Josephine went to live in a pleasant convent... where she received some training and education in the social graces. Alexandre continued his own life with mistresses... He had custody of their son Eugene but Josephine who was a most devoted mother, had Hortense.
He was sympathetic like many young upper class men, to the French revolution, favouring liberal ideas and the cause of moderate reform.
Josephine was never political but she sympathised with her husband’s ideas. Alexandre was part of the Revolutionary army. However as time went on, aristocrats came under suspicion from the more radical revolutionaries. He was suspected of not having defended Mainz in 1793 and was arrested and executed. Josephine, in spite of her liberal sympathies, was also arrested and spent time in prison. She narrowly escaped execution during the Reign of Terror but when Robespierre died, she was freed with many other aristocratic prisoners. In 1794, she resumed her old social life, with her children and tried to have her husband’s properties restored to her. However she had few resources other than her looks and charm and social skills…. and she had 2 children to support.
She took a few lovers and acted as hostess and Mistress to
Paul Barras, an important figure in the Directorate which ruled France.. and a
man of large fortune. Barras kept her
and she used her social experience to host his parties. However Josephine was always extravagant and frivolous...and
Barras was tiring of her. She embarked
on an affair with a young general, Napoleon Bonaparte, who was 6 years her
junior and who was showing signs of being a military genius.
Barras gave the young man the command of the armies of Italy, hoping that he would win victories which would shore up the shaky Directorate. Napoleon was passionately in love with Josephine and wanted to marry her, in spite of her shady past, her children, and her age. He knew that his mother would not approve of his marrying a widow some year his senior but he was so in love that he hastened into marriage.
Barras gave the young man the command of the armies of Italy, hoping that he would win victories which would shore up the shaky Directorate. Napoleon was passionately in love with Josephine and wanted to marry her, in spite of her shady past, her children, and her age. He knew that his mother would not approve of his marrying a widow some year his senior but he was so in love that he hastened into marriage.
No comments:
Post a Comment