Figure 1.-- The second painting was done about 1825, a decade after Napoleon's fall from power. The artist was Michel Ghislain Stapleaux. He painted the children of Jérôme Bonaparte, the younger brother of the Emperor. We are not sure who the older boy is. Jerome's first son was with an American--Jérôme Napoleon Bonaparte-Patterson. But as far as we know, he remined in America. The two younger children are apparently the daughter and son he had with Catharina of Württemberg--Mathilde and Joseph Charles Paul Bonaparte.

Jerome was the youngest of the Bonaparte children. In many ways he was more like a son than a brother. Napoleon made him Duke of Berg. Jerome entered the navy and eventually became a vice-admral. During a port call in America, he became enamored with Elizabeth Patterson (1785-1879), the daughter of a Baltimore merchant and a wealthy heiress. Disregarding the family compact, he married her. A son, Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Camberwell, Surrey, England. Napoleon was angry with Jerome because the marriage had none of the dynastic ties that the Emperor felt were so important. Jerome returned to France and attempted to repair his relationship with his brother. He joined the Emperor as a divisional commander of the Bavarian forces in the Grande Armee (1806) Eventually Jerome yielded to his brother's advise and divorced his American wife. He was duly rewarded with a new kingdom of Westphalia (1807). This was a German state Napoleon fashioned out of western Germany. He married Catharina of Württemberg. This was the kind of political marruiage that Napoleon thought so important. As Prussia was still a threat, the marriage to the daughter of the Elector Frederick helped to ballance the power of Prussia within Germany. They had two children Their son Napoléon Joseph Charles Paul Bonaparte (1822-91) was known as "Prince Napoleon" or "Plon-Plon". His ancestors now lead the Bonaparte family. Their daughter, the Princess Mathilde Bonaparte married Prince Demidoff and became a noted hostess during Napoleon III's Second Empire. Napoleon advised Jerome that the way to win over the German was a just legal code (the Code Napoleon) and the benefits of liberal and constitutional rule. Jerome served as a corps commander in campaign along the Danube(1809). Jerome also joined the Emperor in his invasion of Russia (1812). He was placed in charge of the Grand Armee's right wing. He performed poorly and his brother replaced him. When the Allies forced the French from Germany, Jerome had to leave Westphalia and returned to France. He joined his brother again in the 100 Days' Campaign after the escape from Elba. Napoleon gave Jerome another command. At Waterloo he was largely responsible for the costly attacks on Hougoumont. The Bourbons exiled Jerome and he wondered Europe. The King of Württemberg granted him the title of Prince of Montfort as he was married to his daughter and father of his grandchildren. With the fall of his brother, Jerome went to Italy where he married Giustina Pecori-Suárez, the widow of an Italian nobleman. Just before Revolution broke out again in France, the Government allowed him to return (1847). Under the Empire established by his naphew Napoleon III, he received many important appointments. The first appointment was governor of Les Invalides, the Paris burial place of his brother, the Emperor Napoleon I. Jerome was president of the Senate and became a marshal of France. Jerome died in 1860 at Villegenis. He is buried in Les Invalides, Paris.

Parents

Bonaparte Children

Jerome was the youngest of the Bonaparte children. In many ways, he was more like a son than a brother to the famous older brother, the Emperor. Napoleon's parents had 13 children and eight survived to adulthood. Their father died in 1785. Napoleon as the eldest son thus became head of his large and demanding family. He assumed this responsibility with some dedication and soon as First Consul and then ruler and eventually emperor he was in a position to provide not only favors, but titles including royal titles to his family. He appointed his four brothers to important positions, making them kings, dukes, and counts. His sisters he married of to established Europeam royalty. History has not been particularly kind to Napoleon's brothers. Lucian is generally see as intelligent and an able administrator. Louis ruled competently in Holland, although irritating his brother. Basically the family seems to have been rather a hinderance and distraction rather than a help to the Emperor. Had the Emperor succeeded, the Bonaparte family would have been the rulers and govered the destiny of Europe.

Childhood

Education

Duke of Berg

Napoleon made him Duke of Berg.

Naval Career

Jérome entered the navy and eventually became a vice-admiral.

American Marriage

During a port call in America, Jérome became enamored with a very young Elizabeth Patterson (1785-1879) known as Betsey. She was the daughter of a Baltimore merchant and a wealthy heiress. Disregarding the family compact, he married her. A son, Jérome Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Camberwell, Surrey, England. Jérome brought her back to France. She sat for David, but he never completed the portrait. Napoleon was angry with Jerome because the marriage had none of the dynastic ties which the Emperor felt were so important. The Emperor demanded that Jérome divorse her or lose all political power. Eventually Jérome yielded to his brother's advise and divorced his beautiful American wife. Betsy fled to England and then returned to Baltimore. She managed to turn a modest French pension into a fortune. [Berkin]

Mending Fences (1806)

Jerome returned to France and attempted to repair his relationship with his brother. He joined the Emperor as a divisional commander of the Bavarian forces in the Grande Armee (1806).

Westphalia (1807)

Jerome after joining the Emperor for the military campaign and divircing his American wife manage to get back in his brother's good graces. The Emperor duly rewarded Jerome. with a new kingdom of Westphalia (1807). This was a German state Napoleon fashioned out of western Germany. Napoleon advised Jerome that the way to win over the Germans was a just legal code (the Code Napoleon) and the benefits of liberal and constitutional rule.

Second Marriage

Catharina of Württemberg

Jermome married Catharina of Württemberg (1807). This was the kind of political marriage that Napoleon thought so important in intertwining the Bonaparte family within the wider network of European royalty. As Prussia was still a threat, the marriage to the daughter of the Elector Frederick helped to ballance the power of Prussia within Germany. Catharina was a descendant of England's George II and a niece of Caroline of Brunswick, wife of King George IV.

Children

Jerome and Catharina had two children. Their daughter, the Princess Mathilde Bonaparte (1820-94) married Prince Demidoff and became a noted hostess during Napoleon III's Second Empire. Their son Napoléon Joseph Charles Paul Bonaparte (1822-91) was known as "Prince Napoleon" or "Plon-Plon". His ancestors now lead the Bonaparte family. He became the titular 3rd Prince of Montfort. He was Jerome's second son and the onmly son with Catharina while they were kibng and quennof Westphalia. He played on his family ties to the Eperor, Napoleon I. He became a close advisor to his first cousin, Louis who became Emperir Napoleon III. After the French revolution of 1848 he was elected to the National Assembly as a representative of Corsica. He had two sons Victor (1862-1926) and Louis (1864-1926). Victor was the oldest and the heir asppsrent. The boys were raised in both France and England where for several years they lived in exile. Louis Napoleon was the son of Bonaparte claimant Victor Napoleon, at the time often referred to ax Prince Napoleon. His mother was Princess Clementine of Belgium (daughter of King Leopold II of Belgium. Louis and his sister lived with his parents in Brussels, as he was a claimant to the Imperial throne of France, he could not live in France.

Further Military Activities

Jerome served as a corps commander in campaign along the Danube(1809). Jerome also joined the Emperor in his invasion of Russia (1812). He was placed in charge of the Grand Armee's right wing. He performed poorly and his brother replaced him. When the Allies forced the French from Germany, Jerome had to leave Westphalia and returned to France. He joined his brother again in the 100 Days' Campaign after the escape from Elba. Napoleon gave Jerome another command. At Waterloo he was largely responsible for the costly attacks on Hougoumont--one of the reasons the French were defeated. This delayed tghe French, giving time for the Marshall Blucher's Prussians to reach the battklefield.

Exile

The King of Württemberg, his fatgher-inlaw, granted him the title of Prince of Montfort as he was married to his daughter and father of his grandchildren. But he eventually exiled him. The Bourbons exiled him from France. Jerome wondered Europe.

Third Marriage

Jerome, with the fall of his brother, went to Italy where he married Giustina Pecori-Suárez, the widow of an Italian nobleman.

Second Empire

Just before Revolution broke out again in France, the Government allowed him to return (1847). Under the Empire established by his nephew Napoleon III, he received many important appointments. The first appointment was governor of Les Invalides, the Paris burial place of his brother, the Emperor Napoleon I. Jerome was president of the Senate and became a marshal of France. Jerome died in 1860 at Villegenis. He is buried in Les Invalides, Paris.

Sources

Berkin, Carol. Wondrous Beauty: Life and Adventures of Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte (2013), 256p.

Created: 12:50 PM 10/17/2010
Last updated: 7:22 AM 2/21/2014