History Notes - Hortense de Beauharnais Bonaparte


Hortense de Beauharnais Bonaparte, 1783 - 1837
HORTENSE DE BEAUHARNAIS BONAPARTE
1783 - 1837
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Hortense was Josephine's daughter from her first husband Alexandre. Napoleon I took her under his wing as his stepdaughter.

To show her gratitude AND get some mileage out of it herself AND because Mother Josephine thought it was a good idea, Hortense married Napoleon I's brother Louis Bonaparte. That was in 1802.

The marriage didn't work for her, though, and Louis and Hortense tried to get divorced, which was a bit tricky being king and queen of Holland and all. At last, in 1810 Napoleon dropped the pretense and simply annexed Holland. Hortense and Louis were free to go their separate ways.

In Hortense's case the way led straight into the arms of one Comte de Flahaut. Flahaut's full name was Auguste-Charles-Joseph, comte de Flahaut de la Billarderie. Flahaut's pastime was women.


HORTENSE'S OFFSPRING
Louis and Hortense had three children. Child number three was Charles-Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte aka Napoleon III.

With Flahaut, Hortense had one son, Charles-Auguste-Louis-Joseph, who later became Duc de Morny.

 

 

 


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