Pauline Bonaparte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pauline Bonaparte |
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| Princess of Guastalla Princess consort of Sulmona and of Rossano |
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Portrait by Robert Lefèvre, 1809
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| Duchess of Guastalla | |||||
| Reign | 24 March 1806 – 14 August 1806 | ||||
| Predecessor | Ferdinand | ||||
| Successor | Duchy annexed by Parma | ||||
| Born | 20 October 1780 Maison Bonaparte, Ajaccio, Corsica |
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| Died | 9 June 1825 (aged 44) Florence, Tuscany |
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| Burial | Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Rome | ||||
| Spouse |
Camillo, 6th Prince of Sulmona
(m. 1803) |
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| Issue | Dermide Leclerc | ||||
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| House | Bonaparte | ||||
| Father | Carlo Maria Buonaparte | ||||
| Mother | Letizia Ramolino | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||
Pauline Bonaparte (born Maria Paola Bonaparte; 20 October 1780 – 9 June 1825) was a French princess. She was the first Duchess of Guastalla and a princess by marriage in Italy. Pauline was the sixth child of Letizia Ramolino and Carlo Buonaparte. Her older brother was Napoleon, who became the first Emperor of the French.
Pauline first married Charles Leclerc, a French general. After he died in 1802, she married Camillo Borghese, 6th Prince of Sulmona. Her only child, Dermide Leclerc, died when he was young. Pauline was the only one of Napoleon's siblings to visit him when he was exiled on the island of Elba.
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Early Life and First Marriage
Maria Paola Buonaparte was born on 20 October 1780 in Ajaccio, Corsica. She was the sixth child of Letizia Ramolino and Carlo Maria Buonaparte. Her family later changed their name to the French spelling, Bonaparte. People often called her "Paolina" in Italian. She was known as "Paulette" when she moved to mainland France.
Pauline did not have much formal education. After her father died in 1785, her family became very poor. In 1793, her family had to leave Corsica and move to France. They received some money from the French government to help them.
Her brother, Napoleon, introduced her to General Charles Leclerc. Pauline married General Leclerc in Milan on 14 June 1797. Napoleon then put Leclerc in charge of the French army in Italy. Pauline gave birth to their son, Dermide Louis Napoleon, on 20 April 1798. Leclerc bought a large property to celebrate.
In 1799, Napoleon took control of France and became the First Consul. This made him the most powerful person in the country.
Life in Saint-Domingue
Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) was a French colony in the West Indies. It had been rebelling against France since 1791. Napoleon wanted to bring the colony back under French control. He sent General Leclerc to lead an expedition there. Leclerc was made the Governor-General of the island.
Pauline, Leclerc, and their son Dermide sailed to the colony on 14 December 1801. Their journey took 45 days. When they arrived, Leclerc tried to take control of the main city, Le Cap. The local general, Henri Christophe, burned the city down instead. Pauline stayed on the ship with her son during this time.
Many French soldiers died from yellow fever, a serious illness. Leclerc had promised that slavery would not return to the colony. However, when people heard that slavery was brought back in another French colony, they planned a rebellion. Many local soldiers in Leclerc's army joined the rebels.
Pauline's health suffered in the hot climate. She often felt sick and had to rest a lot. Both she and Dermide got yellow fever. Leclerc asked Pauline to return to Paris in August. She said she would if he gave her a lot of money. When he refused, she decided to stay. She said that in Saint-Domingue, she felt important, like Napoleon's wife, Josephine.
To keep busy, Pauline collected local plants and started a small zoo with native animals. On 22 October 1802, Leclerc became very ill. He died on 1 November, likely from yellow fever. Seven days later, Pauline, Dermide, and Leclerc's body sailed back to France.
Becoming Princess Borghese
Pauline arrived back in France on 1 January 1803. She wrote to Napoleon, saying she was very sad about Leclerc's death. She inherited a good amount of money from Leclerc.
Pauline soon got tired of living with her brother Joseph. She bought her own house in Paris. Napoleon did not want her to stay unmarried for long. He wanted her to marry someone important to strengthen ties with French-controlled Italy. Pope Pius VII's representative suggested Camillo Borghese, 6th Prince of Sulmona, a Roman noble.
Pauline married Camillo Borghese on 28 August 1803. This marriage brought Camillo a large sum of money and Pauline valuable jewelry. Napoleon was upset because he wanted the wedding to be later, following mourning customs. He refused to recognize her new title at first. A second, official ceremony was held in November to confirm the marriage.
Pauline, Camillo, and Dermide moved to Rome on 14 November. Pauline learned how to act in Roman high society. Her son Dermide, who was always a delicate child, died on 14 August 1804. He had a strong fever and seizures.
After Napoleon's Power Ended
In 1806, Napoleon made Pauline the Princess and Duchess of Guastalla. However, she soon sold this land to Parma for a lot of money. She kept only the title of Princess of Guastalla.
Pauline sometimes had disagreements with her brother. But when Napoleon's power began to fail, Pauline showed herself to be very loyal. She was more loyal than any of his other brothers and sisters.
When Napoleon lost power, Pauline sold her belongings. She used the money to help Napoleon when he was exiled on the island of Elba. She was the only one of his siblings to visit him there. Her home in Paris was sold to the British government. Today, it is still the home of the British ambassador in France.
After the Battle of Waterloo, Pauline moved to Rome. She was protected by Pope Pius VII, who had once been Napoleon's prisoner. Her mother and other family members also lived in Rome. Pauline lived in a beautiful villa that was named Villa Paolina after her.
Pauline suffered from poor health for much of her life. She died on 9 June 1825, at the age of 44, in Florence. The cause of her death was likely pulmonary tuberculosis, a serious lung illness.
Health
Pauline was often in poor health throughout her life. She died on 9 June 1825, at 44 years old, in Florence. The cause of death was likely pulmonary tuberculosis, a lung disease.
See also
In Spanish: Paulina Bonaparte para niños
