Joséphine de Beauharnais
Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de La Pagerie entered the world on the 23rd of June 1763, though historians still argue over whether she arrived in Les Trois-Îlets or Soufrière. The church registry for Martinique records her baptism by Emmanuel Capuchin but omits her birth location entirely. A parish priest from Saint Lucia named Dom Daviot wrote a letter in 1802 claiming she was born near his parish. Henry H. Breen published evidence in 1844 suggesting the family lived on an estate called Morne Paix Bouche until 1771. An enslaved nanny named Dede reportedly nursed Joséphine at that specific hillside location. Saint Lucia changed hands between Great Britain and France fourteen times during her childhood, leaving no civil registers to confirm her origin.
Napoleon Bonaparte met Madame de Beauharnais in 1795 when he was six years younger than his future wife. He sent her passionate letters describing how her image left no rest to his senses after their first night together. They married on the 9th of March 1796, with Joséphine reducing her age by four years on the certificate while Napoleon increased his by eighteen months. Their union faced immediate resistance from Napoleon's mother and sisters who felt clumsy beside her sophistication. Rumors of an affair with Hussar lieutenant Hippolyte Charles reached Napoleon in January 1797, changing his love for her entirely. The couple reconciled after a bomb exploded outside their carriage on the 24th of December 1800 during the Plot of the rue Saint-Nicaise.
Pope Pius VII officiated the coronation ceremony at Notre-Dame de Paris on the 2nd of December 1804, placing the crown upon Joséphine's head after Napoleon crowned himself. She reinstated offices like Première dame d'honneur held by Adélaïde de La Rochefoucauld and Dame d'atour filled by Émilie de Beauharnais. An incident at Château de Saint-Cloud nearly ended their marriage when she caught Napoleon in the bedroom of lady-in-waiting Élisabeth de Vaudey. Her daughter Hortense worked to reconcile them before the final decision came. On the 30th of November 1809, Napoleon told Joséphine he must find a wife who could produce an heir for France. The divorce ceremony took place on the 10th of January 1810, where each read a statement of devotion to the other.
Antoine-Jean Gros painted Bonaparte at the Pont d'Arcole after Joséphine asked him to return to Milan with her. She commissioned four major sculptures from Italian Neoclassical artist Antonio Canova including Dancer with Hands on Hips finished in 1812. The marble statue Paris arrived at Malmaison in 1813 while The Three Graces remained unfinished until 1816. Architects Charles Percier and Pierre Fontaine designed furniture using cheval glass for the Empress's boudoir. Joséphine visited the Salon to build relationships with contemporary artists like François Gérard. Her court became the leading center for arts in Europe during the Consular period.
Thomas Blaikie and Alexander Howatson landscaped the Château de Malmaison gardens in English style starting in 1799. André Dupont inspired Joséphine to collect all known roses by ordering warship commanders to search seized vessels for plants. Pierre-Joseph Redouté painted flowers from her garden resulting in Les Roses published between 1817 and 1820. The nursery Lee and Kennedy shipped specimens across naval blockades despite Britain and France being at war. Sir Joseph Banks sent roses from Kew Gardens while Claude Antoine Thory wrote descriptions for Redouté's paintings. By 1814 she possessed approximately 250 rose varieties before her death.
Napoleon created her Duchess of Navarre through letters patent in April 1810 after their divorce. She lived at Château de Malmaison near Paris where he provided a generous annual allowance. On the 29th of May 1814, Joséphine died of pneumonia in Rueil-Malmaison shortly after walking with Emperor Alexander I of Russia. Her daughter Hortense is interred near her in the church of Saint Pierre-Saint Paul. Napoleon learned of her death via a French journal while exiled on Elba and stayed locked in his room for two days. He later claimed to friends that he truly loved his Joséphine but did not respect her.
Hortense's son Napoleon III became Emperor of the French while Eugène founded the Russian line of the Beauharnais family. Joséphine's daughter Joséphine married King Oscar I of Sweden creating direct ancestry for current heads of royal houses in Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden. The Norwegian royal family possesses an emerald and diamond parure that belonged to Joséphine. August Holmström crafted the Empress Joséphine Tiara from briolette diamonds inherited by her son Eugène. The Swedish royal family owns the Leuchtenberg Sapphire Parure worn by royal brides. Amélie of Leuchtenberg became Empress of Brazil through marriage to Pedro I of Brazil.
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Common questions
Where was Joséphine de Beauharnais born and when?
Historians debate whether Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de La Pagerie was born in Les Trois-Îlets or Soufrière on the 23rd of June 1763. The church registry for Martinique records her baptism by Emmanuel Capuchin but omits her birth location entirely.
When did Napoleon Bonaparte marry Joséphine de Beauharnais?
Napoleon Bonaparte married Madame de Beauharnais on the 9th of March 1796 after meeting her in 1795. They reconciled following a bomb explosion outside their carriage on the 24th of December 1800 during the Plot of the rue Saint-Nicaise.
Who officiated the coronation of Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais?
Pope Pius VII officiated the coronation ceremony at Notre-Dame de Paris on the 2nd of December 1804. He placed the crown upon Joséphine's head after Napoleon crowned himself.
How many rose varieties did Joséphine de Beauharnais collect before her death?
By 1814 she possessed approximately 250 rose varieties before her death. André Dupont inspired Joséphine to collect all known roses by ordering warship commanders to search seized vessels for plants.
When and where did Joséphine de Beauharnais die?
On the 29th of May 1814, Joséphine died of pneumonia in Rueil-Malmaison shortly after walking with Emperor Alexander I of Russia. Her daughter Hortense is interred near her in the church of Saint Pierre-Saint Paul.