Maria Antonia (Marie Antoinette)

Maria Antonia, known as Marie Antoinette, was the Queen of France from 1774 to 1792, married to King Louis XVI. Originally from Austria, she was seen as a symbol of royal excess and foreign influence during a time of financial crisis and social unrest in France. Her reputation suffered due to her lavish lifestyle and the popular phrase "Let them eat cake," often wrongly attributed to her. Amid mounting discontent, she became a scapegoat for France's problems. She was executed by guillotine during the French Revolution, symbolizing the end of monarchy and the rise of democratic ideals.