Discussions about the Imperial Family and European Royalty > French Royals
Marie Antoinette and Axel Fersen
Imperial_Grounds:
I have, to be honest, never done really some research on Marie Antoinette and Count Fersen but I do not think they had an affair, they might have flirted and loved each other, but I don't think there really was an affair. It is indeed romantic to believe there was, but I doubt it. I am new to the field on them, so will do my research in this thread before really asking something - Soon I'll be - finally - able to read Fraser's biography on MA and perhaps something in there tells about the nature of the relationship, though we can't be sure of anything. They must have been close friends indeed, and perhaps shared a deep love, but nothing really is said on them having an affair - besides gossip, so I think it must have been platonic, if it was 'true love' at all, but a strong friendship is perhaps more likely.
I always thought the letters would reveal more, if the passages weren't cut from the letter, but as most of the letters consider politics I doubt these few passages would be about an affair between the two.
Romanov_fan:
--- Quote from: coquelicot on April 18, 2009, 02:37:04 PM ---
--- Quote from: imperial angel on March 29, 2009, 10:00:19 AM ---I've read that book too but no longer have a copy of it. I think the implication that Eleanor Herman was trying to make was that these were indeed love letters, but what's her source on this? Have you ( or anyone else) read this elsewhere? I believe we do have some letters that were written between Fersen and MA and that they were not love letters though parts of the letters were destroyed so there was the suspicion by some that these destroyed passages might have content that was more private. It's been so long since I read about this in detail.
--- End quote ---
There actually are many letters between Fersen and the queen. They are all political ones. It is true that some passages have been deleted, but some lines only, and not specifically at the begining or the end of the letters. We don't know who did it. According to Fersen's descendants, it was done by the count himself. From this we can reasonably think that those passages were political, and mainly concerned king Louis XVI. Nesta Webster's analyse on this subject still is the more relevant one, in my opinion.
--- End quote ---
Thanks. Yes, I doubt they were lovers. The first analysis of the Fersen/ MA letters that I read was the Zwieg one, and that one always sticks with me, that's where I was remembering the stuff about the deleted passages of the letters.
tom_romanov:
I also doubt that they were lovers but then after Fersen's 6 week visit in August 1784 she suddenly announced she was pregnant?! Also if this is true and she did have an affair, I could understand why - dashing count or dull king?
LillyO:
Although we will never actually know the "truth" about Marie Antoinette and Axel Fersen - I think that they did love each other, but whether they actually did the deed or not, we can only surmise. It seems as though MA probably had feelings she had never felt before concerning Fersen - possibly being the first time she had fallen in love. I am hard pressed to believe that she "fell in love " with Louis XVI, even if she grew to love him. As we all know, love is a powerful emotion which can sometimes make people behave in ways they may possibly later question. I wonder IF they would have risked an affair.............then again, when people are in love, don't they usually find a way to be together? I would not be surprised if they somehow, at some time may have found a way to steal some moments for themselves. But we will never know for sure.
Dashing Count or Dull King? Hmmm.............................................................Ladies, think about it.
prinzheinelgirl:
I think they both fell in love with each other. I've read that Fersen wrote of MA to his sister Sophie as 'perfect' and an 'angel'. Now while I like MA very much, I certainly do not she was either of those things. :)
Stephan Zweig argued that MA seemed to have rejected physical contact with Louis XVI after starting an affair with Fersen. It was said that this was after the birth of Sophie-Beatrix and MA supposedly said she thought she had enough children, (considering how much she loved children and was on child-bearing age at that point). Which to me is rather surprising.... although I do not think Zweig's view/assertations are totally incontestable.
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