Amanda Foreman

With a good education and a solid childhood, Marie-Antoinette might have become one of the most admired women in Europe. As it was, the empress paid no attention to her youngest daughter until an accident of nuptial politics made the girl a candidate to marry the French dauphin.

British Historian

Marie Antoinette

The king and the dauphin both like to see me on horseback. I only say this because all the world perceives it, and especially while we were absent from Versailles, they were delighted to see me in my riding habit.

French Royalty

Dauphin was a title for French royalty, not in common use today.

Historical Title

The term specifically refers to the heir apparent of the French throne.

Royal Heir

The term is found in historical texts, films, and discussions about French history.

Cultural Reference

Dauphin is used to refer to a certain type of dolphin in modern French.

Current Use

As a modern term, dauphin is associated with marine life and nature.

Wildlife Term

The word often appears in travel guides and nature documentaries in France.