Princess
Élisabeth Philippine Marie Hélène
Also known as Madame Elisabeth, she was the younger
sister of King Louis XVI to whom she was very devoted, even refusing to
marry so that she could remain with him. During the Revolution, she
accompanied the king and his family as they attempted to escape the
country and was arrested along with them and brought back to Paris. She
remained with Marie Antoinette until the queen was taken to another
prison and executed a few months later. The queen’s last letter, penned
hours before her death, was addressed to Elisabeth although she never
received it.
Seven months after Marie’s death,
Elisabeth herself was taken to stand trial before the Tribunal on
charges of assisting the king’s flight, providing funds to royalists,
and other assorted crimes. The completely outrageous charge of molesting
her nephew, the royal Dauphin, was also brought against her. Although the
accusation
was meant to defame her and inspire hatred in the people's attitude towards her,
the public in general believed the charge was false and greatly
sympathized with Elisabeth. However she was found guilty of the other
charges and faced the guillotine on May
10,1794.
