Pauline Bonaparte

PAULINE BONAPARTE

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Pauline Bonaparte’s journey from rags to riches, would not have been possible without her older brother Napoleon.

Born a commoner from Corsica on 20th October 1780, Pauline could a famous French actor among her lovers, bathed in milk baths, and married a wealthy Italian Prince.

Known for her beauty, impulsiveness and frivolity, Pauline loved Napoleon and was the least demanding of his siblings.

Pauline was 11 years younger than Napoleon, but the two of them were very close.

Napoleon later said, that he and Pauline had been the spoiled children of the family.

Pauline received no formal education and had zero intellectual leanings.

Her interests were purely frivolous.

She was a great flirt, and took enormous pride in her appearance, particularly her pale skin and lovely hands and feet.

Pauline was in love with herself, and her only occupation was pleasure.

On 14th June 1797, Pauline married Victoire Leclerc, a French officer, Napoleon arranged the marriage for her.

Pauline gave birth to a son Dermide, on 20th April 1798.

In 1801, Napoleon appointed Leclerc the Governor-General of Saint-Domingue (present-day Haiti) and sent him to put down a rebellion there.

Pauline packed up her things, and with their son, she accompanied her husband to Saint~Domingue.

Though Pauline was not pleased about living so far from Europe, she made the best of it.

She started off by taking numerous lovers, and started a menagerie of native animals.

While there, the entire family became ill with Yellow Fever.

Pauline's husband Leclerc, died on 2nd November 1802.

Pauline and Dermide returned to France with his remains.

Napoleon found Pauline another husband in the form of Prince Camillo Borghese, a wealthy Roman nobleman.

Camillo turned out to be as shallow and feckless as Pauline was. They married on 28th August 1803.

Pauline’s apparent disdain for her husband and infidelity, did not go down well with the Romans.

Napoleon wrote to his sister~

Madame and Dear Sister,

I have learned with pain that you have not the good sense to conform to the manners and customs of the city of Rome; that you show contempt for the inhabitants, and that your eyes are unceasingly turned towards Paris.

Although occupied with vast affairs I nevertheless desire to make known my wishes, and I hope that you will conform to them.

Love your husband and his family, be amiable, accustom yourself to the usages of Rome, and put this in your head, that if you follow bad advice you will no longer be able to count upon me.

You may be sure that you will find no support in Paris, and that I shall never receive you there without your husband.

If you quarrel with him it will be your fault, and France will be closed to you.

You will sacrifice your happiness and my esteem!

Pauline did not have a happy marriage, but stayed in it at Napoleon’s insistence.

In 1804, Pauline’s health was beginning to trouble her.

Camillo suggested that they visit the baths of Pisa.

Pauline wanted to bring Dermide, but her husband advised against it.

Instead the six-year-old stayed with Camillo’s brother.

On 14th August 1804, in Pauline’s absence, the boy died of fever and convulsions.

Pauline blamed Camillo for Dermide’s death.

Though the two remained married, they lived separately.

When Napoleon was exiled to Elba in 1814, Pauline joined him there.

She was the only one of Napoleon’s siblings to do so, and she soon became the life and soul of Napoleon's entourage.

After Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, Pauline moved to Rome.

In Rome, Pauline acquired a villa, dubbed the Villa Paolina, which is now the French Embassy to the Holy See.

She had the building and gardens extensively renovated.

The Villa became renowned for Pauline’s hospitality, taste and splendour.

She received many distinguished visitors and every week played hostess to a spectacular ball, concert, soiree or play.

In 1824, Pauline's health had got so bad, she returned to her husband Camillo Borghese.

Camillo had been living with his mistress in Florence, but aggreed to take her back.

Pauline spent her final months with her husband, dying on the 9th June 1825, at the age of 44.

The cause of death was given as a tumor on the stomach.

Pauline Bonaparte Borghese is buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.

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https://shannonselin.com/2014/03/pauline-bonaparte/

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https://ko-fi.com/thetudorintruders

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Pauline Bonaparte 1803~Portrait by Robert Lefèvre.