How Napoleon's first love became Queen of Sweden: the magnificent Desiree Clari

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

This amazing woman has lived an incredibly eventful long life. Although her life was never easy or happy, she had to go through a lot. She has come a long way from Napoleon Bonaparte's abandoned bride to Queen of Sweden and Norway. All her life she loved only one single man, whose wife she was never destined to become. The name of this striking woman is Désiré Clard, and she could become Empress of France.

Only now fate decreed otherwise. Having loved one with all her heart, Desiree tied the knot with another. She married General of the Army Napoleon, who later became King of Sweden and Norway. How did it happen that, hating Sweden with all her soul, Desiree Clari became its ruler?

Bonaparte's bride

At birth, she was given the name Bernadine Eugénie Désiré Clari. She was the daughter of ignorant parents. His father was a soap and silk merchant, with Desiree's mother this was his second marriage. In his first marriage, he remained a childless widower. The second wife gave him two daughters: Julie and Desiree. The girls were brought up traditionally - at the monastery and received a good education.

In 1789, when Désiré was 12 years old, France was ablaze with the fire of revolution. The monarchy was overthrown and a republic was proclaimed. After taking the Bastille, the father took the girls home.

Despite her youth, Desiree was a staunch Republican and actively demonstrated her views. When the girl turned 17, her father died. There was no one to take care of the family. Brother Desiree was arrested by the new authorities. And it was this event that became the beginning of the fatal coincidence of circumstances for the young beauty. In the future, this made Desiree's acquaintance with the man who became her destiny inevitable.

The Clari were not of a noble family, but their family was quite famous in Marseilles. Desiree turned to Napoleon's older brother, Joseph, for help. He helped and his brother was released from prison. Clary's family invited the liberator to dinner as a thank you.

Elder sister Desiree, Julie and Joseph Bonaparte instantly inflamed feelings for each other. The wedding took place the same year. For the Bonapartes, it was a successful marriage, because they were poor, and Julie was a rather rich heiress.

When his younger brother, Napoleon, came to visit his newly-made relatives, he fell in love with Desiree at first sight. The girl answered him in return. Their engagement took place immediately. Although Desiree's mother was categorically against their marriage. She believed that one Bonaparte in their family is enough. Napoleon left for Paris, he was called upon by the revolution.

Desiree had to patiently endure maternal discontent, and the groom, meanwhile, enjoyed the capital life with might and main. In the whirlpool of Parisian temptations, fate brought Napoleon together with a woman named Josephine. It was this woman who was remembered by descendants as the love of all life of the future emperor. The story of their love over time has turned into a real legend, comparable to the story of Antony and Cleopatra.

Desiree was beside herself with grief and anger. She wrote dozens of letters to her beloved. The girl asked her sister and her husband for help. With them, she went to Italy, trying to forget the traitor Napoleon. A frustrated girl meets a young man named Leonard Dufo. It was not as strong love and passion as for Bonaparte, but Desiree had hope for a happy personal life. And this was not destined to come true: Leonard was killed right in front of her.

Madame Bernadotte

Desiree Clari returns to her beloved France. Here fate brings her together with a friend and ally of Napoleon, the general of his army - Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte. He almost immediately proposed to the girl and she agreed. Desiree tried her best to forget Napoleon. She tried to be an exemplary wife. Although due to her husband's duty, she had to see her ex-fiancé quite often. Soon the couple had a son. Desiree asked her former lover to be the godfather. He refused, only advising him to name the boy Oscar. The Bernadotte couple did just that.

Bernadotte's relationship with Napoleon was not very favorable even then. The conservative general did not approve of the imperial ambitions of his military leader. Jean-Baptiste was a republican to the core and did not understand why it was necessary to overthrow the monarchy in order to return power to one person.

Napoleon Bonaparte wanted the destruction of the Directory and dreamed of becoming emperor. He counted on the help of Bernadotte, but he replied with a categorical refusal. Napoleon decided to act differently. It was a pretty dastardly plan. Joseph and Julie began to often invite the spouses Bernadotte to joint dinners with Napoleon. After a while, Desiree's old love flared up again.

Napoleon's goal was achieved, but not completely. General Bernadotte, for the sake of the requests of his beloved wife, did not interfere with Bonaparte, but did not become his assistant either. He was too principled and decent person. But despite all the obstacles, the Directory was overthrown in 1799, and already in 1804 Napoleon proclaimed himself emperor of France.

Desiree Bernadotte hoped that Napoleon would leave Josephine, who was constantly cheating on him, and return to her. The half-forgotten husband was in constant military campaigns and did not interfere with this at all. Fate sent the general to Sweden, where, despite the fact that he was a conqueror, his decency, nobility, brilliant mind and humanity were appreciated.

How a French general became king of Sweden and Norway

King Charles XIII had a legitimate heir. Despite this, the king proposed to the people as his successor Jean-Baptiste, whom the Swedes greatly appreciated. The council approved the decision of the king and Bernadotte became regent.

Desiree had to return to her husband, because now she was the crown princess. From all the court ceremonies and from Sweden in general, she was simply sick, which she did not even hide. Unable to endure even several months, Princess Desideria fled to France, hoping to still return Napoleon. Did not work out. After a divorce from Josephine, Bonaparte marries the Princess of Austria.

What General Bernadotte had foreseen began to happen - it was the beginning of the end of the Emperor Napoleon. In 1812, Bernadotte finally turned his back on his former comrade-in-arms and entered into a military alliance with Russia. After the fall of Napoleon and his exile, Desiree took in disgraced relatives. Meanwhile, in 1818, King Charles XIII dies and Jean-Baptiste is crowned. Princess Desideria herself became officially queen only in 1829. At first, she did not want to return to her husband at all.

Desiree became the second commoner in history to become Queen of Sweden. She was not particularly loved. And there was a reason. Her antics were very strange: she could, for example, go out in a nightgown to her husband when he was with his advisers. Politics, the history of the country that sheltered her and made her her queen, Desiree was not at all interested. She has not even learned the language of this country in her entire life.

General Bernadotte died in 1844. Their only son with Desiree, Oscar, ascended the throne. Ironically, he was married to the hated Josephine's granddaughter. Desiree Clary Bernadotte lived a very long life, having outlived all her relatives, friends, enemies, and even her own son. The Swedes buried her next to her husband in the Riddalholmen church. Despite the fact that Desiree never fell in love with her native country, she became the mother of the now ruling Bernadotte dynasty.

French Emperor Napoleon was a famous ladies' man, read more information about him in our article four ladies who won the heart of Napoleon Bonaparte.