Marie Antoinette (BY NAZEK JAMAL)

Born on 2 November 1755 at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna Austria, Maria Antonia was the youngest daughter of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, and Maria Theresa, Queen of Hungary and Bohemia and ruler of the Habsburg dominions. She was described as "a small, but completely health Archduchess."She was known at the Austrian court as Madame Antoine.

Maria Antonia and her older sister, Maria Carolina were the two youngest girls and were raised together. They shared the same governess until 1767. They became extremely close. She thoroughly enjoyed music and learned to play the harpsichord. She played for many people at the court. She also excelled at dancing – an accomplishment often remarked by those who saw her, whether friendly or hostile, having been carefully trained in it since her early youth. She had an "exquisite" poise and a famously graceful deportment. She also loved dolls from when she was young, as captured by a family portrait in which seven-year-old "sweet Antonia" excitedly holds up a doll dressed as fancily as she is. Numerous dolls arrived at the Homburg as soon as Marie Antoinette turned thirteen, wearing miniature versions of the ball gowns, afternoon dresses, and gold-trimmed gowns proposed for her

BY NAZEK JAMAL – 10A

((Blog Entry No.6))