THE GREATEST LOVE STORIES IN HISTORY: NAPOLEON AND JOSEPHINE

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear someone mention Napoleon? For me, I immediately think “short” or think about George Orwell’s ’Napoleon’ in ‘Animal Farm.’ Imagine my surprise when I found out that Napoleon Bonaparte wasn’t necessarily short. If anything, he was more or less average. The British propaganda machine just wanted to make him sound like a tiny hobbit you could squash with your boots.

But for all his height and dictator ing issues, Napoleon was still a human being who fell in love. One of the greatest love affair in history had began in 1975 when Napoleon met Josephine de Beau harn ais At the time, Josephine, a widow, was mistress to one of France’s most powerful politicians. She was also a revolutionary heroine, having narrowly escaped the guillotine. Napoleon was sold, hook line and sinker.

He loved Josephine so hard that at one time Josephine said of his love for her: “He does not love me, he worships me. I think he will go mad.” They were married a year after they met, with Napoleon arriving four hours late for their wedding because planning invasions is time consuming. In the 10 years that followed their marriage Napoleon outmaneuvered politicians and made himself consul and then eventually, Emperor of France.’ It is without question that Napoleon would not have made it without the support of his beautiful wife.

After years of trying to conceive, Napoleon finally relented to his ministers’ pressure to divorce Josephine and marry a woman who could produce an heir. It is said that Josephine’s screams could be heard across the palace. Josephine retreated to Malmaison, their beautiful home outside Paris. Watching her husband marry Marie Louise of Austria and having the son he wanted. Without Josephine by his side, Napoleon’s luck seemed to run out.

He was captured and imprisoned in 1814. Josephine, ever the loving wife, remained loyal to her husband and was devastated by his imprisonment. A month after her husband was imprisoned, Josephine fell ill. She died a few days later, having lost the will to live without her husband. When Napoleon died in exile seven years later, his last words were: “France…Army…Head of the Army…Josephine.”