Napoleon Bonaparte he was historically recognized for his expressive charisma and military skill. Establishing a quick career, he was able to rise through the ranks of the French army and, soon after, assume the highest post in the government of that same country. However, in addition to his political and military skills, this acclaimed character was also known for his large number of love relationships.
As a young man, for not having been the holder of a very attractive image. , Napoleon ended up struggling with his studies, which guaranteed him, at just sixteen years , the status of lieutenant of the French army. Two years later, he couldn't resist the temptations of the various prostitutes who zigzagged around the Palais Royal in central Paris. One night, the young soldier ended up sleeping with one of these women after a long questioning about the life of the chosen prostitute.
With the outbreak of the revolution, Napoleon began to become known for his courage and cunning on the battlefield. However, the same prominent role did not happen to women, who continued to see him as a man of short stature and little expressiveness. Even taking dance and etiquette classes, no marriageable lady was ready to trust that disheveled, tactless figure.
The first young woman who expressed a desire to go to the altar with the promising brigadier general was Bernardine Eugénie Desirée , only sixteen years old. However, her father had not allowed the marriage, as he did not have much taste for the Bonaparte family. Years earlier, he had already allowed Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's older brother, to marry another of his daughters. In fact, the status of married man was only achieved by Napoleon in 1796, when the widow Josefina de Beauharnais accepted her request.
Lovingly in love with his wife, Napoleon wrote torrid love letters who confessed their complete devotion to Josephine. On the other hand, the woman cheated on him with other men and didn't mind answering her husband's love letters. Upon becoming aware of unrequited love, Napoleon decided to respond in kind by maintaining an affair with the beautiful Pauline Fourès , who had disguised herself as a man to accompany her husband in the battles of Egypt.
Her involvement with Pauline was no secret to any of her men, so much so that some jokingly called her “the general's blonde Cleopatra”. During the same time he was in Egyptian lands, Napoleon had another extramarital relationship with Zenab , daughter of an Egyptian sheikh who fought against French troops. With the campaigns in Egypt over, he returned home and, once again, did not find his unfaithful wife waiting for him.
Infuriated by Josephine's neglect, Napoleon concluded that the divorce should end the disagreement between the bankrupt couple. Desperate for the decision, the wife threw herself at her husband's feet, begging him for forgiveness. Seeing her in tears, Napoleon couldn't resist and forgave her. After this incident, the general rose on the French political scene with the support of the population, who saw him as an unquestionable national hero . In the year 1804, Napoleon became Emperor of France and made Josephine an empress.
Aware that his marriage was not successful, Napoleon took advantage of his power so that his advisors would entice the beautiful ladies of the Parisian court. Among the unknown mistresses, he had a more regular affair with actress Georgina , who was flattered by the desire she had aroused in one of the most powerful men of that era. Even fond of that situation, the emperor's wooers always recommended that she show surprise during the meetings, as was the taste of Napoleon.
At one point, Napoleon's sexual appetite ended up being used as an instrument of political bargaining . On one occasion, the French Emperor was hopelessly in love with the Polish Countess Maria Waleska . Upon learning of the situation, the compatriots encouraged Waleska to invest in the relationship. The objective behind the maneuver was to convince Napoleon to establish independence from Poland , which had been taken by troops from Russia, Prussia and Austria.
Involvement with Maria Waleska gave rise, in 1810, to Napoleon Bonaparte's first son, Alexander Walewski , which cannot be recognized. Despite the obstacle, the French emperor realized that he should leave an heir to the throne and that his wife was not physically able to become pregnant. With that, he decided to divorce Josefina, who, in turn, was completely devastated.
In fact, four years earlier, Napoleon had had another bastard child with Eléonore Denuelle , lady-in-waiting to one of the emperor's sisters. Unable to reveal who the child's father was, the servant decided to honor him with the name León, an abbreviation for “Napoleón”. At that time, the amorous adventures of the Corsican general began to spread his descendants across Europe.
Seeking to resolve the issue of the heir and, at the same time, cool the fury of enemy troops, Napoleon negotiated his marriage to Duchess Maria Luisa . As the daughter of the Emperor of Austria, this marriage could serve as a pivotal point for other European nations to recognize her rule. Later, in a relationship that seemed happy, Bonaparte managed to get his only legitimate child, François Charles Joseph Bonaparte or Napoleon II .
In 1814, the terrible defeats imposed by the Russian army ended up separating the imperial couple definitively. Not even when he took over France in the Hundred Days Government , the young empress had the opportunity to meet her beloved husband. Over time, distance eventually forced her to sustain an extramarital relationship with aide-de-camp Adam Albert Graf von Neipperg.
While he was exiled to Saint Helena, Napoleon had an affair with Albine Héléne , wife of one of the servants who accompanied him in exile. In 1819, the young Albine left the island with a child named Josephine, whom the defeated Emperor recognized as his daughter. Interestingly, before he died, Napoleon asked that his heart be sent to Maria Luisa . However, the British authorities did not allow this last and macabre romantic gesture to be carried out.
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