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 may also have 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 found the will to decide 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 the ladies in her entourage, 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 greatly 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….