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Pauline Bonaparte(Maria Paola Buonaparte), Napoleon's second sister
Date of Birth: 20.10.1780
Country:  France |
Content:
Biography of Pauline Bonaparte
Pauline Bonaparte, also known as Maria Paola Buonaparte, was the second sister of Napoleon Bonaparte and the first Duchess of Guastalla. She was born into the family of Letizia Ramolino and Carlo Buonaparte, a representative from Corsica at the court of King Louis XVI. Pauline was baptized with the name Maria Paola but was called "Paoletta" within the family.
Early Life and Struggles
Little is known about Pauline's childhood, except that she did not receive a formal education. In 1785, her father Carlo Bonaparte passed away, which had a negative impact on the family's financial situation. Due to her brother Lucien Bonaparte's remarks, the family had to flee to mainland France in the summer of 1793. They attempted to sell their vineyards and possessions in Corsica to support themselves, but their efforts were in vain as the country was invaded by the British. The Bonaparte family endured extreme poverty during this time, and there were rumors that the women had to take laundry jobs to earn money. While the accuracy of these rumors is uncertain, it is known that the Bonapartes, like other Corsican refugees, received government aid.
Marriages and Motherhood
Pauline's first husband was French General Charles Leclerc. They married on June 14, 1797, in occupied Milan. They soon conceived a child, Dermide Louis Napoleon, who was born on April 20, 1798. Due to Leclerc's declining health, he was transferred to Paris and later to Brittany, while Pauline remained in the capital with their son. When Napoleon Bonaparte came to power, he sent Leclerc to restore order in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti), where a rebellion had broken out. Pauline and her son accompanied Leclerc on the flagship during this campaign, enduring the hardships of the local climate and a yellow fever epidemic.
After Leclerc's death in 1802, Pauline married her second husband, Camillo Borghese, the sixth Prince of Sulmona. In 1806, Napoleon bestowed upon Pauline the titles of Princess and Duchess of Guastalla. However, she later sold her lands to Count Parmesan for six million francs, retaining only her titles. Pauline's relationship with her brother became strained due to the machinations of Empress Marie Louise, but she remained loyal to Napoleon after his dethronement. She liquidated her long-term investments to support him financially and joined him on the island of Elba. After the Battle of Waterloo, Pauline moved to Rome, where she received support from Pope Pius VII.
Later Years and Death
Pauline spent the rest of her life in Rome. She managed to reconcile with her husband before her death from tuberculosis on June 9, 1825. Despite her turbulent life and relationships, Pauline Bonaparte remained a devoted sister to Napoleon.
