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On April 19, 1770, a marriage per procurationem, or a marriage to her brother Ferdinand, in place of Louis Auguste, took place in Vienna's Augustine Church. They did this because Marie Antoinette would have entered France as the Archduchess of Austria until she married Louis and the French would not allow it. By this "marriage" taking place, she could enter the French court as the Dauphine, and then be officially married to Louis Auguste. Two days later, a sobbing Marie Antoinette left Vienna to her mother's parting words, "Farewell, my dearest. Do so much good to the French people that they can say that I have sent them an angel." [3] Traveling along the Danube River and accompanied by a large entourage of nearly 14 carriages, they passed through Munich, Augsburg, Günzburg, Ulm and Freiburg im Breisgau, before finally reaching the Rhine border between Kehl and Strasbourg weeks later.On May 7, as a symbolic act of loyalty, Marie Antoinette was required to leave her Austrian attire, possessions, servants, and friends behind. After lengthy negotiations, she was allowed to keep her dog, a Shih Tzu named Schnitzy. The 14-year old was stripped of her nationality and her clothes before the entire Austrian delegation that was present, causing her to break down and cry. She was dressed up in French clothing and was taken to Strasbourg for a Thanksgiving Mass, in her honor. The entire city was illuminated in anticipation of her arrival and the streets were covered in flowers. A few days later, she continued her journey to Versailles.Marie Antoinette was conveyed to the royal palace at Versailles, where she met her future grandfather-in-law, Louis XV, and other members of the royal family. Her future husband, the Dauphin Louis-Auguste, was very shy and plump. Only one year her senior, he had not had any previous sexual or romantic experience to prepare him for dealing with his fiancée.[4] Their marriage was nevertheless conducted within hours of Marie Antoinette's arrival at Versailles. The Wedding Mass was lavishly celebrated in the Chapelle Royale on May 16, 1770. Just before the wedding, Marie Antoinette was presented with the magnificent jewels traditionally belonging to a French dauphine. The collection included an elaborate diamond necklace which had belonged to Anne of Austria and pieces which had also belonged to Mary Queen of Scots and Catherine de Medici. The large collection of gems was valued at approximately 2 million livres. Marie Antoinette also received a personal wedding gift from King Louis, a diamond-encrusted fan. The Dauphin and Marie Antoinette were married in front of the court, with the bride wearing a dress decorated by large white hoops covered in diamonds and pearls. The ceremony was followed by a formal dinner during which it is said that Louis-Auguste ate an enormous amount. When the king told him to eat less, the Dauphin replied "Why? I always sleep better when I have a full stomach!" They had an audience at this dinner of over 1,000 French citizens eager to see their new Dauphine. Marie ate almost nothing.The court then conducted the young couple to their bed, which had been blessed by the Archbishop of Reims. However, the marriage was not consummated and would not be for several years.
M. Ghandi Winston ChurchillDoctor Beaver(Not everyone need be smart [)] )
If you could invite 3 people from any era, who would they be & why?Mine would be:-Da Vinci - it would be fascinating to talk to someone with that level of genius.Plato - so he could explain in simple terms what he was on about.I'm a bit stuck for my 3rd. It would be either Peter Ustinov or Steven Fry as their intelligence, wit and anecdotes would ensure good humour.(I'm assuming that Da Vinci & Plato could learn English very quickly!)