Who was Charles-Marie Bonaparte?
On 27 March 1746, Carlo Maria Buonaparte also called Charles-Marie Bonaparte
was born in Ajaccio Corsica (then a part of the Republic of Genoa) as the youngest
of three children.
Family
His parents were Giuseppe Buonaparte, who had represented Ajaccio at the Council
of Corte in 1749 and Maria Saveria Paravicini.
of Corte in 1749 and Maria Saveria Paravicini.
The Corsican Buonapartes were descended from minor Italian nobility of Tuscan
origin, who had come to Corsica from Liguria in the 16th. century.
origin, who had come to Corsica from Liguria in the 16th. century.
Carlo studied to be a lawyer at the Pisa University but he left before earning his
degree to take charge of family responsibilities.
degree to take charge of family responsibilities.
Love and marriage
Carlo married Donna Maria Letizia Ramolino. Both were of Corsican nobility and
very young at the time of their marriage. Carlo was 17, Letizia was 13!
very young at the time of their marriage. Carlo was 17, Letizia was 13!
Their marriage was arranged.
They would have 13 children between 1768 and 1784. Five of them died, eight
children survived.
children survived.
Among them: Napoleon Bonaparte, who became later Emperor of the French.
Gaining Power
In June 1764, Carlo worked as a secretary and personal assistant to Pasquale Paoli.
Paoli sent him to Rome to negotiate with Pope Clement XIII in 1766.
Paoli sent him to Rome to negotiate with Pope Clement XIII in 1766.
When Carlo returned to Corsica, the Republic of Genoa had offered Corsica to
King Louis XV of France as payment for a debt. The French were eager to
obtain the strategically placed island for the protection of their own coasts.
King Louis XV of France as payment for a debt. The French were eager to
obtain the strategically placed island for the protection of their own coasts.
Carlo Buonaparte embraced the new government and he was appointed
Assessor of the Royal Jurisdiction of Ajaccio and the neighbouring districts
Assessor of the Royal Jurisdiction of Ajaccio and the neighbouring districts
on 20 September 1769. Shortly after that, he became a Doctor of Law at the
University of Pisa on 27 November 1769.
University of Pisa on 27 November 1769.
On 13 September 1771, Carlo's nobility was confirmed. He was named
representative to the Court of Louis XVI of France at Versailles in 1778.
representative to the Court of Louis XVI of France at Versailles in 1778.
Buonaparte embarked then in risky business enterprises. He made many claims
on land and money through legal means, but his success was limited and
he burned through his finances rapidly. He was fond of gambling and this
worsened his monetary difficulties.
on land and money through legal means, but his success was limited and
he burned through his finances rapidly. He was fond of gambling and this
worsened his monetary difficulties.
Death
On 24 February 1785 Carlo Maria Buonaparte died due to it was believed to
stomach cancer.
stomach cancer.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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