Hortense Beauharnais
(Hortense Bonaparte)
1783–1837
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Born in Paris, the younger sister of Eugene de Beauharnais lost her father to the instigators of the French Revolution and their deadly guillotine. Her mother married Napoleon two years later, and Hortense was educated alongside Napoleon’s youngest sister. She became an accomplished amateur musical composer, and she provided lively anthems during her stepfather’s marches. At Napoleon’s request, Hortense married Louis Bonaparte and became queen of Holland, a move that dissatisfied her because it removed her from the Parisian court and forced her nearer her husband, whom she disliked. She did come to enjoy the kingdom, however, and she traveled throughout the countryside, greeting her subjects. Still, she felt like a prisoner while shut away in her palace with her unloving husband, and after her son’s death in 1807 she requested leave to visit France. She continued to live in Paris until Napoleon’s second marriage forced her out of the city and back to the Netherlands. She was allowed to leave again after her health began to fail, and this time she did not return. The Netherlands were annexed in 1810, but Hortense’s husband Louis remained in the country for three more years, until he finally admitted defeat and returned to France.
Hortense was banished from France following Napoleon’s final defeat, and she traveled to Germany and Italy before settling in a chateau in Switzerland. There she lived until her death at the age of fifty-four. She was buried next to her mother Josephine.
Key events during the life of Hortense de Beauharnais:
| Born | |
| Father was executed during the Reign of Terror | |
| Mother married Napoleon Bonaparte | |
| Married Louis Bonaparte | |
| Moved to Holland after her husband was appointed king | |
| Death of her eldest son | |
| Gave birth to the future Napoleon III | |
| Left the Netherlands and moved back to France | |
| Forced out of France following Napoleon's final defeat | |
| Died in Switzerland |
| Book Links |
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Other Resources
| Hortense and Duroc in | Hortense by John S. C. Abbott |
Image Links | ||
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Hortense Bonarparte in Hortense |
 The Love Letter in Hortense |
 The Little Prince Charles Napoleon in Hortense |
 The DivorceAannounced in Hortense |
 Hortense and her Children in Hortense |
 Hortense at Arenberg in Hortense |
 Interview in the Coliseum in Hortense |
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| Stepson of Napoleon, who accompanied him on all his early campaigns. Later Prince of Italy. | |
| Dutch General who surrendered Cape Town to the British after the Battle of Blaauwberg. | |
| Victorious general who rose to power during the French Revolution. Crowned himself Emperor and restored France to greatness. | |
| Aristocratic wife of Napoloeon Bonaparte. | |
| Louis Bonaparte | Brother of Napoleon. Appointed King of Holland during Napoleonic Wars. |