Marie Antoinette (baptized Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna (or Maria Antonia Josephina Johanna); 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) is an Archduchess of Austria from 1755 to 1770, a Dauphine of France from 1770 to 1774 and the Queen of France and of Navarre from 1774 to 1792.

She is the fifteenth and penultimate child of Holy Roman Emperor Francis I and Empress Maria Theresa.

In April 1770, on the day of her marriage to Louis-Auguste, Dauphin of France, she subsequently becomes Dauphine of France.

Marie Antoinette assumes the title of Queen of France and of Navarre when her husband, Louis XVI of France, ascends the throne upon the death of Louis XV in May 1774.

After seven years of marriage, she givs birth to a daughter, Marie-Thérèse Charlotte, the first of four children.

Initially charmed by her personality and beauty, the French people generally come to dislike her, accusing "L'Autre-chienne" (a pun in French playing with the words "Autrichienne" meaning Austrian (woman) and "Autre-chienne" meaning Other bitch) of being profligate, promiscuous,and of harboring sympathies for France's enemies, particularly Austria, her country of origin.

The Necklace incident further ruins her reputation.

Although she is completely innocent in this affair, she becomes known as Madame Déficit.

The royal family's flight to Varennes has disastrous effects on French popular opinion; Louis XVI is deposed and the monarchy abolished on 21 September 1792; the royal family is subsequently imprisoned at the Temple Prison.

Nine months after her husband's execution, Marie Antoinette is herself tried, convicted of treason, and executed by guillotine on 16 October 1793.

Even after her death, Marie Antoinette is often considered to be a part of popular culture and a major historical figure, being the subject of several books, films and other forms of media.

Some academics and scholars have deemed her frivolous and superficial, and have attributed the start of the French Revolution to her; however, others have claimed that she was treated unjustly and that views of her ought be more sympathetic.