A Twist of History

Episode: The Affair of the Diamond Necklace

Host: Joel Blackwell (Ballen Studios)
Date: September 24, 2025

Main Theme

This episode unravels the infamous “Affair of the Diamond Necklace,” a scandalous web of deception, ambition, and social rot that irreparably tarnished Marie Antoinette’s reputation and helped spark the French Revolution. The story centers on Jeanne de la Motte—an imposter noblewoman, a desperate schemer, and a master manipulator—whose audacious plot exposed rot at the heart of the French monarchy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Players and Setting (01:00–11:00)

• Marie Antoinette’s Notoriety: The episode opens with the myth of Marie Antoinette as France’s most notorious queen—decadent, disconnected, and blamed for the kingdom’s woes.
  • "But the truth is, Marie Antoinette wasn't the real main character in her own downfall. She was just a high profile casualty of a bizarre scheme..." (01:15)
• Jeanne de la Motte’s Origins: Jeanne, posing as a noblewoman, uses bold imposture to survive, despite her impoverished background.
  • "She knows she's an imposter in these clothes, but she also knows it's all about faking it till you make it." (02:18)

The Long Con: Seducing the Court (11:00–18:00)

• Targeting the Cardinal: Jeanne and her husband Nicolas, aided by the forger/blackmailer Valette, spot an opportunity in Cardinal de Rohan—wealthy, influential, and desperate to regain royal favor.
  • Seduction and allure become their tools ("Jeanne catches the subtext. She and Nicolas don't take their marriage vows very seriously either." 06:13).
• The Forgery Begins: Through forged letters, Jeanne convinces the Cardinal she’s the Queen’s confidante, funneling him into a series of escalating financial requests under the Queen’s forged signature.
  • “She explains that she has an old friend...who could introduce her to the Cardinal de Rohan. From there, she'll win his trust with her feminine wiles...” (08:59)

The “Queen” Under the Moonlight (13:48–16:40)

• The Infamous Garden Tryst: The schemers stage a midnight assignation in the gardens of Versailles with a prostitute, Nicole Legu, posing as Marie Antoinette. The Cardinal is completely fooled.
  • “A shadow moves between the shrubbery...she hands the flower to the Cardinal and whispers, ‘You know what this means?’” (14:36)
  • “She doesn't look quite like the oil paintings...but the resemblance is pretty close. And that's exactly why Jeanne hired her.” (16:14)

The Necklace Plot Unfolds (18:40–26:56)

• The Necklace’s History: Legendary jewelers Bohmer and Bassange crafted an opulent, unsellable diamond necklace, originally meant for Louis XV’s mistress (worth $21 million today).
  • “The necklace is worth 1.6 million livres, nearly $21 million in today's money.” (19:50)
• The Ultimate Scam: Jeanne, now emboldened by her success, orchestrates a deal where Cardinal buys the necklace for the Queen via secret arrangement, on installment—delivering it directly to Jeanne and her co-conspirators.
  • "This is her win. She grabs a knife from the kitchen and immediately gets to work. Prying the jewels apart, she divvies them up into three piles." (24:56)

Unraveling: Consequences and Scandal (26:56–34:36)

• Suspicion and Collapse: When the Cardinal can't make installment payments and jewelers confront Marie Antoinette, the scam unravels. The Cardinal is arrested in the palace, shocking the entire court.
  • "As the Cardinal shows them out, Bohmer turns and remarks off the cuff that he's never seen Marie Antoinette wearing the necklace in public. Yet. Strange, isn't it?" (26:54)
  • "He sends a messenger to fetch the letters he received from her. But when the boy returns...These are obviously forgeries." (32:19)
• Public Relations Disaster: Rumors spread that the Queen orchestrated the affair out of revenge. Marie Antoinette’s reputation is left in ruins.
  • “To Marie Antoinette, that story sounds ridiculous. But admittedly, her defense...sounds even more ridiculous.” (33:56)

The Trial and Jeanne’s Fate (34:36–39:21)

• Public Sympathy for Jeanne: Despite being convicted, Jeanne becomes a folk hero; the people see her as a victim of the Queen’s cruelty.
  • "They're actually cheering for her...they're yelling that Jeanne is innocent, that this is a gross miscarriage of justice." (37:18)
• Escaping Infamy: Jeanne survives torture and branding, then escapes prison with the help of a besotted guard, fleeing to London where she pens sensational memoirs.
  • “She takes a deep breath, breath of fresh night air and disappears into the streets of Paris.” (39:02)

Epilogue: The Ripple Effect (39:21–43:00)

• Destruction of the Monarchy: Jeanne’s memoirs cement public hatred for Marie Antoinette. The affair becomes a catalyst for revolutionary outrage.
  • “That was the final nail in the coffin for Marie Antoinette. Her reputation never recovered from the affair of the diamond necklace.” (40:46)
• Death and Revolution: Jeanne dies in London in 1791 under mysterious circumstances. The monarchy falls; both Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are executed.
  • “And it may not have happened if it wasn't for one woman who tried to redistribute the monarchy’s wealth right into her own pocketbook.” (42:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On status and deception:
  • “She knows she's an imposter in these clothes, but she also knows it's all about faking it till you make it.” (02:18, Jeanne’s inner philosophy)
• On the Cardinal’s naivety:
  • "Apparently, the Cardinal hasn't actually spoken to Marie Antoinette in 10 years...now he's primed for the next step" (11:20)
• On public perception:
  • "People hate the system, so they hate her. Marie Antoinette sets the pamphlets down on the nightstand. The public already despised her for throwing grand balls and fashionable gowns while the peasants starved. Now she looks greedier than ever." (39:21)
• On the affair’s legacy:
  • “The French Revolution would birth a brand new country and change the course of European history forever. And it may not have happened if it wasn't for one woman who tried to redistribute the monarchy's wealth right into her own pocketbook.” (42:55)

Timeline: Important Segments & Timestamps

• Jeanne’s early con at Versailles: 01:00–07:20
• Conspiring with Valette & the Cardinal: 08:52–13:48
• The Queen’s impersonation in the garden: 13:48–16:40
• Hatching the necklace scheme: 18:40–24:15
• Execution of the theft: 24:17–26:26
• Unraveling—Cardinal’s arrest and court shock: 29:27–34:36
• Jeanne’s trial, branding, and escape: 34:36–39:02
• Memoirs, aftermath, and the fall of the monarchy: 39:21–43:00

Tone & Style

The episode combines vivid, dramatic storytelling with meticulous research, blending historical details with immersive dialogue and a sly, almost cinematic tone. Humor, empathy for the desperately ambitious, and sharp social critique are woven throughout, while the tragic downfall of both Jeanne and Marie Antoinette is told with both irony and pathos.

This final episode of "A Twist of History" demonstrates how greed, spectacle, and public perception can change the fate of nations—all through the dazzling story of a necklace, a queen, and one clever woman who dared to scheme against them both.