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Jérôme Bonaparte
Prince of Montfort
King Jerome Bonaparte.jpg
Portrait by François Gérard, 1811
King of Westphalia
Reign 7 July 1807 – 26 October 1813
First Minister Joseph Jérôme Siméon
President of the French Senate
In office
28 January 1852 – 30 November 1852
Predecessor Étienne-Denis Pasquier
(Chamber of Peers)
Successor Raymond-Theodore Troplong
Born 15 November 1784
Ajaccio, Corsica, Kingdom of France
Died 24 June 1860(1860-06-24) (aged 75)
Vilgénis, Seine-et-Oise, France
Burial Les Invalides, Paris
Spouse
Elizabeth Patterson
​
​
(m. 1803; annulled 1805)​
Catharina of Württemberg
​
​
(m. 1807; died 1835)​
Giustina Pecori-Suárez
​
(m. 1840)​
Issue
  • Jérôme Napoléon Bonaparte
  • Jérôme Napoléon Charles Bonaparte
  • Mathilde, Princess of San Donato
  • Napoléon-Jérôme, Prince Napoléon
Full name
Jérôme Napoléon Bonaparte
House Bonaparte
Father Carlo Buonaparte
Mother Letizia Ramolino
Religion Roman Catholicism
Signature Jérôme Bonaparte's signature

Jérôme-Napoléon Bonaparte (born Girolamo Buonaparte; 15 November 1784 – 24 June 1860) was the youngest brother of the famous French leader Napoleon I. He became King of Westphalia from 1807 to 1813. Westphalia was a new kingdom created by Napoleon in what is now Germany.

Later in his life, from 1816, Jérôme was known as the Prince of Montfort. After his nephew, Louis Napoleon, became President of France in 1848, Jérôme took on several important roles. He became a Marshal of France in 1850 and the President of the Senate in 1852. He was the only one of Napoleon's brothers who lived long enough to see the Bonaparte family return to power in France.

Historians have different views on Jérôme. Some say he was a loyal and helpful brother to Napoleon, especially in military and administrative tasks. Others point out his challenges, including difficulties in the French navy and financial problems. He was known for spending a lot of money, which led to personal and national debts. Many historians agree he faced more difficulties in his roles compared to Napoleon's other brothers.

Early Life and First Marriage

Jérôme was born in Ajaccio, Corsica, on November 15, 1784. He was the eighth and youngest child of Carlo Buonaparte and Letizia Ramolino. His older siblings included Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Louis Bonaparte.

He studied at the Catholic College of Juilly in France. In January 1800, he joined the French Navy. Napoleon put him in charge of a French ship in the West Indies. After an incident with a British ship, Jérôme traveled to the United States.

Elizabeth-Patterson-Bonaparte Gilbert-Stuart 1804
Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte, painted by Gilbert Stuart, 1804

In July 1803, he met Elizabeth Patterson in Baltimore, Maryland. She was the daughter of a very wealthy man and was known for her beauty. On Christmas Eve, December 24, 1803, nineteen-year-old Jérôme married eighteen-year-old Elizabeth Patterson. This marriage happened even though Elizabeth's father had concerns about Jérôme's financial habits.

Jérôme's older brother, Napoleon, was very upset about the marriage. Napoleon wanted his family members to marry into royal families across Europe to strengthen the Bonaparte dynasty. He tried to get the Pope to cancel the marriage, but the Pope refused. So, after becoming Emperor in 1804, Napoleon canceled the marriage himself in 1805.

At that time, Jérôme and Elizabeth were traveling to Europe. Elizabeth was expecting a baby. They landed in Portugal, and Jérôme went to Italy to try and convince Napoleon to accept his marriage. Elizabeth tried to enter France, hoping her baby would be born there. However, the Emperor stopped her ship from entering the harbor. Elizabeth then sailed to England, where she gave birth to their son, Jérôme Napoléon Bonaparte (1805–1870), in London. Jérôme did not see his son for twenty years.

Jérôme eventually agreed to Napoleon's demands and ended his marriage to Elizabeth. In return, Napoleon gave him important positions. He became an admiral in the French navy and a general in the army. Napoleon also made him King of Westphalia and arranged for him to marry a princess. Elizabeth returned to America with her son and never spoke to Jérôme again. She later got a special divorce decree in Maryland in 1815. Jérôme did not provide financial support for their son and excluded them from his will.

King of Westphalia

Jérome und Katharina von Westphalen
Jérôme Bonaparte, King of Westphalia, and Queen Catharina

Napoleon made Jérôme the King of Westphalia. This was a new kingdom that lasted from 1807 to 1813. It was formed from several states in northwestern Germany that Napoleon had reorganized. The capital of Westphalia was Kassel.

Napoleon arranged for Jérôme to marry Princess Catharina of Württemberg. She was the daughter of Frederick I, King of Württemberg. Marrying a German princess was meant to make the new French king seem more important and powerful.

When Jérôme and Catharina arrived in Kassel, their palaces were in poor condition. They ordered many expensive items, like furniture and silverware, from Paris. Jérôme also wanted to improve the city's buildings. He had a court theater designed by Leo von Klenze. He also renamed the summer residence "Wilhelmshöhe" to "Napoleonshöhe." To show his royal status, Jérôme ordered large portraits of himself and Queen Catharina. He also commissioned paintings to celebrate his military actions. However, his spending habits caused financial problems for the new kingdom.

Napoleon intended Westphalia to be a "model state" for other German states. It was the first place in Germany to have a constitution and a parliament. Jérôme brought the modern Empire style from Paris, giving the new state a modern look. Thanks to King Jérôme's efforts, Kassel experienced a significant cultural boost.

Despite these improvements, Jérôme's expensive lifestyle angered Napoleon and caused Westphalia to go into debt. His court spent as much money as Napoleon's own court, even though Napoleon ruled a much larger empire. Napoleon refused to give Jérôme more money.

In 1812, Jérôme was given command of a group of soldiers in Napoleon's Grande Armée. This army was marching towards Minsk during the invasion of Russia. Jérôme insisted on traveling with a large, luxurious group of servants and belongings. Napoleon told him to leave his court behind. After a battle, Jérôme occupied Mir Castle. Annoyed by Napoleon's orders, Jérôme returned to Westphalia with his entire court. This decision may have contributed to difficulties for Napoleon's army during the Russian invasion. After the defeat in Russia, Jérôme asked Napoleon if his wife could go to Paris for safety. Napoleon eventually agreed.

In 1813, Jérôme briefly rejoined the army when his kingdom was threatened by advancing armies from Prussia and Russia. He led a small force to fight them. After a clash, he camped his army, waiting for more French soldiers. However, the main enemy force captured Kassel, the capital. The Kingdom of Westphalia was dissolved, and Jérôme's time as king ended. He then fled to France to join his wife. After Napoleon's final defeat in 1815, the Westphalian territories became part of a new German Confederation.

The Hundred Days

Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte
Early 19th century enamel with a portrait of Jérôme Bonaparte

During the "Hundred Days" in 1815, Napoleon returned to power for a short time. He put Jérôme in command of a division of soldiers. At the Battle of Waterloo, Jérôme's division was ordered to attack a place called Hougoumont. Napoleon wanted this attack to draw in the enemy's reserve soldiers. Jérôme's attack became very intense, and his division focused completely on taking Hougoumont. This action did not significantly weaken the enemy's main forces.

Later Years

Jerome bonaparte
Bonaparte photographed in the 1850s by Disdéri

Even though Catharina knew about Jérôme's relationships with other women, she remained loyal to him. They had two sons: Prince Jérôme Napoléon Charles Bonaparte (1814–1847) and Prince Napoléon Bonaparte (1822–1891), also known as "Prince Napoleon." Their second child was a daughter, Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, who became a well-known hostess during the time of Napoleon III.

After his kingdom was dissolved, Jérôme was given the title "Prince of Montfort" by his father-in-law, King Frederick I of Württemberg, in July 1816. Before this, King Frederick had made Jérôme and his wife leave the country in 1814. During their time away, they visited the United States. Jérôme later returned to France and joined Napoleon during his attempt to regain power during the "Hundred Days."

Later, Jérôme moved to Italy. There, he married his third wife, Giustina Pecori-Suárez.

In 1848, his nephew, Prince Louis Napoleon, became President of the French Republic. Jérôme was made Governor of Les Invalides in Paris. This was the burial place of Napoleon I. This position gave him a good salary, which helped with his debts. When Louis Napoleon became Emperor Napoleon III, Jérôme was recognized as the next in line to the throne until Napoleon III had a son. Jérôme was named a Marshal of France in 1850 and served as President of the Senate in 1852. He also received the title of "Prince Français".

Tombe Jerome Bonaparte
Tomb of Jérôme Bonaparte at Les Invalides

Jérôme Bonaparte passed away on June 24, 1860, in Villegenis, France (now called Massy). He is buried at Les Invalides in Paris.

His grandson, Charles Joseph Bonaparte (son of Jerome "Bo" Napoleon Bonaparte), became an important figure in the United States. He served as United States Secretary of the Navy and United States Attorney General under President Theodore Roosevelt from 1901 to 1909. In 1908, he helped create a Bureau of Investigation within the Department of Justice. This bureau later grew and was renamed the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I) in 1935.

Another grandson was Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte II (1829–1893). He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He served as an officer in the United States Army before joining the forces of his cousin, Emperor Napoleon III, in France.

In Fiction and Popular Culture

  • The 1923 German comedy film The Little Napoleon is loosely based on Jérôme's life.
  • In the Hornblower TV series, Jérôme and Elizabeth are introduced in the episode Duty.
  • The historical novel "The Ambitious Madame Bonaparte" by Ruth Hull Chatlien (2013) tells the story of Jérôme and Betsy's marriage.
  • In the 1936 film Hearts Divided, Jérôme was played by Dick Powell.

Family

Descendants of Jérôme Bonaparte and Elizabeth Patterson

  • Jérôme Napoléon Bonaparte (1805–1870)
    • Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte II (1830–1893)
      • Louise-Eugénie Bonaparte (1873–1923)
      • Jerome Napoleon Charles Bonaparte (1878–1945)
    • Charles Joseph Bonaparte (1851–1921)

Descendants of Jérôme Bonaparte and Catharina of Württemberg

  • Jérôme Napoléon Charles Bonaparte (1814–1847)
  • Mathilde Bonaparte (1820–1904), married Anatole Demidoff, 1st Prince of San Donato
  • Napoléon-Jérôme Bonaparte (1822–1891), married Princess Maria Clotilde of Savoy
    • Napoléon Victor Bonaparte (1862–1926), married Princess Clémentine of Belgium
      • Clotilde Bonaparte (1912–1996), married Serge de Witt
      • Louis Bonaparte (1914–1997), married Alix de Foresta
        • Charles Bonaparte (1950–), married Princess Béatrice of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Jeanne-Françoise Valliccioni

* Caroline Napoléon Bonaparte (1980–) * Jean-Christophe Napoléon Bonaparte (1986–) * Sophie Cathérine Bonaparte (1992–)

        • Catherine Bonaparte (1950–), married Marquis Nicola di San Germano, Jean Dualé
        • Laura Bonaparte (1952–), married Jean-Claude Leconte
        • Jérôme Xavier Bonaparte (1957–)
    • Napoléon Louis Joseph Jérôme Bonaparte (1864–1932)
    • Maria Letizia Bonaparte (1866–1926), married Amedeo, 1st Duke of Aosta

Honours

Styles of
Jérôme I of Westphalia
Grandes Armes Jérôme Bonaparte (1784-1860) 2.svg
Reference style His Majesty
Spoken style Your Majesty

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Jerónimo Bonaparte para niños

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