Long before she would become Empress of France, Joséphine de Beauharnais lived another life and even escaped death. Born on June 23, 1763 in Les-Trois-Ilets Martinique to a wealthy sugar plantation owning family. Marie-Josèphe-Rose as she was known before Napoleon was the eldest daughter but wasn’t the first to be married off. Her aunt Desirée was the mistress of Francois-Marquis de Beauharnais and as he became ill in order to help the family that's plantation had been heavily damaged in a hurricane she offered her youngest niece in marriage to his son. Catherine at just 12 years old would die before she could leave for France.
Joséphine in turn would take her sister's place and travel with her father to Paris. On December 13, 1779 in Noisy-le-Grand Joséphine would marry Alexandre de Beauharnais. It was a tough marriage from the start. Alexandre was frequently gone and spent days in brothels.Their first child, Eugene was born in 1781 and in 1806 a daughter, Hortense. With him being away so much he accused Joséphine of adultery and after a return from visiting family in Martinique he had her sent to the Penthemont Abbey.
Joséphine was able to appeal to the commissioner who sided with her and forced her release and for her husband to pay her a pension.
At the Revolution Alexandre was suspected of being an aristocratic sympathiser and was arrested and sent to prison. While they rarely spent time together Joséphine was also arrested.
Alexandre was sentenced to death and on July 23, 1794 he met the guillotine on the Place de la Revolution. Shortly after the fall of Robespierre, Joséphine was released and now a widow.
A year later on October 15, 1795 at a dinner party at the home of Paul Barras she was introduced to the young military officer, Napoleon Bonaparte. Instantly captivated by her, they would spend time together and while he was away on a campagne he would send endless letters filled with love, jealousy and infatuation. On March 9, 1779 at the l’Hotel de Mondragon the two would marry in a civil ceremony. Joséphine was the great love of his life, although they wouldn’t grow old together.
Josephine wasn’t the “only” empress of France, there was also Marie-Louise the second wife of Napoleon and Eugene, the wife of Napoléon III. However Josephine takes the cake as the best. A woman that held her own and made it through the Revolution and life after Napoleon. Can’t wait to do a few episodes of La Vie Creative - Paris History Avec a Hemingway all about this lovely lady.