Joseph Bonaparte (born Giuseppe di Buonaparte; 7 January 1768 – 28 July 1844) was a French statesman, lawyer, and diplomat. He was the older brother of the famous French leader, Napoleon Bonaparte.

During the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon made Joseph the King of Naples (from 1806 to 1808). Later, he became the King of Spain (from 1808 to 1813). After Napoleon's power ended, Joseph moved to the United States. He lived near Bordentown, New Jersey, close to Philadelphia.

Joseph's Early Life
Becoming King of Naples
Becoming King of Spain
Life in the United States and Europe
Joseph's Family
Joseph and Freemasonry
Images for kids
Legacy
In Popular Culture
See also

Joseph's Early Life

Joseph was born in 1768 in Corte, the capital of the Corsican Republic. His parents were Carlo Buonaparte and Maria Letizia Ramolino. The year he was born, Corsica was invaded by France. It became part of France the next year. Joseph's father first supported the Corsican leader Pasquale Paoli. But later, he supported French rule.

Joseph studied to become a lawyer. He also worked as a politician and diplomat. He served in the French government and as the French ambassador to Rome. In 1800, he signed an important agreement between France and the United States.

In 1795, Joseph was a member of the Council of Ancients. Four years later, he used his position to help his brother Napoleon. This helped Napoleon take control of the French government. Later, Napoleon bought a beautiful castle, the Château de Villandry, for Joseph.

Becoming King of Naples

In 1805, a war started between France and Austria. Ferdinand IV of Naples had agreed to stay neutral with Napoleon. But soon after, he supported Austria. He allowed British and Russian soldiers to land in his kingdom.

Napoleon quickly won the war. After his victory, Napoleon was very angry with Ferdinand. On December 27, 1805, Napoleon announced that Ferdinand had lost his kingdom. He said that French troops would invade Naples.

Marshal André Masséna led the invasion of Naples in 1806.

On December 31, Napoleon ordered Joseph Bonaparte to go to Rome. There, Joseph would lead the army sent to take Ferdinand's throne. Joseph was the official commander. However, Marshal Masséna was in charge of the actual fighting.

On February 8, 1806, a French army of 40,000 men entered Naples. The French faced little resistance. British and Russian forces had already left. King Ferdinand had also sailed away to Palermo. His wife, Queen Maria-Carolina, fled a few days later.

The French army quickly took control of most of the kingdom. On February 14, Masséna took Naples. The next day, Joseph entered the city in triumph. On March 30, 1806, Napoleon officially made Joseph Bonaparte the King of Naples and Sicily.

Portrait of Joseph Bonaparte, King of Naples by Jean-Baptiste Wicar

People in Naples welcomed Joseph with cheers. He wanted to be a king his people liked. He kept many of the old officials in their jobs. He wanted to avoid looking like a foreign ruler. Joseph traveled around his new kingdom. He met local leaders and people. This helped him understand his kingdom better.

Napoleonic Italy in 1810, with Naples being the same extent under Joseph (1806 - 1808)

When Joseph returned to Naples, he formed a government. He chose many skilled people for his team. He wanted to make many changes and bring Naples into the modern age. He wanted to bring the good ideas of the French Revolution to Naples.

Joseph started many reforms. He closed down monasteries and took their property. This helped the royal finances. He also ended old feudal taxes and privileges. He started public works projects to create jobs for the poor. Roads were built, including a major one to Reggio. In his second year, Naples got its first public streetlights, like those in Paris.

Julie Clary, Queen of Naples, with her daughter Zenaide Bonaparte in 1807, by Robert Lefèvre

Joseph ruled Naples for two years. He doubled the kingdom's income. He always tried to make life better for his people. In 1808, he was replaced by his sister's husband, Joachim Murat. Joseph was then made King of Spain.

Becoming King of Spain

Joseph did not really want to leave Naples, where he was popular. He arrived in Spain, where he was not liked at all. People in Spain called him Pepe Botella (Joe Bottle). This was a nickname given by his opponents.

His arrival caused a huge Spanish uprising against French rule. This was the start of the Peninsular War. Many Spanish people did not want a French king. They wanted to stay loyal to their old kings and the Catholic Church.

Joseph and the French army had to retreat to northern Spain. Joseph felt bad about the situation. He even offered to give up the Spanish throne. He hoped Napoleon would let him go back to Naples. But Napoleon refused. He sent more French soldiers to help Joseph stay King of Spain.

King Joseph at Point Breeze, portrait painted on 2 February 1832 by the French artist Innocent-Louis Goubaud, during a visit to Bonaparte at his estate in New Jersey

Even though the French recaptured Madrid, Joseph's rule in Spain was always weak. Spanish fighters, called guerrillas, constantly fought against him. Joseph and his supporters never fully controlled the country.

Joseph's Spanish supporters were called josefinos or afrancesados (frenchified). During his time as king, he ended the Spanish Inquisition. This was partly because Napoleon was having problems with Pope Pius VII. Despite his efforts, most Spanish people never accepted Joseph as their true king. This was because he was foreign and a member of a Masonic group.

Joseph had little power over the Peninsular War. French commanders in Spain often ignored his orders. They preferred to check with Napoleon first.

King Joseph gave up the Spanish throne in 1813. This happened after the French forces were defeated at the Battle of Vitoria. He returned to France. During the final part of the war, Napoleon put Joseph in charge of Paris. Joseph was in command of the French army that lost the Battle of Paris.

Some people who supported Napoleon thought Joseph should be the next Emperor of France after Napoleon's son died in 1832. But Joseph did not try to claim the title.

Life in the United States and Europe

Joseph Bonaparte came to America in 1815. He lived in the United States from 1817 to 1832. He first settled in New York City and Philadelphia. His home became a meeting place for French people living abroad. In 1823, he became a member of the American Philosophical Society.

Joseph Bonaparte Historical Marker at 260 S 9th St Philadelphia PA

Later, he bought a large estate called Point Breeze. It was in Bordentown, New Jersey, by the Delaware River. He made the house much bigger and created beautiful gardens. After his first house burned down, he turned his stables into a second grand house. It was considered one of the finest houses in America. At Point Breeze, Joseph hosted many important thinkers and politicians.

It is said that some Mexican revolutionaries offered to make Joseph Emperor of Mexico in 1820. But he said no. Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821.

In 1832, Joseph moved to London. He returned to his American estate only sometimes. He died in Florence, Italy, in 1844. His body was brought back to France and buried in Les Invalides in Paris.

Joseph's Family

Joseph married Julie Clary on August 1, 1794. They had three daughters:

Julie Joséphine Bonaparte (1796–1797)
Zénaïde Laetitia Julie Bonaparte (1801–1854); she married Charles Lucien Bonaparte.
Charlotte Napoléone Bonaparte (1802–1839); she married Napoleon Louis Bonaparte.

Joseph named his two surviving daughters as his heirs.

He also had two children with Maria Giulia Colonna, the Countess of Atri:

Giulio (1806–1838)
Teresa (1808–died in infancy)

Joseph had two American daughters with Annette Savage ("Madame de la Folie"). They were born at his estate in Bordentown, New Jersey:

Pauline Anne; died young.
Catherine Charlotte (1822–1890); she married Col. Zebulon Howell Benton. They had four daughters and three sons.

Joseph and Freemasonry

Joseph Bonaparte joined a Freemason lodge in Marseille in 1793. His brother Napoleon asked him to oversee Freemasonry as the Grand Master of the Grand Orient of France. He also started the Grand Lodge National of Spain in 1809. Joseph helped Freemasonry grow again in France after the French Revolution.

Images for kids

Coat of arms as King of Naples
Coat of arms as King of Spain
Royal monogram as King of Spain
Spanish gold coin from 1811

Legacy

The Joseph Bonaparte Gulf in Australia is named after him.
Lake Bonaparte in Diana, New York, United States, is also named after him.

In Popular Culture

A character in the play Golden Boy (1937) is named Joe Bonaparte.
The novel Désirée (1951) by Annemarie Selinko tells the story of Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon, and the Clary sisters.
This novel was made into a film called Désirée (1954). Cameron Mitchell played Joseph Bonaparte.

Joseph Bonaparte facts for kids

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