Their Relationship

First topic message reminder :

The marriage of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette is one of the most controversial in history.

YES! I know of that story! That is definitely the cutest way to tell your husband you're pregnant ^_^

And I love the above story too! They caused quite a stir at Versailles showing affection for each other. They kissed and walked arm in arm together in public which was seldom done.

Precious!

Kaitlyn Lauren wrote:YES! I know of that story! That is definitely the cutest way to tell your husband you're pregnant ^_^

I read a different version of this story that I personally find quite amusing. In this one, Louis was already aware that Antoinette is pregnant, but she was feeling the baby's moving for the first time. She said to him this "Your Majesty, one of your imprudent subjects has kicked me in the stomach!"-stuff, and both of them were happily laughing. But Artois was also among them, and he added another line, referring to Provence: "But this imprudent subject has done something even worse! He kicked Monsieur on another part of his body!" This was no sweet humour anymore, but true sarcasm, as everyone knew how Provence wanted to win the throne for himself. A baby boy, Louis and Antoinette's desire, would have destroyed Provence's dreams. I can't recall, unfortunately, where did I find this version, but I'm not suprised that it's not often quoted, only the first part. People don't have enough background infomation about Artois and Provence to understand the punchline.

Interesting! I could see Artois having a laugh at Provence's expense. Yes Louis and Antoinette had their moments and I think that's adorable.

They were both very pleased when she became pregnant and he was so attentive to her while she was expecting. This is a good transition...anyone know any good pregnancy anecdotes in addition to other acts of affection?

Wonder if Louis often placed his hand upon her stomach to feel the baby

Kaitlyn Lauren wrote:I might make this a separate topic but anyone know cute anecdotes with them? Any romantic moments? I know of a few.

Once, at a dinner, Antoinette threw bread slices on Louis. He asked a guest (Saint-Germain? Lauzun? Esterházy? - there are different versions) what to do against such a bombarding attack. The clever man answered: "Your Majesty, I would stick something in the cannon hole!" Louis found the answer perfect and laughed a lot. (This anecdote would be an evidence that he had no real sexual problems, because he could laugh at his own expense. If there had been a serious problem, he would have seen this joke as an insult.)

You mentioned the childish teases against each other. Antoinette and Artois changing the clocks in Louis' room to see if he's going to bed earlier... Louis closing Antoinette and Artois out for a whole night from Versailles after a visit at the Opera... I don't know when they exactly happened, but I'm somehow pretty sure that the latter one was his revenge! 

Yes I love the bread story. And I agree, if there had been a legitimate issue as to why he couldn't make love to her then it wouldn't have been funny.

Haha! I hadn't heard that he locked them out! What happened after that I wonder?!

I love these anecdotes so much! Gah, they're adorable!

I can really picture some of these playful shinanagins. Louis could be more serious and reserved than his wife but he also had a sense of humor and wanted to make his wife happy. They were loving and devoted and I wish more people recognized that. Their relationship was complicated like any marriage and it started off rocky but in the end they did love each other and it had its moments!

And they were such loving and devoted parents too I can imagine Louis was particularly concerned over Antoinette's health while she was pregnant and wanted to feel the baby and ask after her.

Kaitlyn Lauren wrote:Haha! I hadn't heard that he locked them out! What happened after that I wonder?!

It's very likely that Antoinette and Artois didn't find it so funny to sit in the darkness in a coach during the whole cold and dark night...   Louis had an interesting (and quite tiring) sense of humour. He liked to switch the Versailles fountains on to splash the people outside in the gardens. I don't know if Horrible Histories is accurate, but they also mention here some odd jokes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHHp6xqEc8c It's not quite sophisticated (haha), but I can easily imagine that Louis hated the etiquette as much as his wife did, and there were the courtiers who served him heartlessly and mocked him behind his back... as a King, he had time and chance in the end to get his revenge. I like it!

Speaking of etiquette: there's the well-known story of Antoinette falling down from a donkey and telling the people among them: "Run, search for Madame Etiquette and ask her what to do if the Dauphine falls down from a donkey!" Poor Comtesse de Noailles...  Louis often woke up some hours earlier and went to his workroom, then he ran back to his bedchamber and went back to bed, so the courtiers could wake him up and do the ordinary dress-up ceremony with him... I like these kind of stories, too!

Yes I knew about some of these!

I imagine they both did hate the etiquette. I don't know if Horrible Histories is correct either but I don't think he would trip people for amusement haha! He did have an interesting sense of humor but I don't think he did many things at the expense of others.

I know he also used to wrestle with his brothers and valets as well as pull pranks on some pages during his dressing ceremonies. Young Louis was mischievous!   I don't think any of the pranks went too far though. I'm sure he wouldn't want to cause anyone physical or emotional harm especially since people already thought him uncouth.

People were uncomfortable with his blunt manner and he wasn't a dandy so people often found his manners and air unregal and clumsy. He wasn't as polished as Antoinette or his courtiers but I doubt he was as bad as some believe! He was also handsome as we have discussed

I imagine they both could be lively and playful for each other as well as their courtiers. Louis was reserved and Antoinette was almost prudishly modest in public but perhaps closed doors, together, they were more open and enjoyed themselves

It is rather interesting that Louis was reserved and shy but also had such a playful sense of humor while also known to be secretive and perceived as unfriendly. But I don't think anything he did was meant to offend purposely! He sounds delightful we already know of his generous and kind-hearted nature and his piety. Antoinette is often regarded as the more open and attractive of the two but they both actually sound very similar in both regards. Louis expressed himself differently than his wife and had different hobbies but their humor and love of children and their people sound very much the same.

Anyone know other examples of when they displayed affection for each other in public?

I'm so sick of people saying that they weren't in love or that they couldn't have romantic or passionate moments! I just really love them ok?

Some people seem to be under the impression that there wasn't much physical attraction or kissing or anything. *eyeroll*