Marie Antoinette represented in the eyes of the nation all the corruptions of courts, all the pride of despotism, and all the infamies of treason.

Her beauty, her youthful inclination for pleasure, tenderness of heart provoked by calumny into excesses, the blood of the house of Austria, her pride, which she derived from her nature even more than from her blood, her close connection with the Comte D'Artois, her intrigues with the emigrants, her presumed complicity with the coalition, the scandalous or infamous libels disseminated against her for four years--made this princess the spied victim of public opinion.

The women despised her as a guilty wife, the patriots detested her as a conspirator, political men feared her as the counsellor of the king.

The name of _Autrichienne_ which the people gave her, summed up all their alleged wrongs against her.

She was the unpopularity of a throne of which she should have been the grace and forgiveness.
Marie Antoinette was aware of this hatred of the people to her person.
She knew that her presence beside the king would be a provocation to assassination.