Eugene de Beauharnais

1781–1824

JOSEPHINE TAKING LEAVE OF HER CHILDREN

Eugene de Beauharnais was the stepson of Napoleon Bonaparte. He commanded the Italian army and served as viceroy of Italy under his stepfather, and he is widely considered the most skilled of Napoleon’s relatives.

Eugene’s real father was executed during the Reign of Terror, while his mother Josephine was shut away in prison. Two years later, his mother married Napoleon, and Eugene began serving as the Emperor’s aide-de-camp in Italy and Egypt. He was wounded in Egypt and returned to Paris, where he helped bring about the reconciliation of Josephine and Napoleon, who were distraught over each other’s extramarital affairs. He returned to the front during the War of the Fifth Coalition, this time as commander of the Army of Italy. He continued to lead the small army during the Russian campaign, leading with the retreating army back to Germany even after Napoleon’s hasty departure. Back in Italy, he organized a defense against the Austrians, which remained in place until Napoleon’s abdication in 1814. Afterward, he retired to Munich, where he remained with his father-in-law Maximilian I of Bavaria and refused to engage in French politics any further. He died ten years later.

Key events during the life of Eugene de Beauharnais:

Year	Event
1781	Born to Josephine and Alexandre de Beauharnais
1794	Father was executed during the Reign of Terror
1796	Mother married Napoleon Bonaparte
1796	Italian campaigns
1799	Returned to France and reconciled his mother and Napoleon
1806	Married Princess Augusta Amalia Ludovika Georgia of Bavaria
1813	Brought retreating army back from Russia
1814	Napoleon's abdication; retired to Munich
1824	Died

Contemporary	Short Biography
Napoleon	Victorious general who rose to power during the French Revolution. Crowned himself Emperor and restored France to greatness.
Josephine Beauharnais	Aristocratic wife of Napoloeon Bonaparte.
Hortense Beauharnais	Step-daughter, and sister-in-law of Napolean Bonaparte, and mother of Napoleon III of France.
Robespierre	Key figure of the French Revolution. Leader of the Reign of Terror.