The Affair of the Diamond Necklace: Scandal That Sank a Queen

In this episode of The Story of France, Lucas and Luna explore the Affair of the Diamond Necklace, a scandal that erupted in 1785 and fatally damaged the reputation of Queen Marie Antoinette. They delve into the intricate plot involving Cardinal de Rohan, the scheming Countess de La Motte, and the famed jewellers Boehmer and Bassenge. Lucas explains how a desperate cardinal, hoping to win royal favour, was duped into purchasing a 2,800-carat diamond necklace on behalf of the Queen, who never wanted it. The conspiracy unravelled at the Palace of Versailles, leading to a sensational trial at the Parlement de Paris. The affair exposed the monarchy's decadence and fueled revolutionary fervour. Listeners learn about the key figures: Jeanne de La Motte, who orchestrated the deception; the magician and mystic Count Cagliostro; and the public's voracious appetite for scandalous pamphlets. The episode connects this pre-revolutionary crisis to the broader erosion of royal authority. #DiamondNecklaceAffair #MarieAntoinette #CardinaldeRohan #JeannedeLaMotte #CountCagliostro #BoehmerandBassenge #PalaceofVersailles #ParlementdeParis #FrenchRevolution #AncienRGime #Scandal #18thCentury #France #History #FexingoHistory #RoyalScandal #PreRevolutionaryFrance #Trial #NapoleonBonaparte #LouisXIV Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo