Hortense de Beauharnais (1783-1837)Hortense Eugénie de Beauharnais was the daughter of Empress Joséphine, wife of Emperor Napoleon. Hortense's own father had been decapitated during the French RevolutionFrench RevolutionA major social and political upheaval took place in France at the end of the 18th century which became known as the French Revolution. It began in 1789 with the storming of the Bastille, a prison in Paris. Inspired by Enlightenment ideals, the citizens seized power and threw out the monarchy. In its stead came a citizen's republic with Liberty, Equality and Fraternity as its motto. The ideology of the French Revolution was to have an enormous impact on social and political life in many European countries.. In 1802, Hortense married her step-father's brother, Louis, who ascended the Dutch throne in 1806. Three sons were born to this unhappy marriage. Following the death of her firstborn at Huis ten Bosch in 1807, Hortense moved to Paris. Later, Hortense and Louis divorced and had another child by a different father. After the fall of Napoleon, Hortense was created Countess of St Leu by King Louis XVIII. She withdrew to Aarenberg Castle on the shore of Lake Constance. Many years after her death, her third son was to become Emperor Napoleon III. |
