Marie Antoinette’s Son: Forgotten in the Darkness

Marie Antoinette, the infamous Queen of France, was executed by guillotine on October 16, 1793, at the age of 37. At the time of her death, she had two surviving children—Marie-Thérèse and Louis-Charles. But what happened to them after their mother’s execution?

After the start of the French Revolution in 1789, the royal family was placed under house arrest in the Tuileries Palace until August 1792. From there, they were imprisoned in the Temple, a fortress-turned-prison, where many aristocrats awaited the guillotine.

👑 The Fate of Louis-Charles (Louis XVII)
The young Dauphin of France was only 8 years old when he was separated from his mother. The revolutionaries placed him under the care of a shoemaker, Antoine Simon, who, along with his wife, treated him with extreme cruelty. The child was beaten, humiliated, and forced to denounce his mother, even signing false confessions under threat of execution.

After Marie Antoinette’s death, Louis-Charles was completely forgotten. For six months, he was left alone in a dark, filthy cell, deprived of sunlight, hygiene, or human interaction. By the time conditions slightly improved in 1794, it was too late—he was already severely ill and psychologically broken.

On June 8, 1795, at just 10 years old, the boy died from tuberculosis, weakened by months of neglect. His last words were:
"Do you hear the music? How beautiful… Among all the voices, I can hear my mother singing."

👑 The Fate of Marie-Thérèse
Unlike her brother, Marie-Thérèse survived. Since she posed no threat to the new regime, she was eventually exchanged for French prisoners and sent to Austria. She later returned to France during the Restoration (1814–1830) but eventually left again, settling in Austria with her husband, the Duke of Angoulême. Their marriage remained childless, and she passed away in 1851 at the age of 72.

[astrophile]

I cried when I read the history about him. He's just a little kid, know nothing of the politic world. They treated him badly just because he's the crown prince, the next in line to be king. He passed away due to the tuberculosis, but he got the tuberculosis because he was 'tortured' in the dark cell for months.

By 'tortured' means that he was intentionally neglected, not given food/drink, he take a leak & dump in that cell withot anyone cleans it, never let him change clothes, never let him clean himself, the cell itself is dirty, and sometimes they treat him like a punchbag.

This what makes me dislike French Revolution. Yes, they want equality and fair treatment from the royals. But the way they treated Louis Charles is disgustingly disturbing. They are no better than animals. He's a royal but he's still a little kid. He knows nothing of the politic or any court issues.

[Barbara-svv]

I like to think that was his mother singing to him in heaven and bringing him home.

[chocosnow]

I just cried. Im the biggest marie Antoinette fan, and no one ever talks about her kids. Think about it: you have a loving, royal, wealthy parents who give u not only the best of items- but love too! And then people take them away just because they don't like them? And your forced into prison because your related? Keep in minfd, this poor boy was 10. Not even a teenager.

[Julia-fdh]

A terrible fate for the little boy😢😢😢😢😢

[abhaygeorge]

Please make a video about Marie Antoinette’s daughter too.

[MalarojaRoja]

I can't believe how heartbreaking this kid story is he is just 8 years old don't know nothing about that situation they abusing him😭😭😭💔💔💔

[Thatperson-ktmu]

I have a 10 year old of my own and this breaks my heart.
Why cant people leave children out of things. They are vulnerable and innocent.
I know its history ...but i wish i didnt watch this one.

[femtales_ai]

What do you think about these chapters of the French Revolution?

[jacquesrenou]

The Romanoff children and their mother were teated with pure evil and didn't deserve their fate.😢

[Dr.bluebutterfly]

Omg I love your videos they’re so cool, and I’m now super interested in history, which I hated before. Also, what’s the song?