What did Napoleon’s wives think of each other?

In September 1810, Napoleon advised Josephine that the new Empress was pregnant. It was suggested to Josephine that she leave Paris during Marie Louise’s confinement. Josephine was thus at Navarre on March 20, 1811, when the ringing of bells and booming of cannons announced the birth of Napoleon’s and Marie Louise’s son, the King of Rome. She wrote to Napoleon:

Amid the numerous felicitations you receive from every corner of Europe…can the feeble voice of a woman reach your ear, and will you deign to listen to her who so often consoled your sorrows and sweetened your pains, now that she speaks to you only of that happiness in which all your wishes are fulfilled! … I can conceive every emotion you must experience, as you divine all that I feel at this moment; and though separated, we are united by that sympathy which survives all events.
I should have desired to learn of the birth of the King of Rome from yourself, and not from the sound of the cannon of Evreux, or the courier of the prefect. I know, however, that in preference to all, your first attentions are due to the public authorities of the State, to the foreign ministers, to your family, and especially to the fortunate Princess who has realized your dearest hopes. She cannot be more tenderly devoted to you than I; but she has been enabled to contribute more toward your happiness by securing that of France. She has then a right to your first feelings, to all your cares; and I, who was but your companion in times of difficulty – I cannot ask more than a place in your affection far removed from that occupied by the Empress Maria Louisa. Not till you shall have ceased to watch by her bed, not till you are weary of embracing your son, will you take the pen to converse with your best friend – I will wait. (1)

Read all: shannonselin/what-did-napoleons-wives-think-of-each-other/ 

Letter of Napoleon to Josephine.

Marmirolo, July 17, 1796

I got your letter, my beloved; it has filled my heart with joy. I am grateful to you for the trouble you have taken to send me news; your health should be better to-day — I am sure you are cured. I urge your strongly to ride, which cannot fail to do your good. 

Ever since I left you, I have been sad. I am only happy when by your side. Ceaselessly I recall your kisses, your tears, your enchanting jealousy; and the charms of the incomparable Joséphine keep constantly alight a bright and burning flame in my heart and senses. When, free from every worry, from all business, shall I spend all my moments by your side, to have nothing to do but to love you, and to prove it to you? I shall send your horse, but I am hoping that you will soon be able to rejoin me. I thought I loved you some days ago; but, since I saw you, I feel that I love you even a thousand times more. Ever since I have known you, I worship you more every day; which proves who false is the maxim of La Bruyère that “Love comes all at once.” Everything in nature has a regular course, and different degrees of growth. 

Ah! pray let me see some of your faults; be less beautiful, less gracious, less tender, and, especially less kind; above all never be jealous, never weep; your tears madden me, fire my blood. Be sure that it is no longer possible for me to have a thought except for you, or an idea of which you shall not be the judge. 

Have a good rest. Haste to get well. Come and join me, so that, at least, before dying, we could say — “We were happy for so many days!!”

Millions of kisses, and even to Fortuné, in spite of his naughtiness.

Bonaparte

 

napolons-romantic-letters-to-josephine

 

Napoleon's English letter sells for over $400,000

A rare letter in English written by Napoleon Bonaparte - and filled with errors - has fetched 325,000 euros ($410,000) at auction in Paris.

The one-page letter, dated March 9, 1816, was penned by Napoleon during his post-Waterloo exile on the South Atlantic island of Saint Helena, and is one of just three known to be in existence, auction house Osenat said.

Addressed to the Count of Las Cases - Napoleon's companion in exile - the letter was acquired by the private Museum of Letters and Manuscripts in Paris and originally estimated to fetch just 60,000 to 80,000 euros.

In his "Memorial of Saint Helena", Las Cases wrote about how Napoleon began to correspond with him in English in order to practise the language of his jailers.

The Count also wrote in particular about the auctioned letter, saying: "The emperor did not sleep that night - during his insomnia, he decided to write me a new letter in English."

"He sent it sealed to me, I corrected his errors, and replied to him, in English also, by mail.

He shall land above seven day a ship from Europe that we shall give account from anything who this shall have been even to day of first January thousand eight hundred sixteen.

Napoleon Bonaparte's tentative grasp of English in a letter to the Count of Las Cases

"He understood the letter, and that convinced him of his progress and proved to him that he could, completely, correspond in his new language."

Despite Las Cases' encouraging words, Napoleon's writing required some guesswork.

For instance, in one passage, he wrote: "He shall land above seven day a ship from Europe that we shall give account from anything who this shall have been even to day of first January thousand eight hundred sixteen."

Napoleon was referring to a ship from Europe that would dock in seven days, bringing news on what had happened since January 1, 1816.

After his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, Napoleon was imprisoned and then exiled to Saint Helena, where he died in 1821 age 51. abc/news//napoleon-letter-sold-at-auction/

Lettres

Lettre d'Hortense de Beauharnais à son frère Eugène
16 juillet 1805 , Saint-Amand


Il y a quelques jours que je suis aux boues de Saint-Amand, mon cher Eugène ; c'est un pays bien triste ; je n'ai avec moi que Mlle Cochelet et Mlle de Mornay, qui est sous-gouvernante. J'espère qu'Adèle viendra bientôt, mais, comme l'Impératrice est de retour, j'ai bien peur qu'Eglé aille tout droit à Paris et peut-être à Plombières avec maman.


Le général Belliard doit venir prendre les boues ici ; dis-moi franchement ce que tu penses de lui, car je sais qu'il pense un peu à Adèle, quoiqu'il lui ait beaucoup déplu l'hiver dernier. J'espère qu'en le voyant de plus près, elle se déciderait peut-être à l'épouser. Il est temps du moins qu'elle se marie ; j'avais pensé au général Bertrand, mais je ne sais pas quelles sont ses intentions.


L'Empereur a écrit hier à Louis ; il le charge de me dire que tu te portes bien, que tu travailles beaucoup, mais qu'il faut que je t'écrive des lettres gaies et non pas tristes. Est-ce qu'il aurait vu mes lettres ? Dis-moi, je t'en prie, pourquoi il m'a fait dire cela.


Je voudrais aussi te recommander ce pauvre M. Beaufond qui est bien malheureux. Louis lui donnait trois mille francs par an, mais c'était bien peu pour vivre à Paris avec son petit ménage ; si tu pouvais lui faire avoir une petite place, soit même de concierge, dans une des maisons royales, avec les mêmes appointements et logé il serait fort heureux.


Adieu, mon cher Eugène ; malgré tes grandes occupations, tâche, je te prie, de trouver un petit moment pour m'écrire.


Donne-moi un peu le détail de ta journée ; quand je penserai à toi, que je saches au moins où tu te trouves.


Hortense
P.S. Napoléon t'embrasse


charles-de-flahaut.fr/lettres/Hortense/

Napoleon Bonaparte to Josephine De Beauharnais Paris, December 1795

I wake filled with thoughts of you. Your portrait and the intoxicating evening which we spent yesterday have left my senses in turmoil.
Sweet incomparable Josephine, what a strange effect you have on my heart!
Are you angry?
Do I see you looking sad? Are you worried? ...
My soul aches with sorrow, and there can be no rest for your lover; but is there still more in store for me when, yielding to the profound feelings which overwhelm me, I draw from your lips, from your heart a love which consumes me with fire? Ah! it was last night that I fully realized how false an image of you your portrait gives!
You are leaving at noon; I shall see you in three hours.
Until then, mio dolce amor, a thousand kisses; but give me none in return, for they set my blood on fire.

Bonaparte