A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Elizabeth, Philippine Marie Helene, of France, Madame
ELIZABETH, PHILIPPINE MARIE HELENE, OF FRANCE, MADAME,
Sister of Louis the Sixteenth, was born at Versailles, May 23rd., 1764, and perished by the guillotine. May 10th., 1794. She was the youngest child of the dauphin Louis and his second wife, Josephine of Saxony, who died when Elizabeth was but three years old. She received an excellent education, and her acquirements were considerable. Her proposed union with the Duke of Aosta, Infant of Spain, second son of the King of the Two Sicilies, was never concluded. When the private establishment of Elizabeth was fixed, she received twenty-five thousand francs annually for the purchase of diamonds; but she requested that this sum should be paid for six years to a young favourite, whose poverty prevented her marriage. The revolution destroyed her happiness; but, during all its scenes of terror, she devoted herself to her brother the king and his family. She attended him everywhere, and often inspired him with firmness. When mistaken for the Queen, June 20th., 1792, the cry was raised, "Down with the Austrian woman!" and the mob were about to kill her. An officer of the guard corrected the mistake, when she said calmly, "Why undeceive them? You might have spared them a greater crime."
She was confined with the royal family in the Temple, where she devoted herself to her fellow-prisoners. On the evening of May 9th., 1794, Elizabeth was led from the Temple to the Conciergerie, and tried for carrying on a correspondence with her brother. When asked her name and rank before the revolutionary tribunal. May 10th., she replied with dignity, "I am Elizabeth of France, the aunt of your king." This bold answer filled the judges with astonishment. Twenty-four others were sentenced with her, and she had to witness the execution of them all. She met death calmly, without uttering a single complaint against her judges.
Though not beautiful, Elizabeth was very attractive and lovely. She was modest and timid in prosperity, but calm and courageous in adversity. Her character was spotless.