Beauharnais, Josephine de
Born Marie Rose Josephine Tascher de la Pagerie, Josephine became a noted Parisian socialite after marrying Alexandre de Beauharnais. She survived both the execution of her husband and imprisonment during the French Revolution to marry Napoleon Bonaparte, a promising general whose rise soon made her Empress of France. She died, still popular with the public, in 1814.
A brief introduction to Marie-Rose de Tascher de la Pagerie, otherwise known as Josephine de Beauharnais.
Sanda Gulland's article traces the changes 'Josephine' made to her name throughout her life, with particular emphasis on the decline of ‘Rose’ and the role of Napoleon.
This well-written biography is empathetic and understanding in its account of Josephine's life, although the author often refers to details she hasn't mentioned. Of course, this could spur you into reading the full-length biography she recommends! The same page is
here under a different design.
This four page article is about the romance, marriage and post-divorce life of both Napoleon and Josephine; there are plenty of quotations.
