Which queen, Austrian wife of Louis XVI, spent money and was executed for treason?

• A. Catherine de' Medici
• B. Marie Antoinette
• C. Marie Louise
• D. Anne of Austria

Answer: (B)

Marie Antoinette, the Austrian-born wife of Louis XVI, is the queen described. She became a symbol of royal extravagance at a time when France faced deep financial problems and growing discontent with the monarchy. Her lavish spending on court life, fashion, and palaces contributed to public frustration and helped fuel revolutionary sentiment toward the crown. As the Revolution unfolded, the monarchy was challenged, and she and Louis XVI were charged with opposing reforms and suspected of colluding with foreign powers. After the monarchy was abolished, she was tried for treason and executed by guillotine in 1793. This combination of perceived extravagance and political betrayal under the Revolution is why she fits the description.