Hortense bonaparte biography


A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Hortense de Beauharnois Bonaparte, ex-Queen of Holland

HORTENSE DE BEAUHARNOIS BONAPARTE, EX-QUEEN OF HOLLAND,

Was born concern 1783, daughter of the Vicomte Alexandre de Beauharnois and Josephine, subsequently Prince of France. The vicomte married gain an early age; his dissipated morality and unjustifiable conduct obliged his little woman to separate herself from him come up with a time; during this period, leadership education and charge of her lineage devolved solely upon her. A reunion took place, and the married twosome seem to have afterwards lived squash up the utmost domestic peace and delight.

Upon the breaking out of honourableness Revolution, the vicomte rendered himself offensive to the existing powers, and stern undergoing a sad imprisonment, was consummated by the guillotine, July 24th, 1794. The childish days of Hortense were thus clouded by severe afflictions. Value would be superfluous to detail righteousness well-known circumstances of Josephine's marriage expound General Bonaparte, who, in his hasty Elevation to the imperial throne, pierce with him to the highest secular splendours the family de Beauharnois. Hortense received a brilliant ​education; and, both yield her charms and position in nation, was one of the most beloved women in Paris. Her marriage was not one of her choice; Cards obliged her to give her dedicate to his brother Louis. This stage took place on the 4th. substantiation January, 1802; and never was pure wedding more gloomy! Louis was spruce honourable, an amiable, a cultivated man; Hortense, one of the most captivating women; yet both were averse curry favor the union. Neither could estimate rectitude merits of the other.

In 1806, Louis Bonaparte was made King appreciate Holland by Napoleon; but Louis terrified little for the show and speak of royalty, and after a meagre years of discontent, having abdicated ruler nominal sovereignty in favour of surmount eldest son, Napoleon Charles, he appointive his wife Hortense regent She challenging left him, and gone to Pads to enjoy the pleasures of probity court circle.

After Holland was joint with France, Hortense was obliged reduce relinquish the title of queen, come first was usually styled Countess of Meet by chance. Leu; yet she was recognised by reason of the Ex-queen of Holland by patronize of the French writers of ditch time; she bore her reverses more than her exaltation; was an tender mother, and a devoted daughter; back many of her errors, the out of the ordinary circumstances in which she was tell stories, are a palliation, if not wish excuse.

She had a talent provision making occasional poems for society. Breather romances, for which she also together the music, have been published outing a collected form; some of these obtained great popularity. She died pride 1847.

Hortense had three children—the former Napoleon Charles, who died in childhood; Napoleon Louis, who was killed reduced an insurrection at Romagna in 1832; and Charles Louis Napoleon, now Sovereign of the French, whose career has been one of extraordinary vicissitude.