Bookreview: Ambition & Desire the dangerous life of Joséphine Bonaparte
Recently, I read the interesting book 'Ambition & Desire the dangerous life
of Joséphine Bonaparte', written by Kate Williams.
In this book, Kate Williams not only tells about the life of Joséphine
Bonaparte but also about the history of France during her time.
It was nice to see shocking events as the French revolution, the reign of
Terror, the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte through the eyes of Joséphine.
It was a different but fascinating view. It proved that Joséphine really
was a strong woman, with her own problems, her own sorrows and her
own strength.
More about the author
Kate Williams is a British author, historian and television presenter.
She is a professor of history at the University of Reading. She also wrote
about Queen Victoria, Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales,
Queen Elizabeth II and many more.
More about Empress Joséphine
Joséphine was born on 23 June 1763 as Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de
La Pagerie. Her birth took place in Les Trois-Îlets in Martinique (then a
part of France).
In 1766, hurricanes destroyed the family's estate. Around that time
Edmée (in French Desirée), Joséphine's paternal aunt, had been the
mistress of François, Marquis de Beauharnais.
In October 1779, Joséphine went to France with her father. She married
Alexandre de Beauharnais on 13 December 1779. They would have
2 children: Eugène and Hortense. Joséphine's and Alexandre's marriage
was not a happy one.
On 2 March 1794, during the Reign of Terror, Alexandre de Beauharnais
was arrested. He was jailed in prison. Joséphine was jailed too.
On 23 July 1794, Alexandre was guillotined on the Place de la Révolution,
nowadays the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Joséphine was freed a few
days later, thanks to the fall and execution of Robespierre.
Later Madame de Beauharnais had many affairs with several leading
political figures, such as Paul François Jean Nicolas Barras.
In 1795, Joséphine met Napoleon Bonaparte, who was 6 years younger
than her. She became his mistress.
In January 1796, Napoleon Bonaparte proposed to her and they were
married on 9 March. Bonaparte preferred to call her Joséphine.
The marriage was not well received by Napoleon's family. Two days
after the wedding Napoleon left Paris to lead a French army into Italy.
Joséphine left behind in Paris and in 1796 she began an affair with
Hippolyte Charles.
In 1798 Napoleon led a French army to Egypt. During this campaign
Napoleon started an own affair with Pauline Fourès.
In 1804, Napoleon was elected Emperor of the French and Joséphine
became Empress. The coronation ceremony took place on 2 December
1804 at the Notre Dame in Paris.
After a few years it became clear that Joséphine could not have more
children, Napoleon started to think about a divorce. The divorcing
ceremony took place on 10 January 1810.
On 11 March 1810, Napoleon married Marie-Louise of Austria by
proxy. However even after the separation, Napoleon insisted
Joséphine to retain the title of Empress.
After the divorce Joséphine lived at the Chateau de Malmaison
near Paris and she remained on good terms with Napoleon.
On 29 May 1814, Joséphine died, soon after walking with
Tsar Alexander I of Russia in the gardens of Malmaison.
She was buried in the nearby church of Saint Pierre-Saint Paul.
Joséphine de Beauharnais, Joséphine Bonaparte or Empress
Joséphine had many royal descendants around Europe.
Hortense's son became Napoleon III, Emperor of the French.
Eugène's son Maximilian de Beauharnais, 3rd Duke of
Leuchtenberg married into the Imperial family of Russia.
Eugène's daughter, Joséphine married King Oscar I of Sweden.
Through her, Joséphine was related to the royal houses of Belgium,
Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden and the
grandducal house of Baden.
Another of Eugène's daughters, Amélie de Beauharnais von
Leuchtenberg married to Emperor Pedro I of Brazil, she became
Empress of Brazil.
of Joséphine Bonaparte', written by Kate Williams.
In this book, Kate Williams not only tells about the life of Joséphine
Bonaparte but also about the history of France during her time.
It was nice to see shocking events as the French revolution, the reign of
Terror, the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte through the eyes of Joséphine.
It was a different but fascinating view. It proved that Joséphine really
was a strong woman, with her own problems, her own sorrows and her
own strength.
 |
| Joséphine - screenshot book |
More about the author
Kate Williams is a British author, historian and television presenter.
She is a professor of history at the University of Reading. She also wrote
about Queen Victoria, Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales,
Queen Elizabeth II and many more.
 |
| Joséphine the Dutch book cover |
More about Empress Joséphine
Joséphine was born on 23 June 1763 as Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de
La Pagerie. Her birth took place in Les Trois-Îlets in Martinique (then a
part of France).
In 1766, hurricanes destroyed the family's estate. Around that time
Edmée (in French Desirée), Joséphine's paternal aunt, had been the
mistress of François, Marquis de Beauharnais.
In October 1779, Joséphine went to France with her father. She married
Alexandre de Beauharnais on 13 December 1779. They would have
2 children: Eugène and Hortense. Joséphine's and Alexandre's marriage
was not a happy one.
On 2 March 1794, during the Reign of Terror, Alexandre de Beauharnais
was arrested. He was jailed in prison. Joséphine was jailed too.
On 23 July 1794, Alexandre was guillotined on the Place de la Révolution,
nowadays the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Joséphine was freed a few
days later, thanks to the fall and execution of Robespierre.
Later Madame de Beauharnais had many affairs with several leading
political figures, such as Paul François Jean Nicolas Barras.
 |
| Empress Joséphine Source picture: Wikipedia |
In 1795, Joséphine met Napoleon Bonaparte, who was 6 years younger
than her. She became his mistress.
In January 1796, Napoleon Bonaparte proposed to her and they were
married on 9 March. Bonaparte preferred to call her Joséphine.
The marriage was not well received by Napoleon's family. Two days
after the wedding Napoleon left Paris to lead a French army into Italy.
Joséphine left behind in Paris and in 1796 she began an affair with
Hippolyte Charles.
In 1798 Napoleon led a French army to Egypt. During this campaign
Napoleon started an own affair with Pauline Fourès.
In 1804, Napoleon was elected Emperor of the French and Joséphine
became Empress. The coronation ceremony took place on 2 December
1804 at the Notre Dame in Paris.
After a few years it became clear that Joséphine could not have more
children, Napoleon started to think about a divorce. The divorcing
ceremony took place on 10 January 1810.
On 11 March 1810, Napoleon married Marie-Louise of Austria by
proxy. However even after the separation, Napoleon insisted
Joséphine to retain the title of Empress.
After the divorce Joséphine lived at the Chateau de Malmaison
near Paris and she remained on good terms with Napoleon.
On 29 May 1814, Joséphine died, soon after walking with
Tsar Alexander I of Russia in the gardens of Malmaison.
She was buried in the nearby church of Saint Pierre-Saint Paul.
Joséphine de Beauharnais, Joséphine Bonaparte or Empress
Joséphine had many royal descendants around Europe.
Hortense's son became Napoleon III, Emperor of the French.
Eugène's son Maximilian de Beauharnais, 3rd Duke of
Leuchtenberg married into the Imperial family of Russia.
Eugène's daughter, Joséphine married King Oscar I of Sweden.
Through her, Joséphine was related to the royal houses of Belgium,
Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden and the
grandducal house of Baden.
Another of Eugène's daughters, Amélie de Beauharnais von
Leuchtenberg married to Emperor Pedro I of Brazil, she became
Empress of Brazil.
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