Spring 1797

To Josephine,

I love you no longer; on the contrary, I detest you. you are a wretch, truly perverse, truly stupid, a real Cinderella. You never write to me at all, you do not love your husband; you know the pleasure that your letters give him yet you cannot even manage to write him half a dozen lines, dashed off in a moment!

What then do you do all day, Madame? What business is so vital that it robs you of the time to write to your faithful lover? What attachment can be stifling and pushing aside the love, the tender and constant love which you promised him? Who can this wonderful new lover be who takes up your every moment, rules your days and prevents you from devoting your attention to your husband? Beware, Josephine; one fine night the doors will be broken down and there I shall be.

In truth, I am worried, my love, to have no news from you; write me a four page letter instantly made up from those delightful words which fill my heart with emotion and joy.

I hope to hold you in my arms before long, when I shall lavish upon you a million kisses, burning as the equatorial sun.

Napoleon Bonaparte
(1769-1821)
Napoleon was born in Corsica. He became an army officer in 1785, and after rapid promotion, took command of the army of the interior in 1795. After a coup in 1799, Napoleon became first consul, and in 1804 emperor. Between 1804 and 1810 he consolidated his empire in Europe. In 1809 he nullified his 13 year marriage to Josephine and married Marie Louise of Austria, who bore him a son. In 1814, following defeat in Russia, he abdicated and was banished to Elba. In 1815 he resumed power, but was crushed at the Battle of Waterloo and exiled to St. Helena, where he died in 1821.

Marie-Josphe-Rose (Josephine) Tascher de la Pagerie
(1763-1814)
Josephine grew up on the island of Martinique. In 1779 she married the wealthy Vicomte de Beauharnais, and moved to Paris. They had two children--Hortense and Eugène--but the couple separated. She met the young Napoleon in 1795, and they married the following year. She was crowned empress in 1804, but Napoleon nullified the marriage in 1809. she retreated to Malmaison, where she died in 1814.