Alexandre Colonna-Walewski
On the 4th of May 1810, a boy named Alexandre Florian Joseph Colonna Walewski drew his first breath at Walewice near Warsaw. His mother was Countess Maria Walewska, the Polish noblewoman who had been Napoleon Bonaparte's mistress. Napoleon insisted she return to her husband's estate in Poland rather than give birth in Paris as she requested. Count Athanasius Walewski, nearly eighty years old, legally recognized the child as his own. Years later, Alexandre wrote that his birth was accompanied by lightning and thunder. He recalled being held at the font by two beggars to bring him luck.
In 2013, published scholarship compared DNA haplotype evidence from Emperor Napoleon with that of his brother King Jérôme Bonaparte's descendant Charles, Prince Napoléon. The study also examined DNA from Colonna-Walewski's descendants. This genetic analysis indicated Alexandre's membership in the imperial House of Bonaparte male-line. When Napoleon heard of the birth while in Belgium with Empress Marie Louise, he sent an affectionate message and Brussels laces. Despite ending their affair, Napoleon ensured Marie and their son were well provided for. He granted them a residence in Rue de Montmorency in Paris along with a significant pension of 120,000 francs.
Napoleon's valet Constant recorded that the boy bore a striking resemblance to His Majesty. Constant noted that Napoleon took the child in his arms and said: I will make thee a count. On the 5th of May 1812, Napoleon officially decreed Alexandre a Count of the French Empire. The young Alexandre received lands in the Kingdom of Naples including sixty-nine farms generating an annual income of 169,516 francs. Napoleon signed letters patent confirming Alexandre's title on June 15 while in Königsberg.
After Napoleon's abdication in 1814, Marie Walewska took four-year-old Alexandre to the island of Elba. Many islanders mistook her for Empress Marie Louise and the boy for the King of Rome. During their stay, Napoleon played games with the boy and shared affectionate moments. Napoleon reportedly asked Alexandre if he mentioned the Emperor's name in prayers. Alexandre admitted he did not but remembered to say Papa Empereur. Amused, Napoleon remarked that the boy would be a great social success because he had wit.
Napoleon's physician Foureau de Beauregard later wrote to Alexandre recalling seeing him almost twenty-nine years ago on the Emperor's lap near the Madonna delle Grazie on the island of Elba. In early 1815, they returned to Paris before Napoleon departed for the Hundred Days campaign. After his defeat at Waterloo, Marie Walewska and Alexandre were present at Malmaison to bid farewell to Napoleon before his exile to Saint Helena. Years later, Alexandre reminisced: I can still see the Emperor... every single feature of his face.... He took me in my arms and I remember a tear ran down his face.
On the 7th of September 1816, Marie Walewska married Napoleon's cousin Philippe Antoine d'Ornano who had been exiled in Brussels. The family moved to Liège where Marie gave birth to another son Rodolphe in 1817. Marie died on the 11th of December 1817 entrusting Alexandre and his half-brother Antoine to her brother Theodore Łaczyński. Łaczyński took the boys to Kiernozia in Poland. They studied under a tutor with strong republican views until Łaczyński placed them instead in a Jesuit college where Alexandre made his first communion. At age fourteen, Walewski refused to join the Imperial Russian army and fled to London then to Paris.
Upon the accession of Louis-Philippe d'Orléans to the French throne in 1830, Walewski was dispatched to Poland. Later that same year he was entrusted by leaders of the Polish November Uprising as a diplomatic envoy to the Court of St James's. After the Fall of Warsaw, he took out letters of French naturalization and joined the French Army. He served as Captain in the Chasseurs d'Afrique of the French Foreign Legion in action in Algeria.
In 1837 he resigned his commission to begin writing plays and working as a journalist for the press. He is said to have collaborated with the elder Dumas on Mademoiselle de Belle-Isle. A comedy of his titled L'Ecole du monde was produced at the Theâtre Français in 1840. That same year the prime minister of France Thiers became patron to one of Walewski's papers called Le Messager des Chambres. Thiers sent him on a mission to Egypt before sending him to Buenos Aires under Guizot's government to liaise with British Ambassador John Cradock, 1st Baron Howden.
Prince Louis Napoleon's accession to power as Napoleon III furthered his career with postings as envoy extraordinary to Florence Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. His final posting was to London from 1851 to 1855 where he was charged with announcing the coup d'état to Prime Minister Lord Palmerston.
In 1855, Walewski succeeded Drouyn de Lhuys as Minister of Foreign Affairs. He acted as President of French plenipotentiary at the Congress of Paris the following year leading to peace in the Crimean War. The resulting treaty contained an important novelty in international law creating the possibility for nations not involved in the agreement to become parties by acceding afterwards. As foreign minister, Walewski advocated a de-escalating strategy towards Russia known as entente. This opposed his emperor's strategy in Italy which led to war with Austria in 1859.
After leaving the Foreign Ministry in 1860 he became France's Minister of State holding that office until 1863. He served as Senator from 1855 to 1865 before being appointed to the Corps Législatif in 1865. The Emperor returned him to the Senate after a revolt against his authority two years later. Walewski was made a Duke of the Empire ad personam in 1866. He was elected a member of the Académie des beaux-arts and appointed Grand-Cross of the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour.
Walewski presided over the Congress of Paris in 1856 where delegates negotiated terms ending the Crimean War. The conference produced the Paris Declaration Respecting Maritime Law which laid the base for modern international law of the sea. This treaty did contain an important novelty creating the possibility for nations not involved in establishing the agreement to become parties by acceding afterwards. The declaration established rules regarding neutral rights at sea and the treatment of enemy property on neutral ships.
As foreign minister, Walewski advocated a de-escalating strategy towards Russia known as entente. This position opposed his emperor's strategy in Italy which led to war with Austria in 1859. His diplomatic efforts during this period demonstrated his ability to navigate complex European power dynamics while maintaining France's interests. The Congress of Paris marked the peak of his career before he transitioned to domestic political roles within Napoleon III's government structure.
He received numerous other honors including Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the Gold Cross of Virtuti Militari. Additional decorations included the Great Ribbon of the Order of the Danebrog and Grand Ribbon of the Order of Saint Januarius. Other awards encompassed the Grand Ribbon of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus and the Grand Ribbon of the Order of St. Joseph. His collection of honors also featured the Great Ribbon of the Order of the Medjids and the Great Ribbon of the Order of the Seraphim.
Alexandre Colonna-Walewski married firstly in London on the 1st of December 1831 Lady Catherine Montagu who died in childbirth on the 30th of April 1834. Following her death he married secondly on the 4th of June 1846 in Florence Maria Anna di Ricci who lived until the 18th of November 1912. He had seven children total: two from his first marriage, four from his second marriage, and one illegitimate child recognized later.
His legitimate sons included Count Georges-Édouard-Auguste Colonna-Walewski born the 30th of April 1834
who died the 9th of May 1835. Another son Charles-Zanobi-Rodolphe Colonna-Walewski was born the 4th of June 1848 in Florence and died the 19th of October 1916 while on active service at Villers-Cotterêts. His daughter Élise Colonna-Walewska married Félix Count of Bourqueney in Paris on the 10th of October 1871 leaving issue. Eugénie Colonna-Walewska married Frédéric Count Mathéus in Paris on the 15th of July 1875 also leaving issue.
By Rachel Felix (1821, 1858) he fathered Count Alexandre-Antoine-Jean Colonna-Walewski born the 3rd of November 1844. This illegitimate child was recognized in 1844 and adopted by Walewski in 1860. He became Consul General of France and married Jeanne-Claire-Marie Sala in Paris on the 17th of November 1868. This line has numerous surviving descendants into the modern era.
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Common questions
When and where was Alexandre Colonna-Walewski born?
Alexandre Florian Joseph Colonna Walewski drew his first breath on the 4th of May 1810 at Walewice near Warsaw. His mother Countess Maria Walewska gave birth there after Napoleon insisted she return to her husband's estate in Poland.
How did DNA evidence confirm Alexandre Colonna-Walewski's parentage?
Published scholarship from 2013 compared DNA haplotype evidence from Emperor Napoleon with that of his brother King Jérôme Bonaparte's descendant Charles Prince Napoléon. The study examined DNA from Colonna-Walewski's descendants and indicated his membership in the imperial House of Bonaparte male-line.
What title did Napoleon grant to Alexandre Colonna-Walewski and when?
Napoleon officially decreed Alexandre a Count of the French Empire on the 5th of May 1812. He later signed letters patent confirming this title on June 15 while in Königsberg.
What diplomatic role did Alexandre Colonna-Walewski hold during the Crimean War?
In 1856 Alexandre Colonna-Walewski presided over the Congress of Paris where delegates negotiated terms ending the war. As Minister of Foreign Affairs he acted as President of French plenipotentiary leading to peace and the creation of international law regarding neutral rights at sea.
Who were the wives of Alexandre Colonna-Walewski and how many children did he have?
Alexandre Colonna-Walewski married Lady Catherine Montagu in London on the 1st of December 1831 and Maria Anna di Ricci in Florence on the 4th of June 1846. He had seven children total including two from his first marriage four from his second marriage and one illegitimate child recognized later.