3. Marie Antoinette and Count Axel von Fersen
The whispered romance between Marie Antoinette and Count Axel von Fersen became the stuff of legend—and political dynamite. Their deep friendship, and possible love affair, provided endless fodder for revolutionary pamphlets.
Secret letters and clandestine meetings between the French queen and the Swedish diplomat stoked suspicions and outrage among the French people. Historians still debate the full extent of their relationship, but its impact is undeniable. As History.com explores, these rumors only added fuel to the fire that ultimately consumed the monarchy.
