The Ruin of a Princess does not mention anything about rape, but Nagel's book does - Nagel also talks about the rape of the Princess Lamballe. Only because I have seen mention of this in different books and articles do I think that it is a real possibility that these women were abused. Also because of all the sexual slander against Marie Antoinette in the pamphlets that were circulated everywhere. And mostly just because the nature of men tells me that it is more likely than not. Much as we hate to admit it in the light of day, women are brutalized in the commission of war and fighting all the time , it is ugly, but true. The Royal family were not prized prisoners and were constantly threatened. Harm was the ultimate goal, resulting in murder for everyone except Marie Terese. I think that this (subject of rape) is something that they would want hushed up, just exactly the way the treatment of little Louis was hushed up. The jailers at the Temple prison knew exactly what happened to this child, because they caused it to happen to him. Yet there were only unsubstantiated rumors about his real fate - when the jailers knew for sure he was dead - due to what they had done to him. I think that they were too ashamed to admit to the treatment they had administered to him. What people will do together as a group is a lot of time not at all what they would engage in solo. This is the concept of "mob mentality" - And mob mentality was rampant! Anyone who gets a chance should read "The Lost King of France" by Deborah Cadbury. It gives an excellent account of the poor little boy King who was also murdered. Can you imagine being involved in treating a little boy this way? When the people responsible were alone and realized just what they had been involved in, I wonder how they dealt with thenselves? A little boy, born in March of 1785 - he was less than 5 years old when forced to Paris by a mob of hateful bloodthirsty people. Look at any 5 year old boy of today or any other time - can you imagine such a thing? I am French, and I love France, but this whole episode is a horrible stain upon France.