe that she was a good and amazing woman, she did such great things along the way... And is really sad to know that the advertising of that time ruined her image until now. A lot of people still thinks that all she could do was spent and spent! Thank you so much for this blog, it is really amazing!; May 23, 2010 at 10:53:00 AM EDT
Tristan Robin said...: What an amazing tale! Thanks so much for the link.

I can't imagine why such a colorful and adventure-filled story hasn't been the subject of a film or book. It's an intriguing story.; May 24, 2010 at 8:17:00 AM EDT
lara77 said...: When one thinks that the story of Mlle de Sombreuil and her family is just one of the thousands of stories of innocents massacred by an evil regime that proclaimed to the world "liberty and equality!" I cannot imagine the horror, violence and depravity of this time period.; May 24, 2010 at 8:49:00 AM EDT
elena maria vidal said...: Thank you, Lele, and welcome!

It would make a great film, Tristan! I don't know why no one has made one!

Yes, Lara, there were thousands like her!; May 24, 2010 at 9:20:00 AM EDT