The Lovers | |
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Napoleon Bonaparte
(1769-1821) was born in Corsica. He became an army officer in 1785, and after rapid promotion, took command of the army of the interior in 1795. After a coup in 1799, Napoleon became first consul, and in 1804 emperor. Between 1804 and 1810 he consolidated his empire in Europe. In 1809 he nullified his 13 year marriage to Josephine and married Marie Louise of Austria, who bore him a son. In 1814, following defeat in Russia, he abdicated and was banished to Elba. In 1815 he resumed power, but was crushed at the Battle of Waterloo and exiled to St. Helena, where he died in 1821. |
Marie-Josphe-Rose (Josephine)
Tascher de la Pagerie (1763-1814) grew up on the island of Martinique. In 1779 she married the wealthy Vicomte de Beauharnais, and moved to Paris. They had two children--Hortense and Eugène--but the couple separated. She met the young Napoleon in 1795, and they married the following year. She was crowned empress in 1804, but Napoleon nullified the marriage in 1809. she retreated to Malmaison, where she died in 1814. |