#carlo bonaparte

[othmeralia]

I love a good provenance in the morning! This manuscript is Codicillus (approx. 1470-1500), an early text from the Pseudo-Lullian alchemical corpus assembled before the 16th century. The work is signed by Carlo Maria Bonaparte on the first leaf shown above. The work was possibly owned by Carlo Maria Buonaparte (1746-1785), father of the Emperor, Napoleon, as is suggested by his signature located on the work's flyleaf.

The text is presented as a compendium of the secrets of nature. The opening chapters discuss the relationship between the micro and macrocosm, the bond of love uniting the world, and the need for reformatiomateriae (a reformation of matter that can be achieved by the true alchemist who receives illumination from God). A practical section begins in chapter twelve and includes a detailed discussion of the four stages of the alchemical opus, described in terms of the generation of the human body.

[empirearchives]

I found this rare portrait of Napoleon’s father, Carlo Buonaparte

Here is a description of Carlo from Comte Colchen. The writer saw him when he traveled to Ajaccio and met the Buonaparte family in 1778:

Monsieur Buonaparte was tall, with a beautiful and noble face, whose features were recognized in those of all his sons, except Louis. He had an active and restless mind, but was gentle in his manners. He was much in the company of the French. The Comte de Beaumanoir, then field marshal commanding the province and residing at Ajaccio, had a liking for him and his family; and often had the Buonaparte children at his house—that is, Elisa, Joseph, and Napoleon.

Quote Source: “Robespierre et les Bonaparte vus par le comte Colchen.” Hugues de Montbas. Revue des Deux Mondes (1829-1971). 15 Semptember 1952, pp. 326-338

Pic source: The Age of Napoleon. J. Christopher Herold.

[duchesssoflennox]

EIGHT SURVIVING CHILDREN OF CARLO AND LETIZIA BONAPARTE, SIBLINGS OF NAPOLEON I 🥺🌟♥️

254 years ago on this day, Napoleon Bonaparte, the first French emperor was born

On the occasion of his birthday, meet the Eight surviving children of Carlo and Letizia Bonaparte, who lived to adulthood

Letizia Bonaparte gave birth to 13 children between 1768 and 1784; five of them died, two at birth and three in their infancy...😥🥀

Among the 13 children, the first child who died was Napoleone Buonaparte, who was born on August 17, 1765 and died on the same day... The last child to die was Jérôme Bonaparte, who died 95 years after his eldest brother...

The registered names of all the children of Carlo and Letizia Bonaparte:

• Napoleone Buonaparte (born and died 17 August 1765)

• Maria Anna Buonaparte (3 January 1767 – 1 January 1768)

• Joseph Bonaparte (7 January 1768 – 28 July 1844)

• Napoleon Bonaparte (Later French emperor) (15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821)

• Maria Anna Buonaparte (14 July 1771 – 23 November 1771)

• A stillborn child (1773)

• Lucien Bonaparte (21 March 1775 – 29 June 1840)

• Maria Anna (Elisa) Bonaparte (3 January 1777 – 7 August 1820)

• Louis Bonaparte (2 September 1778 – 25 July 1846)

• Pauline Bonaparte (20 October 1780 – 9 June 1825)

• Caroline Bonaparte (25 March 1782 – 18 May 1839)

• Jérôme Bonaparte (15 November 1784 – 24 June 1860)

[ic-napology]

Does someone please have something about sources and better insight about Carlo Andrea Pozzo di Borgo?

I feel he's an underrated character, while he's the correspondant of Talleyrand and Fouché but in many Coalition countries, and he's even got this huge potential as an archi-nemesis character, but that's how far my knowledge about him goes.

Thanks! ✨️

[napoleonbonaparte4ever]

Carlo "Charles" Bonaparte, the father of Napoleon I. When looking at these old artistic representations, you can truly see where Napoleon got his dilfness from.

He died at age 37,of the same illness that whould take his sons life 40 years later.

[roehenstart]

Posthumous portrait of Charles Marie Bonaparte (1746-1786) by Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson.

[gogmstuff]

Maria-Letizia Bonaparte in early Victorian dress

Top:  1858 Maria-Letizia Bonaparte-Wyse by Carlo Garacci (Musée Masséna - Nice, Alpes-Maritimes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France). From the Lost Gallery's photostream on flickr 2490X3113 @180 1.8Mj.

Second row left:  1860 (?) Marie Studolmine Laetitia Bonaparte-Wyse by Disdéri. From rocaille.it/mariae-letizia-studolmina-wyse-rattazzi/; removed print with Photoshop, removed mono-color tint, and enlarged by one quarter 570X743 @96 127kj.

Second row right:  1863 Very retouched picture of Maria Letizia and Urbano Rattazzi on their wedding day. From rocaille.it/mariae-letizia-studolmina-wyse-rattazzi/; removed print with Photoshop and removed mono-color tint 580X1020 @72 270kj.

Second large image:  1867 Laetitia Marie Wyse Bonaparte by Disdéri. From Wikinedia; removed more obvious spots and wrinkles with Photoshop 963X1574 @72 821kj.

Fourth row left:  1866 Maria Rattazzi in Florence. From rocaille.it/mariae-letizia-studolmina-wyse-rattazzi/; removed print with Photoshop and removed mono-color tint 680X1010 @72 340kj.

Fourth row right:  Maria Laeticia by ?. From rocaille.it/mariae-letizia-studolmina-wyse-rattazzi/; removed print with Photoshop and removed mono-color tint 565X827 @75 186kj.

Fifth row left:  Marie-Lætitia Bonaparte-Wyse by Henri Le Lieure. From Wikimedia; removed more obvious spots and wrinkles with Photoshop 1105X1652 @72 987kj.

Fifth row right:  1871 (before) Princesse Laetitia Bonaparte, Lady Thomas Wyse by Disderi & Cie. From Wikimedia; removed more obvious spots with Photoshop 829X1358 @300 439kj

[enalfersa]

1808: Bailén

[josefavomjaaga]

Hi Josefa I hope u're doing well and I hope u had a great holiday season!!! c:

I was wondering if you could tell me anything about Eugène in relation to Jerôme Bonaparte? Since they are quite close in age with Jerôme being younger, I was wondering if they had any relationship to one another, and what they thought of each other. I remember hearing about Jerôme being jealous of Eugène for what he perceived as "receiving special treatment" and being prioritized over him by Napoleon, but there weren't any specific sources linked to this statement and I don't know if there is any credence to it 🤔, Yaggy recommended that I should ask u about it because u know a lot about Eugène ^-^

Thank you, @flowwochair, and all best wishes to you, too. May 2024 have nothing but flowers for you!

Your question reminds me of the looong list of unanswered Asks! in my inbox, and that one of my new year's resolutions was to finally get to them. What can I say? I've never been good with that resolution thingie.

Might as well start with yours.

From what I have read, Jérôme Bonaparte and Eugène Beauharnais originally got along rather fine. They actually went to the same school for some time, the "Collège des Irlandais", and it's quite likely that Bonaparte sent his younger brother to this institution because Josephine's son was also there.

If you remember the timeline for Jérôme's naval career that I once put together for you (please scroll way, way down, it's in one of the reblogs 😊), the author also said a bit about Jérôme's school education. Apparently the two boys, Eugène 15 and Jérôme 12 years old, both lived in that boarding school from January 1796 to April 1797. That means, during the time when both Jérôme's older brother Napoleon and Eugène's mother Josephine were away in Italy.

With regards to Jérôme, I feel like it's also interesting to note that when Joseph and Napoleon left for France in 1779, the three youngest Bonaparte siblings Pauline, Caroline and Jérôme had not even been born yet. And Carlo died a short time after Jérôme's birth. I'm pretty sure the two older brothers felt more like father figures with regards to these siblings.

So, Eugène and Jérôme both had Napoleon as the not-quite-father in their life.

Françoise de Bernardy in her biography of Eugène cites a long letter from Jérôme to Eugène from 26 December 1796, that shows him in best spirits, mentions Eugène's sister Hortense and seems to indicate that the teenagers all got along quite well. Among other things, Jérôme mentions yet another quarrel between the Talliens, informs Eugène that Barras and Carnot expect both Jérôme and Eugène to dine with them despite Madame Campan giving a ball that day, and then goes on bragging about how he had been given a laurel crown by generals and politicians, was put on a table and embraced and applauded by everyone. (And if this happened at Barras', I'm not quite sure how I feel about it.)

According to Bernardy, Jérôme is already "the genuine rascal" that he would later be. Though I would like to put this in perspective, because Eugène at the time also seems to have had everything in mind but school lessons and homework, and according to the memoirs of Arnault, he even was a particularly bad and "stupid" student who drove his teachers to despair. It seems that, at this time, they both were two very charming and very spoilt brats, mostly concerned with girls, hunting trips and being flattered by people who wanted to get in the good graces of general Bonaparte. Jérôme, despite being so much younger, also already comes across as more confident and assertive than docile, polite and often insecure Eugène.

This may already be the main difference between them: Eugène, due to his innate desire to please and to gain the recognition of his new stepfather, will change his ways as soon as he becomes Napoleon's aide de camp and joins him in Italy (July 1797). Jérôme will always only do what Jérôme wants. (And to be honest, I kinda love him for that. Jérôme will always find a way to be a pain in Napoleon's imperial ass.)

I remember hearing about Jerôme being jealous of Eugène for what he perceived as "receiving special treatment" and being prioritized over him by Napoleon

I do not really remember anything about that (but then again, I've only read up on Eugène; this may be the same story from Jérôme's perspective). The closest thing I could find is a remark in the memoirs of Laure Junot about how the Bonaparte brothers would always hold Eugène - despite the fact they could not stand him - up as a shining example to Jérôme, causing the latter to despise his former friend. There also is an anecdote (the source of which I cannot remember atm) about Jérôme being furious because unlike Eugène he was not allowed to join the second Italian campaign (battle of Marengo, 1800), and later demanding Napoleon's sabre from that campaign as a gift in compensation.

Could I imagine that Jérôme was jealous of Eugène? Absolutely. This probably needs to be seen in the context of the Bonaparte-Beauharnais rivalry. The Bonaparte always regarded the Beauharnais as intruders and feared Napoleon might grant them too much money or influence. - Did Jérôme have any reason to? I'm not sure. Jérôme simply was a lot younger than Eugène, so of course Eugène was a step ahead of him in his career. It is also true that Eugène rose in rank very quickly and owed this solely to his stepfather. But in all fairness: so did Jérôme. And while Eugène at some point seems to have started to put in a lot of work and effort, even giving up his comfortable post as Napoleon's aide in order to remain in the military, and while he later as viceroy of Italy often worked from morning until midnight (much to his wife's chagrin), Jérôme seems to have seen his naval career as something of a pleasure cruise trip. Desertion from his post and month-long vacation in the United States included. As to his rule as king of Westphalia, I do not want to judge him because I have not read much about it, and in any case he was given very little leeway from his brother. But fact is: Jérôme was made a king. Eugène was not. So who had reason to be jealous?

I am not aware of much contact between the two of them later during the Empire. Eugène was in Italy since 1805. They may have met when Jérôme came to Italy for an interview with Napoleon, at the time when he gave up on his wife Betsy Patterson. But I am unaware of any reaction from Eugène to that. And later, when Eugène goes to Paris for the first time in almost five years, for his mother's "divorce" proceedings, he finds his house already occupied by - Jérôme. 😁

But the funniest (or saddest?) thing is that, while Jérôme was forced to join the navy very much against his will (as a disciplinary measure after the ill-fated duel with Davout's younger brother), Eugène for his part during his finale exile in Bavaria admitted: "I would have loved to be a sailor."

Thank you for the Ask! and sorry for the long rambling. Asking me about Eugène is a dangerous thing to do because I won't stop blabbering...

[sarcasticsciencefictionwriter]

List of Actors in Sanctuary who Also Appeared in Stargate (Spanning Entire Franchise).

Main Cast (Counting Regular Major Appearances):

Amanda Tapping. Sanctuary: Helen Magnus. Stargate: Sam Carter.

Christopher Heyerdahl. Sanctuary: John Druitt, Bigfoot. Stargate SG-1: Pallin. Stargate Atlantis: Halling and Todd the Wraith.

Ryan Robbins. Sanctuary: Henry Foss. Stargate Atlantis: Ladon Radim.

Agam Darshi. Sanctuary; Kate Freelander. Stargates Atlantis: Novo and Athosian 2.

Jonathon Young. Sanctuary: Nikola Tesla. Stargate Atlantis: Dr. Parrish.

Peter Wingfield. Sanctuary: James Watson. Stargate SG-1: Hebron and Taneth.

Jim Byrnes. Sanctuary: Gregory Magnus. Stargate SG-1: Documentary Narrator (Heroes Part 2). Stargate Infinity: voice (no character listed).

Significant Stargate Actors Not in Main Cast of Sanctuary:

Michael Shanks. Sanctuary: Jimmy (one episode). Stargate: Daniel Jackson.

Tom McBeath. Sanctuary: General Villanova. Stargate SG-1: Colonel Harry Maybourne.

Vincent Gale. Sanctuary: Nigel Griffin. Stargate SG-1: Deputy - Agent Cross. Stargate Universe: Morrison. (he was significant in Sanctuary and had a high episode list for Stargate, so no arguing)

Colin Cunnigham. Sanctuary: Gerald (one episode). Stargate: Major Paul Davis.

Paul McGillion. Sanctuary: Terrance Wexford (four eps + webisodes). Stargate Atlantis: Carson Beckett.

David Hewlett. Sanctuary: Larry Tolson (webisodes). Stargate: Rodney McKay.

Kavan Smith. Sanctuary: Joe Kavanaugh (two episodes + webisodes). Stargate: Evan Lorne.

David Nykl. Sanctuary: Strickland (one episode). Stargate Atlantis: Radek Zelenka.

Sarah Strange. Sanctuary: Allison Grant (one episode). Stargate: Morgan Le Fey.

Dan Shea. Sanctuary: Transit Cop 2 (one episode). Stargate: Sergeant Siler.

Gary Jones. Sanctuary: George (one episode). Stargate: Walter Harriman.

Peter Flemming. Sanctuary: FBI Agent Bruce Tanner (one episode). Stargate: Agent Barret.

Martin Christopher. Sanctuary: False Priest/Father Clark. Stargate: Kevin Marks.

Barclay Hope. Sanctuary: Security Force Commander (one episode). Stargate SG-1: Col. Lionel Pendergast.

Peter DeLuise. Sanctuary: Ernie Watts (one episode/webisodes). Stargate SG-1: Sal's Diner Customer, Wormhole X-treme Replacement Actor, plus 20 other roles. Stargate Atlantis: Dr. P. Smith (uncredited). Stargate Universe: Peter. (<- also directed all four shows)

Significant in Sanctuary but not Stargate:

Shekhar Paleja (Credited in both as Shaker Paleja). Sanctuary: Ravi Ganapathiraman. Stargate SG-1: Jaffa. Stargate Atlantis: Doctor (uncredited, six episodes).

Ian Tracey. Sanctuary: Adam Worth. Stargate SG-1: Smith.

Pascale Hutton. Sanctuary: Abby Corrigan. Stargate Atlantis: First Officer Trebel. (<- almost/should have been main cast in Sanctuary)

Carlo Rota. Sanctuary: Richard Feliz. Stargate Universe: Carl Strom.

Other Actors in Mostly Minor Roles in Both (but often more significant in Sanctuary, for obvious reasons) Listed in Order of Sanctuary Appearance:

Lauren K. Robek (Credited as Kirsten Robeck in both). Sanctuary: Maryanne Zimmerman (three episodes). Stargate SG-1: Lieutenant Astor.

Sheri Rabold (credited as Sheri Noel in all). Sanctuary: Molly (two episodes/webisodes), Helen Magnus Stand-in. Stargate SG-1: Physiotherapist. Stargate Atlantis: Scientist, Lab assistant.

Laura Mennel. Sanctuary: Caird (one episode/webisodes). Stargate SG-1: Mary. Stargate Atlantis: Sanir.

Alex Zahara. Sanctuary: Carver (one episode). Stargate SG-1: Motion Capture Warrior, Warrick Finn, Iron Shirt, Eggar, Shy One, Alien Leader, Alien #1, Micahel Xe'ls.

Peter Bryant. Sanctuary: Cabal Team Leader (two episodes). Stargate SG-1: Hoskins and Fro'tak.

MacKenzie Gray. Sanctuary: Mr. Jones (one episode). Stargate Infinity: Pahk'kal, Napoleon Bonaparte (voices).

Matthew Walker. Sanctuary: Oliver Braithewaite (one episode). Stargate SG-1/The Ark of Truth: Merlin/Roham.

David Richmond-Peck. Sanctuary: Jake Polanski (one episode). Stargate SG-1: Jaffa Leader. Stargate Atlantis: Toran.

Panou. Sanctuary: Sylvio (two episodes). Stargate SG-1: Lt. Fisher.

Katherine Isabelle. Sanctuary: Sophie (one episode). Stargate SG-1: Valencia.

Chuck Campell. Sanctuary: Two-Faced Guy. Stargate: Chuck the Technician.

Gabrielle Rose. Sanctuary: Ruth Meyers (one episode). Stargate: The Ark of Truth: Alterean Woman #2.

Daryl Shuttleworth. Sanctuary: (one episode). Stargate SG-1: Commander Tegar, Commander Rigar.

Rukiya Bernard. Sanctuary: Kayla Bradley (one episode). Stargate Universe: Airman Richmond.

Alex Diakun. Sanctuary: Doctor (three episodes). Stargate SG-1: Tarek Solaman.

Chris Gauthier. Sanctuary: Walter (two episodes). Stargate: Mattas and Hertis.

Anne Marie DeLuise. Sanctuary: Rachel (one episode). Stargate SG-1: Amy Vandenberg, Farrell.

Aleks Paunovic. Sanctuary: Duke (one episode). Stargate Atlantis: Rakai.

Ryan Kennedy. Sanctuary: Darrin Wilson (one episode). Stargate Universe: Dr. Williams.

Terry Chen. Sanctuary: Charles (three episodes). Stargate SG-1: Monk.

Nimet Kanji. Sanctuary: Pili (two episodes). Stargate Atlantis: Doctor.

Ron Selmour. Sanctuary: Kanaan (three episodes). Stargate Atlantis: Jannick.

Raquel Riskin. Sanctuary: Cheryl (one episode). Stargate Universe: Mindy.

Eric Keenleyside. Sanctuary: Det. Michael Bronson (one episodes). Stargate SG-1: Fred.

Michael J Rogers. Sanctuary: Stanley O'Farrel (one episode). Stargate SG-1: Major Escher, Col. Richard Kendrick, Colonel John Michaels.

Fabrice Grover. Sanctuary: Father Nathaniel Jensen (one episode). Stargate: The Ark of Truth: Amelius.

Allison Hossack. Sanctuary: Lillian (one episode). Stargate SG-1: Zerina Valk. Stargate Atlantis: Perna.

Scott McNeil. Sanctuary: Birot (one episode). Stargate SG-1: Kefflin, Townsperson.

Jody Thompson. Sanctuary: Fallon (three episodes). Stargate Atlantis: Hospital Nurse.

Nels Lannarson. Sanctuary: Commander Tollan, Praxian Guardsman. (two episodes). Stargate SG-1: Major Green. Stargate Atlantis: Captain Holland.

Sean Rogerson. Sanctuary: Castor (one episode). Stargate Atlantis: Nevik.

Richard de Klerk. Sanctuary: U.S. Sergeant (one episode). Stargate SG-1: Dominic, Joe.

Aaron Brooks. Sanctuary: Lieutenant Hallman (one episode). Stargate SG-1: Nisal.

Collen Winton. Sanctuary: Anna (one episode). Stargate SG-1: National Security Advisor, Dr. Greene.

David Milchard. Sanctuary: Garris. Stargate Atlantis: SGC Technician.

Greyston Holt. Sanctuary: Lt. Coxswell (two episodes). Stargate Universe: Corporal Reynolds.

Brian Markinson. Sanctuary: Greg Addison. Stargate SG-1: Lotan.

Lara Gilchrist. Sanctuary: Cassidy (one episode). Stargate Atlantis: Dr. Hewston.

John Novak. Sanctuary: Thug Boss (one episode). Stargate SG-1: Colonel William Ronson.

Martin Cummins. Sanctuary: Brad Sylvester (one episode). Stargate SG-1: Aiden Corso.

Kurt Evans. Sanctuary: Agent Gavin Crealy (two episodes). Stargate SG-1: Col. Johnson.

Sage Brocklebank. Sanctuary: Canadian Press Photographer (one episode). Stargate SG-1: Rand Protectorate Tech.

Kwesi Ameyaw. Sanctuary: Colonel Bosh (one episode). Stargate SG-1: Olokun. Stargate Atlantis: Technical Sergeant.

J.C. Williams. Sanctuary: SCIU Agent (one episode). Stargate SG-1: Jaffa (uncredited), Stargate Universe: Marine (uncredited).

Caroline Cave. Sanctuary: Sheila Delacourt (one episode). Stargate Atlantis: Dr. Cole. Stargate Universe: Dana.

Brent Stait. Sanctuary: Finn Noland (one episode). Stargate SG-1: Major Louis Ferretti.

Richard Stroh. Sanctuary: Orin (one episode). Stargate Atlantis: Genii Soldier #2.

Venus Terzo. Sanctuary: Capt. Franklin (one episode). Stargate SG-1: Dr. Francine Michaels.

I spent entirely too much time on this, but I really got going. I also probably missed a few people (and didn't even start on the crew because of so much overlap). I'm not sure if this is just Vancouver film industry at work or what, but I am done.

[shannonselin]

Happy birthday Napoleon!

The house in Ajaccio, Corsica in which Napoleon Bonaparte was born.

Napoleon Bonaparte was born on Tuesday, August 15, 1769, in Ajaccio, Corsica. France had acquired Corsica from the Italian city-state of Genoa the year before. Napoleon’s parents were Carlo and Letizia (Ramolino) Buonaparte. Their first surviving child, Giuseppe (Joseph), was 19 months old when Napoleon was born. Two older children, born in 1765 and 1767, had died in infancy.

August 15 marks the celebration of the Catholic Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady the Virgin Mary. Letizia was at mass in the Ajaccio cathedral when she felt severe labour pains. She left the service and walked the short distance to her house (Casa Buonaparte, now a museum), aided by Carlo’s sister Gertrude Paravicini.

Here, on a couch in the salon – for there was no time to reach her bedroom – with the assistance of Gertrude and a maid-servant, Mammucia Caterina, she was delivered of her fourth child – a boy, with a big head and a very intelligent face, who screamed loudly, and soon began sucking his thumb, which was considered a good augury among the peasants of Corsica.

Nine days later, Letizia turned 19 years old.

Nobody recorded anything about Napoleon’s birth at the time, and Letizia did not leave detailed memoirs. It wasn’t until Napoleon became a famous general that people became interested in his origins. Many myths sprang up surrounding his birth, which you can read about here (along with one element of Napoleon’s birth that might appear to be mythical but actually is not): https://shannonselin.com/2016/08/birth-napoleon-bonaparte/.

[violettduchess]

1k Follower First Kiss Celebration Masterlist 💋

Gilbert von Obsidian

Leonardo Da Vinci

Napoleon Bonaparte

Carlo

Theodorus

Silvio

Clavis

Gilbert (Western AU)

Achroite Prince (July 2023)

Keith Howell

Status: In progress

[empirearchives]

Okay, so this is interesting. I’ve found a court suit dated to 1770 at the Mint Museum that looks a lot like the outfit worn by Carlo Buonaparte, Napoleon’s father, in this painting.

I don’t think it’s the same, though. But it is fascinating to see the similarities. The painting of Carlo Buonaparte is dated sometime between 1766-1779.

[thepastisalreadywritten]

The death mask of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821 CE) was taken at St. Helena, created from a plaster cast of his face.

Before the invention of photography, it was common practice to make plaster or wax casts of the faces of famous people after they had died.

Mask was created 40 hours after (7 May 1821) his death on 5 May 1821, imprisoned on the island of St Helena at the age of 51.

After his defeat at Waterloo in 1815, Napoleon had been exiled to St. Helena, a tiny island in the South Atlantic.

Here, British, German, Austrian, Russian, and Spanish allies hoped to keep the former emperor from ever threatening European peace again.

There is controversy over who made the original cast of Napoleon’s features (7 May 1821).

Some believe that it was Napoleon’s own doctor, Francois Carlo Antommarchi, while others say it was an army surgeon called Francis Burton.

Probably more than one cast was made, as four original casts are said to exist today.

In any event, numerous copies in bronze and marble appeared on the market as soon as the original casts reached Paris.

In the death mask above, Napoleon looks serene and youthful.

However, in reality, he had been suffering terrible ill health and pain in the last months of his life and looked emaciated and prematurely old.

Since arriving at St. Helena at the end of 1815, he had led a miserable and frustrating existence.

Longwood House, where he lived with his staff, was damp, unhealthy and infested with vermin.

He spent his time dictating his memoirs, playing cards and taking long baths.

He detested the governor, Sir Hudson Lowe, who was afraid that he might escape and constrained him with petty rules and wrangles.

The cause of Napoleon’s death has been hotly debated for years but the fact is that the English doctors and Antommarchi, who did the autopsy, found widespread stomach cancer.

Further contention surrounded his burial in a glade on the island. Lowe and Napoleon’s attendants could not agree on the wording of the headstone, so it was left blank.

Despite his obscure end, the Napoleonic legend lived on in France.

Finally, in 1840, the ex-emperor got the send-off he craved. His remains were removed from St. Helena and given a magnificent state funeral in Paris.

Thousands lined the route of the cortege to Les Invalides where he was reburied in an elaborate sarcophagus with detailed inscriptions of his triumphs.

Musée de l'Armée, Paris

[valentina-lauricella]

Una favola

Certamente la tua vita è stata una tragedia, caro Giacomo. A me però sembra anche una favola, di quelle che non ti stanchi mai di riascoltare, e che lascia una speranza dentro, perché ha una morale. Apro il pesante libro che va sotto il titolo di Puerili e abbozzi vari, ne scorro le prime pagine fino ad arrivare alle date del 1810, quando avevi 12 anni: vengo attratta dal nome di Paolina, tua sorella, che ricorre in più d'un componimento poetico scherzoso.

Vostro padre, oltre a fornirvi di una palestra in casa e di attrezzi per la ginnastica in giardino, vi fornì anche di una palestra per la mente, la famosa biblioteca, aperta anche ai concittadini. E, per motivarvi nello studio, fondò un'accademia in cui, fin da bambini, poteste fare sfoggio dei vostri progressi, ricevendo il plauso di precettori, sacerdoti e letterati. Da bambino, non soffrivi di ansia: al contrario, era gratificante per te essere riconosciuto, piuttosto facilmente e senza che lo sforzo dello studio ti sottraesse ai giochi, come un prodigio di capacità d'apprendimento e di memoria, guardato con ammirazione dagli uomini e vezzeggiato dalle signore.

Il primo componimento dedicato a Paolina, è un'istantanea della situazione in cui tu le facesti da esaminatore, sotto la supervisione di altri due personaggi, perché ella entrasse a far parte dell'accademia. Tu le rivolgi parole di elogio e incoraggiamento, con una venerazione e una delicatezza, un senso di protezione, che troverò anche in seguito, in alcune lettere che le indirizzasti da adulto. In una poesia, prendi le sue vesti e la impersoni, esprimendo la sua preoccupazione per l'esame e la sua manifesta umiltà, che è come una richiesta di clemenza. In un'altra poesia rendi, pur in tono scherzoso, il rimpianto per la sua trasformazione da bambina, con cui si può giocare spensieratamente, a signorina, che monta sulle ire per uno scherzo che passi anche di poco il segno della sua nuova suscettibilità.

Paolina, lo dicono tutti, non era bella, però era ben istruita e molto intelligente, e queste erano qualità che tu le riconoscevi, e forse enfatizzavi, proprio allo scopo di proteggerla e farla soffrire meno per quella inquieta sensibilità che la contraddistingueva. Forse sapevi che ella stessa non si riteneva bella, così, ad esempio, quando per lettera ti chiede conferma della rinomata bellezza delle contadine toscane, tu le dici che non te n'è sembrato nulla di speciale. Anche quando le descrivi la principessa Charlotte Bonaparte, da poco conosciuta, specifichi subito che non è bella, ma che è versata nelle lettere e nel disegno, e ciò la rende affascinante, suggerendo che in una donna ciò che conta non è la mera avvenenza fisica. Non le fai menzione della bellissima Fanny Targioni-Tozzetti, che in realtà è la donna che adori, al punto da ingenerare in Paolina e in tuo fratello Carlo, l'equivoco che tu sia innamorato di Charlotte. Tu sai bene chi dovresti amare per le sue intrinseche qualità, e forse ti vergogni persino un po' di amare, invece, quella donna che a Firenze è famosa per la sua bellezza e per i suoi presunti amanti. Scrivi infatti in un tuo pensiero che amare un oggetto non degno, arreca mestizia e disprezzo di sé, e biasimo altrui.

Paolina desiderava sposarsi, ma non trovò mai chi la volle. Gli uomini incostanti la delusero. Fu due volte sul punto di combinare un matrimonio e una volta persino di sposarsi, ma il tutto naufragò, e tu la consolasti con la tua filosofia, cercando di equilibrare la sua calda sensibilità con la tua freddezza stoica. Al calore del camino, nelle sere invernali, le raccontavi della gente che avevi conosciuto in quel "mondo" che "non è bello se non veduto da lontano". Ella, per effetto delle tue narrazioni e considerazioni, che assorbiva come una spugna, divenne sprezzatrice degli uomini. Ma in cuor suo dovette pensare più volte che un uomo, fra tutti, si salvava, ed eri tu, suo fratello Giacomo: avesse trovato uno come te!… Avessi tu potuto amare una come lei, una ragazza che fosse solo "d'ingegno", e non ammantata di "pericolose" bellezza e fama!…

Mi perdonino i leopardisti se nella mia narrazione non vi è la loro esattezza e citazione documentale. Non ho riaperto nessun libro per scrivere le mie poche righe: mi sono affidata soltanto alle suggestioni e al "sapore" che molte letture casuali e fatte in vari periodi mi hanno lasciato…il sapore di una favola, malinconica e perfetta, da narrare sotto altre prospettive e ricombinando elementi reali, altre centinaia di volte.

[venicepearl]

Carolina Maria Annunziata Bonaparte Murat Macdonald (25 March 1782 – 18 May 1839), better known as Caroline Bonaparte, was an Imperial French princess; the seventh child and third daughter of Carlo Buonaparte and Letizia Ramolino, and a younger sister of Napoleon I of France. She was queen of Naples during the reign of her spouse there, and regent of Naples during his absence four times: in 1812-1813, 1813, 1814, and 1815.

In 1800, Caroline married Joachim Murat Jordy, Marshal of the Empire, Prince Murat and later King of Naples, one of Napoleon's most important and notorious generals.