***FAMILY***
My mother, Rose Claire des Vergers de Sannois, belonged to one of the oldest and wealthiest Sugar/Slave Plantation Dynasties in Martinique (French Caribbean). The Vergers de Sannois were a French family of ancient nobility whose pedigree could be traced back to the XI century.
My father Joseph's lineage was not less impressive:The Tascher de La Pagerie were titled as Barons and Lords, and were traceable as far back as the XII century.My father was the official page to the Dauphine Marie Josephe de Saxe(Louis XVI's mother) at Versailles, position given only to members of the highest Aristocracy.So my parents married and gave birth to me, their eldest daughter, Marie Josephe Rose Tascher de La Pagerie on June 23 1763.We established ourselves at the newly named plantation of la Pagerie.
The ruins of the plantation have been turned into a small museum dedicated to me.The original wooden house has been lost thanks to hurricanes, this is what remains of the kitchen area:
***CHILDHOOD***
The lush tropical vegetation and the turquoise waters of the Caribbean sea made La Pagerie a magical place. Our plantation was enormous.It was comparable to a Kingdom in which I was treated and raised like a princess.I was brought up by my mulatto nurse, Marion.But this dreamlike existence would change after the 1766 hurricane which ravaged our island.The rage of this hurricane destroyed all the sugar plantations in Martinique.Over 440 people were killed and our house virtually disappeared.It would take years for the Plantation to recover thanks to my father's inertia.6 months later, my beloved grandfather de Sannois died of grief.
Still I would go bathe at the beach with Marion, my sisters and my slave playmates: Maximin, Timedas and Boccoyo.We would also play in rivers, explore the Rainforest, and observe exotic animals and insects of all sorts.In 1773, my parents sent me to school in Fort Royal."Les Filles de La Providence" taught me basic Arithmetic, Geography, History and Drawing.
I graduated in 1777.That same year I went to visit a VOODOO sorceress named Euphemee David."You will be more than Queen", she said. Little did I know that my father's sister in France, Aunt Edmee, was already concocting my first marriage contract.
***MARRIAGE TO ALEXANDRE***
Aunt Edmee had had a 20 year love affair with the The Marquis de Beauharnais.Yet, Beauharnais was married and had a son named Alexandre.
Edmee moved with the Marquis in Paris causing public scandal among French nobility.She wanted to marry her "stepson" Alexandre within her family so she could enjoy financial stability.After arduous negotiations, I was engaged at merely 15 years of age.
I became instantly infatuated with Alexandre: he was tall, blond, muscular, elegant and sophisticated young man. We married in Paris on December 13 and we moved to the house Aunt Edmee shared with my new father in law.I became the Viscountess de Beauharnais.Here is a portrait of him:
.
Marriage was a disaster. Alexandre wouldn't take me to the famous balls in Paris because "I was too simple". In fact, he was too busy chasing after older women at Versailles. I became incredibly jealous. He told me he loved me dearly and complained about my "mistreatment" of him confusing me further.I was the most miserable teenager in Paris!
By 1783 he went to Martinique to fight on the Franco-American side against Britain, and to follow Laure de Longpre, a trollop 11 years older than him.I stopped writing to him altogether.
I gave Alexander two children : Eugene and Hortense. They became my reason to live.
***SEPARATION AND REBIRTH***
Fed up with Alexandre's histrionics and humiliations, I left him and went to live at the Panthemont convent with the children.I demanded legal separation from him.The convent worked as a luxurious temporary retirement house for ladies of the best society.There I was taught how to talk, dress, move, and act like a true high society Parisian. My separation came out in 1785. I was free, stylish, sophisticated and beautiful at only 21 years old.
In 1785 I moved to a house near the Fontainebleau forest with aunt Edmee and the Marquis.
I quickly built a new circle of friends which enabled me to participate in exclusive salons, the opera, and many masked balls. I started to shine as a socialite.The 1780's were a time of hope for the future.Like most aristocrats outside of Versailles, I became a firm believer in a Constitutional Monarchy.Financing the American Revolution had drained France's treasury and the financial crisis was beyond control.
***THE HORRORS OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION***
Indeed, most influential people were convinced that a Constitutional Monarchy was the solution to France's problems.Even Alexandre became president of the National Assembly.After the Royal family's failed escape to Varennes, people didn't want a King anymore, they wanted a Republic. Events escalated in such a way that Saint Just and Robespierre created The Committee of Public Safety which beheaded everyone suspected of treason. In 1793 hundreds of executions and massacres took place on daily basis; Alexandre was arrested accused of "being a noble and a traitor".Here I am visiting Alexandre in prison with Eugene and Hortense:
I decided to take a risk so I became a spy.Thanks to my connections among revolutionaries such as Charlotte Robespierre, I would inform fellow aristocrats of future arrests so they could escape.Unfortunately I was caught and arrested in 1794.
I ended up in Les Carmes, a prison of the most horrible conditions, accused of "treason".
At Les Carmes I encountered my husband Alexandre and old friends like the German prince of Salm Salm.I also met the love of my life: the general Hoche.Hoche gave me the strength to survive those terrible months.We never consummated our love for he was married and we were constantly under watch. Alexandre was executed on July 23 1794.His execution broke my heart; he was after all the father of my children.I knew I was next in the line of execution.My children came to see me constantly.I would cry every time their little blond heads left my cell!Here is an engraving depicting me receiving a visit from my children:
***THERMIDOR & DIRECTORY***
Meanwhile, Barras, Fouche, and my friend Tallien orchestrated a coup sending Robespierre and Saint Just to the guillotine.I was saved for the executions were over! However, like everyone after La Terreur, I found myself penniless as soon as I left prison. Eventually I was able to claim Alexandre's inheritance which allowed me to live with some decor.I placed my children's education in hands of Madame Campan, former lady of Marie Antoinette.
Paris after La Terreur was invaded by people seeking for all kinds of pleasures; from prostitution to masked balls.Aristocrats regained their place in society.I found myself at the epicenter of this social rebirth: My connections allowed me to resume my role as an important Parisian socialite. I became close friends with Theresa Tallien, a Spanish aristocrat.Together with Madame Recamier and Madame Hamelin we became glamorous trend setters giving fashion a new form of sophisticated life. We were called "Les Merveilleuses" (The Marvelous Ones).Here is an image representing our style:
In 1795 the Directoire was established. Out of the 5 Directors Paul Barras was the most powerful.I started a romantic relationship with him but Barras was married and he refused to divorce his wife.We broke up but we remained friends.
During a soiree, he introduced me to Napoleone Buonaparte, a Corsican in the Military.Socially awkward but with a handsome face. He fell madly in love with me.Barras advised me to marry him.I knew I was marrying beneath me since his family was of dubious nobility. Nevertheless, I was scared I would end up old and without a source of income. So I reluctantly married the little general on march 9 1796.Here I am on the right in a drawing depicting that fateful day:
***MARRIED TO BONAPART***
Napoleon set off to conquer Italy.From the battle field he sent me the most romantic and passionate love letters of the 18th century.I had a fling with the handsome Hipollyte Charles since I was unsure about my marriage.It would be the only time I cheated on my husband.Napoleon insisted that I should join him in Italy, to which I regrettably agreed. I almost got killed by Austrian shooters but I bravely continued my journey.
Napoleon intended to sign a peace treaty with Austria after his victory.The Austrian envoye, Cobenzl, chose to negotiate with me instead for Napoleon had no diplomatic skills. My powers of persuasion and manipulation allowed Napoleon to sign a profitable treaty.
Back in Paris 1797, we were huge celebrities.Napoleon decided to conquer Egypt. He needed money and the Directory's permission.
I used my political influences so Napoleon could get the money to conquer Egypt.There, he heard rumors of my liaison with Charles.He was furious and took a mistress, a 20 year old blond trollop called Pauline Foures.I was so outraged by this that I bought a manor in the country side called Malmaison:
This simple manor would become one of the most elegant residences in Europe thanks to me.
In 1799 Napoleon came back to France as a hero and determined to divorce me.The disgustingly awful Bonapartes convinced him to get rid of me. I was sick of this revolting family but I needed financial stability, so I went to see him and I convinced him to take me back. My political influences, my diplomatic skills and my elegant ways proved very useful to him. We began a new friendship based on common interest.
***BRUMAIRE & CONSULATE***
Plans of a coup d'etat against the Directoire were taking shape. Fouche, Talleyrand, my husband and I orchestrated the end of the Directoire in order to place Napoleon as head of State.Thanks to my networking we managed to outwit everyone.In total control of the Army, Napoleon dissolved the Directory on November 9 1799 and established a new government called the "Consulate".He was of course first Consul with the overwhelming approval of the populace.We betrayed Barrass by forcing him to sign his resignation. Here I am as wife of the First Consul:
The Consulate provided France with years of stability.Napoleon's victories against the Austrian- English- Russian coalition increased our popularity even further.Yet, the possibility of the emmigres (Aristrocrats who fled France during the Revolution) attacking France was too big.Napoleon gave me the mission to negotiate their return. I managed to bring over 40,000 Aristocrats back to the country, Aristocrats who became my fervent allies. It was a triumph for me and I was happy to see old familiar faces come back home, such as Alexandre's older brother.
To reaffirm his power against royalists, Napoleon decided to declare himself Emperor of the French, making me his Empress.
***EMPRESS OF HEARTS***
So I was crowned Empress of all France on May 18 1804.
Thanks to my knowledge of Ancien Regime etiquette, The Imperial French Court became the most dazzling Court in Europe.France hadn't seen all this splendor and ceremonial glamour since the days of Louis XIV.
As Empress, I became known for my multiple charity works, my approachability, and my overwhelming generosity. Countless people came to me for aid, looking for money, jobs, or to have a death sentence revoked.I became completely adored by every sector of French society.Indeed, it was the first time a female ruler counted with such popularity amongst the French since the days of Queen Marie Leczynska. I also became a symbol of class and elegance, my hair and clothing style were copied by everyone in Europe.Additionally, I fulfilled my role of Empress flawlessly, appearing in public events and gaining more allies for my husband.
Nonetheless, Napoleon had already brought up the question of divorce since he was in desperate need of an heir.The Bonapartes tried to convince him to divorce me so he could marry a younger fertile wife.I skillfully manipulated him into forgetting about it.I played the role of the submissive wife so he would realize what an asset I was as a consort.Yet, by that time he had turned into an rude and hateful man, abusing and humiliating courtiers on daily basis.Even though I cared for him deeply I started to fear him and even loath him.He had become a tyrant and I was getting tired of his rude manners...
***LE DIVORCE***
By 1808, Napoleon's Polish harlot, Marie Walewska, became pregnant. This gave him green light to divorce me because it "proved" he could breed. My children, Eugene and Hortense, tired of Napoleon's abusive ways, encouraged me to accept his divorce proposition. Here is a drawing of me signing the divorce papers:
The divorce turned the already unpopular Napoleon into a "heartless ogre" in the eyes of the public opinion.I was France's darling Empress .People saw me as some sort of magic talisman that had brought prosperity to France for the last 13 years.They called me their "Lady Victory" and they didn't see it fair for Napoleon to get a new Empress.My pragmatism manifested itself when I quickly formulated a divorce settlement in which I held the title of "Empress", was to be given a more than handsome yearly allowance, and my children would count with Napoleon's protection for life. All terms were accepted by my husband. On my way to Malmaison from the Tuileries, I felt nostalgic and sad but also relieved!
***SECLUSION AND GLORY***
People from court visited me in great number, but others betrayed like Madame Ney and Madame Remusat.I didn't care for I never had problems making new friends.
I dedicated myself to work on my beautiful garden at Malmaison where I would have small music concerts, plays, dinner parties and balls.I became an important art collector in my time thanks to my ex husband's financing.At 48, I had maintained the freshness of my skin but according to Napoleon during one of his visits I was as "plump and pink as a Normandy farmer's wife".
The new Empress Marie Louise was rejected by the populace and she grew very jealous of me without even knowing me.By 1813 Napoleon's Empire began to crumble.The Bonapartes proved to be extremely incompetent and corrupted leaders. Enemy troops were in France. Again, I felt afraid for the fate of my family but Tsar Alexander asked to see me at Malmaison.Here is a painting from 1867 depicting Tsar Alexander, my family and I:
Once again I managed to charm and seduce the enemy.We became good friends and Alexander offered me to protect Hortense, Eugene and my grand children.He would come visit me for concerts and dinners on daily basis. Pretty soon all the enemies of my ex husband came to see me offering me their protection and to enjoy the many pleasures of Malmaison.
One day while walking in the Malmaison gardens with my friend Tsar Alexander I started to feel ill.The next day I had to remain in bed :
I had a strong fever, my body was covered in blisters and I had difficulty breathing.The back of my mouth turned black and my tongue got swollen.I died on May 29, 1814, aged 50.Doctors weren't able to determine the cause of my death which started rumors of poison.Over 20000 people came to pay final respects to their "Lady Victory", and I was given Imperial funerals by Louis XVIII.