Biography of Pauline Bonaparte

Live the duties 20 October 1780
9 June 1825

Who is  Pauline Bonaparte?


Pauline Bonaparte was born in Ajaccio (France) on 20 October 1780. The family makes it the favorite daughter because of her beauty and grace, evident since he is just a kid. Pauline, whose real name is actually Maria Paola, grows so spoiled and capricious, although Napoleon, in pointing out these flaws, we note at the same time the tenacity and strength in difficult times.

Pauline was born in a turbulent period for the island, clandestine heckled by the struggles between autonomists and realists. In 1793 a few Patriots courses setting fire to the residence of Bonaparte who are forced to take refuge in Marseilles, where the family comes thanks to the support of Napoleon.

The relationship between the two is very narrow to the point that Paolina agrees that brother to stop her relationship with Congressman of the Convention Stanilas Fréron, of which you declare hopelessly in love with, even after discovering that the man is already married and with three children. Napoleon organizes them so the marriage with his General: Charles Leclerc.

She follows her husband in all movements lavoratovi: from Milan to Paris, to Santo Domingo, where he died of cholera in 1802. Pauline returned to Paris together with his son had in 1797 by her husband, the little Dermis. It is sincerely sorry for the death of her husband, but at the same time it begins to hatch a deep restlessness and impatience for the limitations imposed by widowhood.

Thanks to a political plot, warp, among others, by his brother Joseph, married Prince Camillo Borghese. The wedding takes place with a secret Rite that infuriates Napoleon, as happened before the end of the normal period of widowhood. He, however, approves of the marriage and recommends that the sister being mature and judicious.

Pauline, we in 1803, follows her husband to Rome. But life in the capital doesn't make her happy. Turns out that behind the apparent glitz of the Roman nobility hides a strong respectability and a lifestyle punctuated by numerous religious works. Repeatedly attempts to return to France, asking permission to his brother, who always deny him. While creating these internecine family fights, Pauline tries to do his duty and during the Imperial Coronation holds up well his part as a member of the Bonaparte family.

After the coronation follows her husband appointed Governor of transalpine departments and moved to Turin in 1808. The city, however, she doesn't like, Pauline finds excessively bigoted. At the same time becoming increasingly intolerant of the marriage bond to the point of leaving permanently from Italy. From now will live between his home in Neuilly near Paris and Nice.

Despite political titles as that received in 1806 by Duchess of Guastalla, they're less interested in the political life of his time. Unlike her two sisters that enter fully into the political life of the time, Pauline remains hidden. If ever there was a desire to impose itself, involved only women issues and affairs.

Thanks to the statue carved by Canova, which portrays her as a Venus victrix, increasingly consolidated his reputation as a gallant woman. Contrary to the practice of the time, posing nude for the great sculptor and who asks her, maybe with mocking intent, as has been the experience, she says, "Okay, the setting was well heated."

Her boldness causes the list of men who were beside you stretch more and more. Among these are the count of Fourbin, the musician Blangini, the officer Jules de Canouville and the great French actor Talma.

Despite its reputation for frivolity, Pauline wield an enormous strength and stubbornness in siding beside his brother in times of trouble: shares, in fact, with her beloved Napoleon into exile on Elba, tries to even reach it on Saint Helena and it will help both from a moral point of view that material.

Unfortunately her situation worsens, also because of a health increasingly frail. Pauline tries so that initially the rapprochement with her husband refuses, but then thanks to the mediation of Cardinal Albani and Chamberlain, allows her to live in Villa Sciarra, renamed villa Paulina.

Interjects his Roman stay with periods of care in Tuscany, bagni di Lucca and Pisa, where he accompanies the last of her lovers: the composer Giovanni Pacini. In 1824 the husband to grant it again begs for his help, and Camillo, despite being won by a proceeding for annulment at the sacred Rota, opens the doors of his Florentine Palace.

Pauline Bonaparte died a few months later to Villa Fabbricotti (Firenza) on 9 June 1825, at the age of 44 years.