Marie Antoinette's

"In France people behave in a very edifying way in church and generally in public... Stay on your knees as long as you can; that will be the best position to set an example. Do not allow yourself any grimaces which only look hypocritical: that is a reproach to be avoided above all else in that country."

MARIA THERESA, 21 APRIL 1770

Marie Antoinette's mother, Empress Maria Theresa, writes to her daughter with some advice regarding King Louis XV.

“You are his Majesty's first subject; you owe him submission and obedience; you owe an example to the Court, to the courtiers, who execute the will of your master."Maria Theresa, 30 September 1771

Marie Antoinette gets some advice from her mom, this time it is about playing her part!

"You were quite right in thinking I should not approve your riding at fifteen; Mesdames, (Louis XVI's aunts) whom you quote, did not ride till thirty, but you tell me the King approves, and the Dauphin, and that suffices for me; it is they who have the ordering of your life, it is in their hands I have placed my charming Antoinette. Riding on horseback ruins the complexion and ultimately the figure. I consider that if you ride like a man (which I do not doubt you will) it is very dangerous... if you ride as I did as a woman there is less to be said..."

"A word about her dress or some bagatelle should not cause you so much trouble...If one demanded of you any lowering familiarities, neither I nor any one else would advise you to grant them, but an indifferent word, a certain mark of regard, not for that person, but for your grandfather, your sovereign, and your benefactor."

Maria Theresa, 30 September 1771

How many times when you were younger did you use the excuse 'Oh I can't go with you tonight because my mom wants me home at __o'clock' to get out of something you didn't want to do????  This is by far my favorite piece of advice from Maria Theresa!

"Much as I wish you to pray and read good books, however, you must always conform to French customs and never try to introduce anything new. You must not do anything unusual, nor cite our customs, nor ask that they be imitated; on the contrary, you must absolutely lend yourself to what the Court is accustomed to doing."

MARIA THERESA, 21 APRIL 1770

“This twenty-first of April, day of your departure. –When you wake up, you will immediately upon arising go through your morning prayers on your knees and read some religious text, even if it is only for six or seven minutes without concerning yourself about anything else or speaking to anyone. All depends on the right beginning for the day and the intention with which you begin it, for it may change even indifferent actions into good, even praiseworthy ones. You must be very strict about this for it depends on you alone and your temporal and spiritual happiness may depend upon it.”

The similarities between Lady Spencer and Maria Theresa have sometimes been brought up between Heather and I. They were mothers who knew best, knew what was best for their daughters, and in particular knew how their daughters should behave.

 But daughters are notorious for behaving badly- unless you are the daughter of the marquis du Châtel. Anyway! This series will take a look at some letters from mom to daughter.