Villanelle Pour Josephine
by Iryna Goodall
Title
Villanelle Pour Josephine
Artist
Iryna Goodall
Medium
Photograph
Description
Entrance porch in the shape of a military tent decorated with peony flowers of the beautiful Chateau de Malmaison, a cozy country house, in Rueil-Malmaison, France, the former residence of Empress Josephine. It was also the headquarters of the French government from 1800 to 1802 as well as Napoleon’s last residence in France at the end of the Hundred Days in 1815.
Five years after the ceremony which made Josephine an Empress, Napoleon decided to divorce her so he could produce an heir. Initially he had believed the lack of a child was a problem on his side because Josephine already had two children. Napoleon officially adopted them a year after declaring himself Emperor, when Josephine was 42.
Later the same year, one of Napoleon’s mistresses had gave birth to a son Leon (short for Napoleon). The following month, Napoleon met the young Polish countess Marie Walewska. When she became pregnant, Napoleon knew he could father a child and looked for a new Empress among the European royal families.
The divorce settlement was generous. Josephine kept the title of Empress. She was also made Duchess of Navarre and given the chateau there. Most important to Josephine was that she received in her own right the Chateau de Malmaison, her favorite residence.
Uploaded
May 3rd, 2021
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