Her father was a Polish nobleman, Count Mathieu (Mateusz) Łączyński, a landowner. He was a soldier... and he participated in the Battle of Maciejowice, where he was seriously, mortally wounded. A year later, their part of Poland was incorporated into Russia. Poland was a tragic country which had often been fought over, over the centuries, but the Poles were usually fanatic patriots and did not relish becoming part of the Russian Empire, harsh treatment by Russia, and their country disappearing off the map which was what happened…
Marie grew up in this atmosphere, and was an ardent patriot.
She was very
beautiful, and in 1805 at the age of 18 she married Athenasius, Count
Colonna-Walewski. He was a wealthy man
but much older than his bride.
They had a son, Antoni Rudolf Bazyli Colonna-Walewski. About a year after her marriage she met Napoleon when he was travelling to Warsaw. He was struck by her beauty. She claimed later, that her only interest in meeting with him was patriotic... that he could restore the independence of Poland. They met again at a ball in Warsaw and Napoleon tried to seduce her, hinting that he would think more favourably of her country, if she were to return his love and become his mistress. Marie claimed that she was pressured by Polish aristocrats who hoped they could use her to secure promises from Napoleon, and also by Napoleon’s aide General Duroc. She was a virtuous young woman and although she had probably not chosen to marry her elderly husband, she wanted to be faithful to him. However she did allow Napoleon to be become her lover though she did portray it as at first a virtually forced affair.
This was probably due to the public morals of the time... that she could not admit to taking a lover because she loved or desired him nor could she admit to doing so because of any kind of ambitious or pecuniary reasons. She was not a courtesan; she was a young woman of noble birth, who had had a very religious upbringing. But it is probably nearer the truth that she genuinely fell in love with Napoleon...Albeit she did hope to influence him about the fate of Poland. He was a charismatic and intriguing figure... and admired as a great soldier and statesman.
They had a son, Antoni Rudolf Bazyli Colonna-Walewski. About a year after her marriage she met Napoleon when he was travelling to Warsaw. He was struck by her beauty. She claimed later, that her only interest in meeting with him was patriotic... that he could restore the independence of Poland. They met again at a ball in Warsaw and Napoleon tried to seduce her, hinting that he would think more favourably of her country, if she were to return his love and become his mistress. Marie claimed that she was pressured by Polish aristocrats who hoped they could use her to secure promises from Napoleon, and also by Napoleon’s aide General Duroc. She was a virtuous young woman and although she had probably not chosen to marry her elderly husband, she wanted to be faithful to him. However she did allow Napoleon to be become her lover though she did portray it as at first a virtually forced affair.
This was probably due to the public morals of the time... that she could not admit to taking a lover because she loved or desired him nor could she admit to doing so because of any kind of ambitious or pecuniary reasons. She was not a courtesan; she was a young woman of noble birth, who had had a very religious upbringing. But it is probably nearer the truth that she genuinely fell in love with Napoleon...Albeit she did hope to influence him about the fate of Poland. He was a charismatic and intriguing figure... and admired as a great soldier and statesman.
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