Detail from an engraving depicting Marie Antoinette entering France via Strasbourg on May 7th, 1770.

To deal with the stubborn myth that Medieval people drank beer/ale because all water was polluted, I put some information together in an article. You can read it here; fakehistoryhunter.net/2026/02/02/d... or here; fakehistoryhunter.substack.com/p/drinking-w...

For this week’s Silents Sundays I wrote about when HUAC came for Charlie Chaplin after he spoke up about fascism.

On January 21st, 1793, Louis XVI was executed. His last words, cut off by drums: "I die innocent of all the crimes laid to my charge. I pardon those who have occasioned my death; and I pray to God that the blood you are going to shed may never be visited on France."

While Louis XVI was more or less unanimously voted guilty, the vote for his fate was passed by a relatively narrow majority. Of the 721 voters, 319 voted for imprisonment until the end of the war and then banishment; 361 voted for death without conditions.

"The Vis-a-Vis Bisected, or Ladies Coop,." A satirical engraving poking fun at women's hairstyles; 1776.

On January 15th, 1793, the results of the first vote on Louis XVI's fate were concluded. The first vote was based on two questions: "Is Louis guilty?" And "Whatever your decision, shall it be submitted to the ratification of the people?"

I'm a little obsessed with this letter rack that someone (presumably a Titanic and/or telegraph devotee) later painted to resemble a telegraph rack from the Titanic. Auction link: invaluable.com/auction-lot/...

A smoky quartz jewelry set owned by the duchesse d'Angoulême, daughter of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, from 1827. The set was presented by the city officials of Alençon during her official visit in 1827. Set to be auctioned by Joaillerie.

I hate all the AI slop when I try to look up Marie Antoinette things on Youtube but at least this one is funny

Celina Cummings in W. Christensen’s “Nutcracker”, 1944. (© San Francisco Ballet. Photo courtesy SFMPD.) For information about this unique wartime Nutcracker, check out this information from the SF Ballet: sfballet.org/willam-chris...

A bromide print of an unidentified woman, colored by hand. 20th century. In the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.

A daguerreotype of an unknown woman, 19th century.

Fashion plate from 1789 showing a man wearing a pink and white striped jacket, embroidered waistcoat and yellow breeches. Woman wearing a pink Pierrot, white skirt and pink hat. From the Magasin des Modes Nouvelles Françaises et Anglaises. #FashionPlateFriday #dresshistory #18thc

Morning! Working on my book and discussing some of the Oct 16 myths. There is one that pops up is that she wore only a chemise to her death. (Either because she was forced or had nothing else.) As the 1793 was dressed "in a white morning deshabillé gown."

A photograph of an unidentified woman, taken by Prentice H. Polk. 20th century.

A portrait of an unidentified woman by Hans Holbein the Younger, circa 1532-1534.

A portrait of Dorothy Beridge by Joseph Wright, 1777.

Oh, to be an 18th century woman painted with my chemise peeking out.

Me when I find fake history on social media. Bodleian Library MS. Douce 332

Félix d'Hézecques, on Marie Antoinette: "Is it not... quite natural that it should seem pleasant to a sovereign, always on display, amidst the constraints of most rigorous etiquette, to be able to withdraw to some solitary dwelling to relieve himself of the weight of grandeur?"

A portrait of an unidentified woman by Johann Ernst Heinsius, 1787.

'Scene in a Russian Hospital: The Ear Inspection' by Emily Shanks, circa 1890s.

An article about recent discoveries from archeological work being done at the palace of Versailles: finestresullarte.info/en/archaeolo...

A portrait of Joseph-Benoît Suvée by Marie Gabrielle Capet. Set to be auctioned by Tajan.

An illustration of Maria Theresa and her family from the book 'Ein Herz und viele Kronen: Das Leben der Kaiserin Maria Theresia.'

Picked this up in the middle grade section at the library because I saw the Frankenstein connection on the cover. Also I learned Mary Shelley was bitten by a squirrel. Maybe. Short Goodreads review: www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

A ‘robe en chemise à la Coblentz,’ published in the magazine Journal de la Mode et du Goût, December of 1791. The phrasing à la Coblentz is referencing Coblentz, which had become a popular destination for French emigres who left the country after 1789.

A portrait of a woman as an allegory of Music by Antoine Vestier, 1788.

Two postcards depicting Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and two of their children at Madame Tussauds. From my collection.

Hello friends! Would you like to see the winter sun setting over the palace of Versailles? Thought so.

Refreshing for a French children's book series to focus on non-royal characters! This series follows 3 children on the cusp of the revolution. It initially follows Michel on his quest to find his father, who vanishes during a riot against low wages.

Elizabeth Charlotte, Madame Palantine, on the infant duc de Anjou, future Louis XV: "He is the prettiest child in the world, and I believe he will become a great beauty. Though it is of no consequence after they grow up, one likes better to have a pretty child than an ugly one."

From an 1850s publication, discussing visiting the hameau de la reine, where travelers can muse in peace as "... the lonely sentinel who paces to and fro will not disturb him; his thoughts are of some buxom village girl, not of the shadow of poor Marie Antoinette!""

View of the Polignano cave near the Abbey of San Vito di Polignano by Claude-Louis Châtelet. Set to be auctioned by Artcurial. Châtelet is best known for his landscape scenes, especially of private estates and gardens. He was guillotined during the French Revolution.

An 18th century carousel horse, set to be auctioned by Artcurial. The listing points out that the style of the horse is similar to another carousel horse designed for a game at the chateau de la Muette

A portrait of Ursule Cochois by Suzanne Marie Roslin, 1771. Note she is pouring her chocolate into a saucer, which would be done to cool it more quickly before drinking.

A pocket watch worn by Isidor Straus during the sinking of the Titanic, and recovered with his body. It is set to be auctioned, along with a letter written by his wife, Ida, while they were on the Titanic.

The cover for the new edition of Ribeiro's "Fashion in the French Revolution." Coming June 2026!

Darbazi St George church built in the 13th century, before and after renovation. georgiantravelguide.com/en/darbazis-...

An engraving depicting the first son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Louis Joseph, being presented to his father.

Marie Antoinette, the former queen of France, was executed on October 16th, 1793. According to a revolutionary journal, as she walked up the steps to the scaffold, she stepped on the executioner's foot, uttering: "Pardon me, monsieur. I did not do it on purpose."

At her trial, Marie Antoinette was accused of becoming "master over [Louis XVI’s] feeble character," forcing him to "do anything bad," and that he followed her destructive advice to the letter. Her response: "I never knew him to have that character you are speaking of."

On October 14th, 1793, Marie Antoinette was brought to trial. The conclusion of the trial had already been decided upon--the hand-picked jurors were told "national vengeance is in your hands." The trial lasted 2 days, ending in the early hours of the 16th.

I hope bluesky lets us schedule posts soon...

"You have to be a mother and have heard your children ask for bread you cannot give them to know the level of despair to which this misfortune can bring you… her pain makes her capable of doing anything..." Élisabeth Guénard on the Women's March on Versailles of 1789.

The White Rose: "Why does the German people behave so apathetically in the face of all these abominable crimes...? Hardly anyone wonders or worries about it. It is accepted as a fact and put out of mind... [This] encourages these fascist criminals [to] carry on with their savageries..."

Also reading the ARC! Or should say, I received it, haven't had a chance to dive in yet.

Yes, they bathed at Versailles... and had toilet facilities, too.

Ordered my copy of the exhibition book!