Pauline Bonaparte Part IV 1814-1825

Pauline was now over 30 and her brother’s empire was approaching its twilight years. He now had a male heir, but he had over-stretched himself. He was still a military genus, but in invading Russia, he had gone a step too far. His despotic rule over much of Europe had won him enemies, and in Spain, an Anglo Irish general, Arthur Wellesley, was beginning to defeat his marshals who were fighting there. In France, his wars were much less popular than they had once been, because he was now calling up young boys, to feed his army’s need for soldiers. Pauline took little interest in politics, except in terms of supporting her brother. It was almost the only thing that she and Camillo agreed on. Mostly her lovers were artists, she seemed fond of musicians. She was also said to have had an affair with the famous Parisian actor Talma. Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow, and the defeats in Spain were the beginng of the end, and in 1814, he was forced to abdicate. He fled south and met with his sister – who refused to kiss him because he was wearing a foreign uniform, being in fear of his life from the mob. He had become so unpopular with the French people. Pauline’s best qualities were brought out by her brother’s’ fall. He had been generous to his family, albeit dictatorial.. However he had showered gifts and kingdoms on them, yet when the empire collapsed, most of them were mainly involved with saving their own skins. Josephine and her 2 children were more loyal to him than his own siblings were… Pauline and Letizia remained loyal and devoted. They moved to Elba when he was allowed to live there as its sovereign..and tried to comfort him for the loss of his title and powers. Letizia was not displeased by Elban exile.. It was an Island and she had never lost her affection for her native Corsica… Napoleon hoped to have his Austrian wife come and visit him, with their son, but MarieLouise soon lost interest in the husband she had been forced to wed – she began an affair with an Austrian nobleman, Adam von Neipperg. Napoleon relied on his Mother and sister for support and for a time busied himself with making various reforms in Elba. Pauline saw her brother leave the island however in early 1815, for his attempt to win back his empire... but it ended in failure and disaster at Waterloo. She had sold her Paris home, the Hotel de Charost, to the British government, and it was used by the Duke of Wellington. She then moved back to Italy, and devoted much of her time to trying to make Napoleon’s exile to St Helena more bearable. She settled in Rome, under the protection of the Pope, who was clearly fond of her. Her Mother also settled in Rome, and since the Bonaparte clan was banned from living in France, many of them chose to live in Italy. Pauline’s husband Camillo, moved away, to distance himself from her and he began an affair with a cousin of his. Pauline was still attractive but she was getting older and her health was worse. She had a few affairs, but much of her interest in life was trying to help her brother. She received many English visitors in her home, trying to use her charms to persuade the Whig aristocrats who were travelers in Italy, to make Napoleon’s life in St Helena more comfortable. Many for them had sympathized with his cause and did not want him to be too harshly treated. Her mother fell under the influence of a bogus mystic, who told her that Napoleon had escaped from St Helena and that the British were keeping this a secret. As a result, when the old lady had a chance to send a doctor and a cook to the far away island, she took no interest in whether the doctor was qualified…. because she believed he wasn’t actually there. Pauline fell out with her mother over this issue, and was angry that her brother did not have a good doctor….In 1821, Napoleon died, far from his family and France. Pauline was broken hearted. She had probably loved him more than anyone else in her life. She was fond of some of her many nieces and nephews and spent time with them, since she had no children of her own. Gradually, her health got worse….and she began to think about reconciliation with her husband. The Pope persuaded Camillo to return to his wife, in her last months. Camillo was reluctant but he saw the rightness of leaving his mistress to care for his wife and for her to die reconciled to him… She moved in with him. Their relationship was not unfriendly, and within 3 months Pauline died. She left a reputation as a scandalous but beautiful and charming woman…

Pauline Bonaparte Part III

Some of Pauline’s lovers were said to be nervous that if they attracted Napoleon’s attention, they would end up being sent on a military posting, to get them out of her way. She was seen as attractive, but selfish and shockingly promiscuous. She was often the one who made advances towards men, and that was considered scandalous and unfeminine.
Napoleon tried to get her to settle down as Camillo’s wife and a Roman society hostess, but Pauline disliked Rome… she increasingly disliked her husband. She was not especially clever, though she had a sharp tongue and a good deal of common sense… but Camillo was indeed a stupid man. She sneered at him, for his lack of intelligence or manly drive. She did have health problems, though she didn’t let them get in the way of her pleasure seeking. Flora Fraser her biographer notes that when she was in “spa” mode, she did dedicate herself to a quiet life, seeking rest and recuperation. Fraser also says that it is probably that she had gynecological problems after the birth of her son, when she was very young and that this may have left her with pelvic pain… which made her need to rest and not walk very far.. She probsbly had infections resulting from her sexual encounters… But Pauline was thoughtless and selfish in her treatment of many of her staff, showing an utter lack of concern for their dignity. Her exploits could be amusing, but she clearly considered that her desire for comfort, must take precedence over any inconvenience she caused to others. However she loved Napoleon dearly, and was close to him, even though there were at times issues and quarrels between them. Pauline like the rest of the Bonaparte clan was unkindly pleased when Napoleon finally decided that he had to divorce Josephine, to get an heir. She and the family had always hated the charming, beloved sweet natured Empress, who was much more popular with the people than they were. In the period before the divorce, Pauline was especially close to Napoleon at this stage (leading to rumors that he and she were actually lovers). She provided him with a mistress from one of her ladies, Christine de Mathis, and supported him, when he made plans to put his wife aside. However, she was ambivalent about Marie Louise, Josephine’s replacement.The new empress was not pretty but very young and fresh and Napoleon was very much attracted to her, though he still cared for his first wife. Pauline was not taken with her new sister in law, who was a Hapsburg Princess, descended from even grander ancestors than the Creole aristocrat Josephine. So this caused tension again between brother and sister…

Pauline Bonaparte Part II

Pauline Bonaparte Part I