Joséphine Bonaparte
Joséphine Bonaparte (born Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de La Pagerie; 1763–1814) was the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte and empress of the French from 1804 to 1809.
Joséphine Bonaparte was the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte and empress of the French from 1804 to 1809. Born in Martinique, she became a central figure of the Napoleonic era.
Early life and background
Born Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de La Pagerie in 1763 in Martinique, she came from a colonial planter family. After moving to France, she married Alexandre de Beauharnais and had two children, Eugène and Hortense. Widowed during the Reign of Terror, she later met Napoleon.
Rise to empress
She married Napoleon Bonaparte in 1796 and became empress in 1804 when he proclaimed the First French Empire. She also held the title of queen of Italy by marriage. Her role made her a prominent figure in the Napoleonic court until the marriage's annulment in 1810 due to childlessness.
Later life after divorce
After the annulment, Joséphine lived at the estate of Malmaison near Paris. She remained closely associated with the imperial court and maintained a lavish lifestyle. She died at Malmaison on 29 May 1814, just weeks after Napoleon's first abdication.
In short
- Born in Martinique to a colonial family
- Married Napoleon and became empress of the French
- Divorced in 1810 because she had no heir
- Lived at Malmaison until her death in 1814
Joséphine Bonaparte has no direct Canadian connection, but she is a significant figure in French and European history, which is relevant to Canadian readers because of Canada’s French heritage and the broader Napoleonic period.
Quick questions
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Sources
- France Archives — https://francearchives.gouv.fr/fr/authorityrecord/FRAN_NP_051172Supports: Birth and death dates; title as Empress of the French and Queen of Italy; birth in Martinique.
- Musées nationaux de Malmaison — https://musees-nationaux-malmaison.fr/chateau-malmaison/josephine-et-bonaparteSupports: Birth name, marriage to Napoleon, empress status, divorce, and death at Malmaison.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/JosephineSupports: Birth name, birth and death details, role as Napoleon’s consort and empress.
- Château de Versailles — https://en.chateauversailles.fr/discover/history/great-characters/josephine-beauharnaisSupports: Her status as first wife of Napoleon and Empress of the French from 1804 to 1809.
- Library of Congress — https://guides.loc.gov/women-in-the-french-revolution/josephine-bonaparteSupports: Name usage, birthplace in Martinique, and biographical background.