Marie Antoinette was executed primarily because she was found guilty of high treason against the French Republic. During the French Revolution, she was accused of conspiring with foreign powers, depleting the French state treasury, and acting against the security of France. Her trial was politically charged and the outcome was predetermined. She was also vilified by scandalous rumors, including accusations of incest and lavish spending while the French people were suffering economically. The execution took place on October 16, 1793, shortly after the execution of her husband, King Louis XVI, and was part of the larger Reign of Terror period during the Revolution. Despite her frail condition and grieving state, she was put to death by guillotine in front of a cheering crowd. Her death symbolized the end of the monarchy's influence and the intense public hatred for the royal family at that time.