3. His Lover’s Execution Devastated von Fersen
Von Fersen wrote about his reaction to Marie Antoinette’s execution: “Though I was prepared for it and expected it since the transfer to the Conciergerie, I was devastated by the reality. I did not have the strength to feel anything … I thought about her constantly, about all the horrible circumstances of her sufferings, of the doubt she might have had about me, my attachment, my interest. That thought tortured me“. Distraught, he returned to Sweden, where he fell into disfavor at court and lost much of his political clout. From his home country, he was forced to stand by helplessly and watch as Revolutionary France, which had killed his love, expanded its reach across Europe. Von Fersen eventually regained favor at court, and was sent as an envoy to France, where he met Napoleon Bonaparte in 1797.
