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Josephine Bonaparte - Wife of Napoleon & Empress of the French Documentary

The People Profiles・42 minutes read

Josephine Bonaparte led a tumultuous life marked by her marriage to Napoleon Bonaparte, significant patronage of the arts, and a lavish lifestyle, ultimately ending with their divorce in 1809 due to Napoleon's desire for an heir and legitimate children, leading to her death in 1814 at the age of fifty.

Insights

  • Josephine Bonaparte's tumultuous life, from her upbringing in a French colony to her marriages with Alexandre de Beauharnais and Napoleon Bonaparte, showcased her resilience and adaptability in navigating challenging circumstances.
  • Josephine's significant influence extended beyond her marriages, as she immersed herself in horticulture, arts patronage, and interior design, leaving a lasting impact on French culture and society during the early 19th century.
  • The end of Josephine's marriage to Napoleon, driven by political considerations and the need for a legitimate heir, marked a pivotal moment in both their lives, leading to her subsequent seclusion and eventual passing in 1814, while Napoleon faced defeat and exile after the Battle of Waterloo.

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Recent questions

  • Who was Josephine Bonaparte and what significant events marked her life?

    Josephine Bonaparte, born Marie-Josephe-Rose Tascher de la Pagerie in 1763, was a prominent figure in French history. Raised in Martinique, she married Alexandre de Beauharnais in 1779, endured the French Revolution, and later married Napoleon Bonaparte in 1796. Her life was marked by tumultuous events, including Napoleon's rise to power, their marriage, and eventual divorce in 1809. Josephine was known for her involvement in horticulture, patronage of the arts, and lavish lifestyle, making her a significant figure in early 19th-century France.

  • What impact did Josephine Bonaparte have on French art and culture?

    Josephine Bonaparte had a significant impact on French art and culture during the early 19th century. She was a patron of renowned artists like Pierre-Paul Prud'hon, Jacques-Louis David, and Antoine-Jean Gros, contributing to the popularization of roses and the arts in France and Europe. Josephine's patronage extended to sculpture, notably with Antonio Canova, and she employed experts like Andre Dupont and Pierre-Joseph Redouté to develop an intricate rose garden at Malmaison. Her influence in interior decoration elevated the art form, showcasing her lasting impact on French art and culture.

  • What led to the divorce between Josephine Bonaparte and Napoleon?

    The divorce between Josephine Bonaparte and Napoleon in 1809 was primarily driven by Napoleon's political considerations amidst the Napoleonic Wars. Despite their marital turmoil, the lack of children in their marriage posed a significant challenge, with Napoleon's family urging him to divorce Josephine to secure a legitimate male heir for his succession. Napoleon's belief in his own sterility was dispelled in 1806 with the birth of an illegitimate son, prompting the inevitable decline of his marriage to Josephine and the search for a new bride. The divorce was finalized on the grounds of insufficient witnesses to their first marriage, leading Napoleon to quickly marry Marie-Louise of Austria in 1810.

  • How did Josephine Bonaparte react to Napoleon's request for a divorce?

    Josephine Bonaparte's initial reaction to Napoleon's request for a divorce in 1809 was one of anguished screaming and threats of self-harm. Despite her son Eugene's intervention, the divorce was finalized due to insufficient witnesses to their first marriage. Napoleon quickly married Marie-Louise of Austria in 1810, marking the end of his tumultuous but significant union with Josephine. Following the divorce, Josephine was provided with the Élysée Palace and the Chateau de Malmaison, where she lived out most of her life until her death in 1814.

  • What significant events marked Josephine Bonaparte's life after her divorce from Napoleon?

    After her divorce from Napoleon, Josephine Bonaparte lived out the rest of her life at the Élysée Palace and the Chateau de Malmaison. Her health declined in early 1814, leading to her death at the age of fifty. Napoleon's failed invasion of Russia in 1812 resulted in the War of the Sixth Coalition and his eventual abdication in 1814. Josephine's legacy was marked by her impact on French art and culture, her involvement in horticulture, and her significant role in early 19th-century France.

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Summary

00:00

Josephine Bonaparte: From Martinique to France

  • Josephine Bonaparte, born Marie-Josephe-Rose Tascher de la Pagerie on June 23, 1763, likely in Martinique, was the daughter of Joseph, a sugar-cane plantation owner, and Rose-Claire des Vergers de Sannois, of French and Irish descent.
  • Raised on Martinique, Josephine was baptized there and grew up in a French colony known for sugar cane production fueled by African slave labor.
  • Josephine was primarily raised by an enslaved woman named Marion and was known as Rose or Marie-Rose during her youth.
  • In 1779, Josephine was chosen to marry Alexandre de Beauharnais after her sister Catherine's death, leading to her departure for France for the marriage.
  • Josephine's life with Alexandre was challenging due to his abusive behavior, infidelity, and their eventual unofficial separation.
  • The French Revolution of 1789 significantly impacted Josephine's life, with Alexandre initially prospering due to his involvement in the Revolution.
  • Alexandre's support for the Revolution led to his downfall, resulting in his arrest, trial, and execution in July 1794 during the Reign of Terror.
  • Josephine, imprisoned briefly after Alexandre's arrest, was released following the end of the Reign of Terror in July 1794.
  • Widowed and possibly suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Josephine attached herself to prominent men like General Lazare Hoche in the aftermath of Alexandre's execution.
  • Josephine's life was marked by tumultuous events, including her marriage to Napoleon Bonaparte in 1796, making her a significant figure in French history.

17:23

Napoleon and Josephine: Love, War, Betrayal

  • Paul Barras was Josephine's lover before Napoleon Bonaparte, who she cleverly orchestrated a relationship with.
  • Napoleon Bonaparte, a rising general, became a hero of the Revolution in 1795 after preventing a Counter-Revolutionary seizure of Paris.
  • Josephine's son Eugene visited Napoleon to request help in acquiring her deceased first husband's sword as a family heirloom.
  • Josephine and Napoleon met in late November 1795, leading to a whirlwind courtship and Napoleon's immediate proposal by January 1796.
  • Napoleon and Josephine married in a civil ceremony in Paris on the night of March 9, 1796, with Napoleon arriving late and both lying about their ages.
  • Napoleon left for Italy two days after their marriage, leading the French forces to significant victories in the War of the First Coalition.
  • Josephine began an affair with Hippolyte Charles while Napoleon was away in Italy, which would later impact their relationship.
  • Josephine joined Napoleon in Italy, participating in looting artworks and developing a taste for extravagant living.
  • Napoleon's successful Italian campaign led to the Treaty of Campo Formio in 1797, establishing French control over northern and central Italy.
  • Napoleon's return to France marked a turbulent period in his and Josephine's marriage, with infidelities on both sides and a near-assassination attempt in 1800.

34:51

Josephine: Rose Garden to Royal Patronage

  • Josephine, a prominent figure in early 19th-century France, was deeply involved in horticulture, particularly roses, and developed an intricate rose garden at Malmaison with the help of experts like Andre Dupont and Pierre-Joseph Redouté.
  • She was a significant patron of the arts, supporting renowned artists like Pierre-Paul Prud-hon, Jacques-Louis David, and Antoine-Jean Gros, contributing to the popularization of roses and the arts in France and Europe.
  • Josephine's patronage extended to sculpture, notably with Antonio Canova, whose works she commissioned and later bequeathed to Tsar Alexander of Russia, forming part of the Hermitage Museum's collection.
  • In interior decoration, she employed Charles Percier and Pierre Fontaine to furnish royal palaces, showcasing her influence in elevating interior design to an art form during the 1800s.
  • Josephine was the subject of numerous well-known portraits, including a realistic depiction by Gros in 1809, reflecting her distinctive appearance and influence on fashion trends of the time.
  • Her marriage to Napoleon, marked by lavish spending and popularity, faced strains due to financial issues and suspicions of infidelity, culminating in a tense episode at Chateau de Saint-Cloud in 1804.
  • The lack of children in their marriage posed a significant challenge, with Napoleon's family urging him to divorce Josephine to secure a legitimate male heir, a crucial concern for his succession.
  • Napoleon's belief in his own sterility was dispelled in 1806 with the birth of an illegitimate son, prompting the inevitable decline of his marriage to Josephine and the search for a new bride.
  • Despite their marital turmoil, Josephine's children from her first marriage, Eugene and Hortense, thrived under Napoleon's care, with Eugene becoming a prominent military figure and Hortense marrying Napoleon's brother.
  • Napoleon's decision to divorce Josephine at the end of the 1800s was driven by political considerations amidst the Napoleonic Wars, marking the end of their tumultuous but significant union.

51:37

Napoleon's Divorce and Josephine's Tragic End

  • Napoleon's desire for a divorce from Josephine in 1809 was driven by his need for an heir and legitimate children.
  • Josephine's initial reaction to the divorce request was one of anguished screaming and threats of self-harm.
  • Despite Josephine's son Eugene's intervention, the divorce was finalized on the grounds of insufficient witnesses to their first marriage.
  • Napoleon quickly married Marie-Louise of Austria in March 1810, and their son Napoleon Francois Joseph Charles Bonaparte was born in March 1811.
  • Following the divorce, Josephine was provided with the Élysée Palace and the Chateau de Malmaison, where she lived out most of her life.
  • Napoleon's failed invasion of Russia in 1812 led to the formation of the War of the Sixth Coalition and his eventual abdication in 1814.
  • Josephine's health declined in early 1814, leading to her death in May of that year at the age of fifty.
  • Napoleon's brief return to power in 1815 ended with his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo and subsequent exile to St Helena, where he died in 1821.
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