Archive for July 23rd, 2008

1794: Alexandre de Beauharnais, widowing Josephine for Napoleon

4 comments July 23rd, 2008 Headsman

On this date in 1794, Napoleon Bonaparte’s future Empress became a widow.

Alexandre de Beauharnais — excuse me, that’s Alexandre François Marie de Beauharnais, Vicomte de Beauharnais to you — a liberal noble from Martinique who had served as a general in the American Revolution, was a pol with some juice in the earlier stages of the French Revolution, even declining to become Minister of War in June 1793.

It was a long fall to a short chop when he was accused of allowing Mainz to fall to the Germans through incompetence and/or insufficient revolutionary ardor. His brother Augustin was also among the day’s batch.

Just another forgettable aristocrat, shaved by the national razor.

But surviving Beauharnais — in prison herself at this moment, and in some danger of following his footsteps were it not for the imminent coup of Thermidor — was his wife by arranged marriage, 31-year-old sugar plantation heiress Josephine, later immortalized by remarrying the officer who would go on to bend all Europe to his will, Napoleon Bonaparte.

Thanks to his widow’s well-chosen conquest, Beauharnais’ children, dynastically married off under Napoleon’s adoption, would go on to sire a plethora of European royalty.

Part of the Themed Set: Thermidor.

Also On This Date

Possibly Related Executions

Entry Filed under: 18th Century, Beheaded, Capital Punishment, Death Penalty, Execution, France, French Revolution, Guillotine, History, Mass Executions, Military Crimes, Nobility, Not Executed, Notably Survived By, Politicians, Public Executions, Soldiers

Tags: , , , , , , , ,


Calendar

Archives

Categories

Wrongfully Executed?

You read it here first: Cameron Todd Willingham execution profiled in February 2008 now receiving widespread (and official) scrutiny as likely wrongful execution. Is Willingham alone? Hardly: remember the name Ruben Cantu.

Recently Commented

  • KYGB: Last visit the day & night before: Dr James...
  • Kevin M. Sullivan: I couldn’t tell ya for sure.
  • Kanchana: Who were his last visitors (besides Diana...
  • Kevin M. Sullivan: Yeah, I’ve seen that picture....
  • sherwin: my surname is sherwin could i be a decendant,...

Tweets! Of! Death!