The Scandal That Unmade the Bourbon Monarchy and Made France Modern

In the glittering court of Versailles, amidst the lavish balls and decadent parties, a scandal was brewing that would shock the world and change the course of French history forever.

The Diamond Necklace Affair, as it came to be known, involved a priceless diamond necklace, a conniving countess, a gullible cardinal, and a hapless queen. It was a tale of greed, deceit, and political intrigue that would ultimately lead to the downfall of the Bourbon monarchy and the birth of a new France.

The Betrayal of the Duchess: The Scandal That Unmade the Bourbon Monarchy and Made France Modern

by Maurice Samuels

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	11119 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	369 pages

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The Necklace

The diamond necklace at the heart of the scandal was a masterpiece of珠宝制作. It was created by the royal jeweler, Charles Boehmer, and it featured 540 diamonds set in gold and silver. The necklace was so valuable that it was worth more than the annual income of the entire French monarchy.

When Boehmer presented the necklace to Queen Marie Antoinette, she was immediately smitten. She begged her husband, King Louis XVI, to buy it for her, but he refused. The king was already deeply in debt, and he did not want to spend any more money on extravagance.

Boehmer was desperate to sell the necklace, so he turned to a woman named Jeanne de la Motte-Valois. La Motte was a con artist who claimed to be a descendant of the royal family. She convinced Boehmer that she could arrange for the queen to buy the necklace.

La Motte then recruited a gullible cardinal, Louis de Rohan, to help her execute her plan. Rohan was a wealthy and influential man who was eager to please the queen. La Motte told Rohan that the queen was in love with him and that she wanted him to buy the necklace for her.

Rohan fell for La Motte's lies and agreed to buy the necklace. He paid Boehmer for the necklace and then gave it to La Motte, who promised to deliver it to the queen.

The Unraveling

But La Motte never intended to give the necklace to the queen. Instead, she sold it and used the money to pay off her debts.

When Boehmer realized that the necklace had not been delivered to the queen, he demanded payment from Rohan. Rohan was shocked and furious. He realized that he had been duped, and he accused La Motte of theft.

The scandal quickly spread throughout the court and beyond. The public was outraged by the queen's supposed involvement in the affair. The king and queen were forced to stand trial, and they were both found guilty.

Louis XVI was executed in 1793, and Marie Antoinette was executed in 1794. The Bourbon monarchy was overthrown, and France was plunged into a bloody revolution.

The Legacy of the Diamond Necklace Affair

The Diamond Necklace Affair was a watershed moment in French history. It exposed the corruption and decadence of the Bourbon monarchy and it helped to spark the French Revolution.

The affair also had a profound impact on the way that French people viewed their leaders. The scandal shattered the illusion that the monarchy was above reproach, and it led to a widespread loss of trust in the government.

The Diamond Necklace Affair is a fascinating story of greed, deceit, and political intrigue. It is a story that has resonated with people for centuries, and it continues to be a source of fascination for historians and the general public alike.

The Betrayal of the Duchess: The Scandal That Unmade the Bourbon Monarchy and Made France Modern

by Maurice Samuels

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	11119 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	369 pages

FREE