Marie Antoinette or Empress Alexandra (Wife of Nicholas) - Who was more tragic?

Question

Both were the wives of rulers preceding a Revolution. Both were often misjudged and had to undergo emotional and personal hardships before they met their tragic end. Which ruler was ultimately more tragic?

Answer 1

Possibly Marie Antoinette, but only by a very little bit.  She had to survive her husband's execution, knowing that she was probably next.  She had four children, but two died, so she had that grief to deal with, too.

Answer 2

Empress Alexandra, of course.

Marie Antoinette had a hand in her own undoing.  Empress Alexandra couldn't help the decision's her husband the ruler, made.  While Marie spent her time do what most French considered scandalous, spending outrageous sums on entertainment while most of France starved.

Of course, Russian society wasn't much better, since the greatest number of Russians were serf's and vassals.  However, the Empress Alexandra was not one to shy away from conflict, with her belief in Rasputin causing most of her problems.

Answer 3

As you say, they were  both tragic and were additionally misled.  I think that Alexandra's life was more tragic because she had to deal with the Grand Duke Alexei's hemophilia, which, in those times, was untreatable.  His illness was the cause of her becoming involved with Rasputin which situation was instrumental in leading to the destruction of the Romanov dynasty.  However, Marie Antoinette was executed by being beheaded by the guillotine which, in my opinion, is more hideous than being shot by a firing squad, which was the fate of the Romanovs.  However, again, apparently Alexandra and the Grand Duchesses did not die easily since they had sewn their jewels into their dresses.  So, it may be a toss-up!

Answer 4

I think Marie Antoinette, because she was still vilified even after she died.

Answer 5

I think Empress Alexandra.  

She had to deal with her son's hemophilia and she put trust in Rasputin, who ended up being a large part of what helped topple the Russian monarchy.  She didn't have anything to do with the fall of the empire.  Also, even though she was shot and not beheaded like Marie Antoinette (very gruesome), she and her daughters were actually actually stabbed with bayonets after they were shot because the bullets struck the jewels hidden in the corsets they were wearing.

Answer 6

Marie Antoinette....she loved luxury too much to care about her subjects