Napoleon and Josephine

Napoleon’s next command was in Egypt.  He had to leave Josephine behind but took with him her son Eugene who was now a young soldier. Josephine had bought a chateau called Malmaison, just outside Paris... which she loved and where she spent a fortune. She adored flowers and gardens and wanted to make the garden a place for growing roses. Napoleon was still a devoted loving husband. He tolerated Josephine’s socialising and spending and his only real grievance was that she had not had a child..She kept up her affair with Hippolyte Charles who had left the army and made a fortune in somewhat dubious business dealings. She became increasingly indiscreet – seeing Charles at Malmaison where they were almost living as husband and wife. Finally rumours of the affair reached the British press and spread to Egypt. Napoleon who was winning great victories in his campaign was told of his wife’s infidelity. He still had political ambitions as well as military ones and wanted to go home to France to end his marriage and pursue his political career. However, it was not easy to break the British blockade and get back to France. So initially he found himself a mistress, a French officer’s wife called Pauline Foures. Napoleon sent her husband on a mission and embarked on very public affair with her. However he was more interested in returning to France, and overthrowing the unpopular Directorate.