Hippolyte Charles
Encyclopedia
Hippolyte Charles was best known for being Josephine Bonaparte's
lover soon after her marriage to Napoleon Bonaparte
and he was one of the main reasons for Napoleon and Josephine's eventual divorce.
June 24, 1796 Josephine decides to rejoin Napoleon accompanied by her lover Hippolyte, her brother-in-law Joseph Bonaparte
and Colonel Junot. On 13 July, She finds Napoleon at the gates of Milan, but she continued her affair with Hippolyte soon afterwards on the way back to Paris. It is rumoured that the two lovers were involved in some illicit business dealings in addition to their illicit liaisons. The recently promoted captain enriched through these dubious business transactions was able to leave the army.
March 17, 1798, the two lovers are denounced to Napoleon and he enters into a great rage. However, Josephine is able to soothe the rage and convince him that the rumours are untrue. Again in July 1798, when Bonaparte was in Egypt
, the infidelities of his wife were once again reported to him. He wrote to his brother Joseph to prepare for divorce. Bonaparte's letter was intercepted by Admiral Nelson
and the loss of the French fleet prevented any correspondence. Learning of the landing of Napoleon at Fréjus
, Josephine rushes to meet her husband to try with all her charm, to dissuade his intention to divorce. She realises that she must break up with Hippolyte Charles if she is to enjoy all the advantages of being married to Napoleon at the height of his glory. She becomes the first lady of the country and resides at the palais du Luxembourg
in Paris.
In November 1804, Hippolyte Charles bought the estate of Cassan from Francois-Denis Courtillier. The source of the funds for this purchase is rumoured to have originated from his dubious business deals with Josephine.
In 1808 during the Peninsular war
and under the protection of his old Hussar
regiment, Hyppolyte Charles travelled to Spain
. The journey proved fortuitous and added considerably to his wealth as he was able to acquire from a Spanish Officer and French soldiers looted treasures much of it itself looted from South America and Incan
in origin. He befriended the Spanish officer, originally from Buenos Aires
, after recognising his peculiar secret society
handshake.
Having lost those who have brought him glory and love, Hippolyte Charles sells the Cassan estate in 1828 to Jacques-Honoré Recappé, a former notary public and general counsel of the Seine and Oise region. He decided to retire to his native land where he bought an even more expensive castle in Génissieux
in the Drôme.
Hippolyte Charles died there in 1837.
bases his character the General Comte de Montcornet on Hippolyte Charles. The same character also appears in the book La Muse du département by the same author where Montcornet serves in the Peninsular war.
Hippolyte Charles was portrayed by English actor Tony Anholt
in the 1974 mini-series Napoleon and Love
. In the series, Josephine
's infidelities with Charles are accidentally disclosed to Napoleon by a drunken Jean-Andoche Junot
during the French Campaign in Egypt and Syria. On his return to France, Napoleon is determined to divorce Josephine immediately. He is, however, convinced by Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord to delay the divorce and conceal the infidelities on the grounds that it would be politically unwise to reveal that he is a cuckold on the verge of his planned coup d'état of 18 Brumaire
.
Joséphine de Beauharnais
Joséphine de Beauharnais was the first wife of Napoléon Bonaparte, and thus the first Empress of the French. Her first husband Alexandre de Beauharnais had been guillotined during the Reign of Terror, and she had been imprisoned in the Carmes prison until her release five days after Alexandre's...
lover soon after her marriage to Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
and he was one of the main reasons for Napoleon and Josephine's eventual divorce.
Biography
Born in Romans in 1773, Hippolyte Charles joined the French army as a volunteer. In 1796, While Napoleon Bonaparte has busy winning his first victories in Italy, Hippolyte Charles, a lieutenant in the Hussar regiment and deputy to General Leclerc, Bonaparte's brother-in-law, first met Josephine in Paris. They began an affair immediately. Although she was 9 years his elder, she could not resist his charm and his uniform. Hippolyte Charles was a Southerner and made up for his short stature with a very handsome face with a dark complexion and long black whiskers and moustache. According to the Duchess of Abrantes, "Charles spoke only puns and was the buffoon," but she adds, "he was what is called a strange boy, he made people laugh, it was impossible to find a funnier man." Charles was attracted to Josephine for her confidence, power and sexual experience. She was known to have many lovers and was reputedly well practiced in the arts of lovemaking.June 24, 1796 Josephine decides to rejoin Napoleon accompanied by her lover Hippolyte, her brother-in-law Joseph Bonaparte
Joseph Bonaparte
Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte was the elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, who made him King of Naples and Sicily , and later King of Spain...
and Colonel Junot. On 13 July, She finds Napoleon at the gates of Milan, but she continued her affair with Hippolyte soon afterwards on the way back to Paris. It is rumoured that the two lovers were involved in some illicit business dealings in addition to their illicit liaisons. The recently promoted captain enriched through these dubious business transactions was able to leave the army.
March 17, 1798, the two lovers are denounced to Napoleon and he enters into a great rage. However, Josephine is able to soothe the rage and convince him that the rumours are untrue. Again in July 1798, when Bonaparte was in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, the infidelities of his wife were once again reported to him. He wrote to his brother Joseph to prepare for divorce. Bonaparte's letter was intercepted by Admiral Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson
Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté, KB was a flag officer famous for his service in the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars. He was noted for his inspirational leadership and superb grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics, which resulted in a number of...
and the loss of the French fleet prevented any correspondence. Learning of the landing of Napoleon at Fréjus
Fréjus
Fréjus is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.It neighbours Saint-Raphaël, effectively forming one town...
, Josephine rushes to meet her husband to try with all her charm, to dissuade his intention to divorce. She realises that she must break up with Hippolyte Charles if she is to enjoy all the advantages of being married to Napoleon at the height of his glory. She becomes the first lady of the country and resides at the palais du Luxembourg
Luxembourg Palace
The Luxembourg Palace in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, north of the Luxembourg Garden , is the seat of the French Senate.The formal Luxembourg Garden presents a 25-hectare green parterre of gravel and lawn populated with statues and provided with large basins of water where children sail model...
in Paris.
In November 1804, Hippolyte Charles bought the estate of Cassan from Francois-Denis Courtillier. The source of the funds for this purchase is rumoured to have originated from his dubious business deals with Josephine.
In 1808 during the Peninsular war
Peninsular War
The Peninsular War was a war between France and the allied powers of Spain, the United Kingdom, and Portugal for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars. The war began when French and Spanish armies crossed Spain and invaded Portugal in 1807. Then, in 1808, France turned on its...
and under the protection of his old Hussar
Hussar
Hussar refers to a number of types of light cavalry which originated in Hungary in the 14th century, tracing its roots from Serbian medieval cavalry tradition, brought to Hungary in the course of the Serb migrations, which began in the late 14th century....
regiment, Hyppolyte Charles travelled to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The journey proved fortuitous and added considerably to his wealth as he was able to acquire from a Spanish Officer and French soldiers looted treasures much of it itself looted from South America and Incan
Inca Empire
The Inca Empire, or Inka Empire , was the largest empire in pre-Columbian America. The administrative, political and military center of the empire was located in Cusco in modern-day Peru. The Inca civilization arose from the highlands of Peru sometime in the early 13th century...
in origin. He befriended the Spanish officer, originally from Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, after recognising his peculiar secret society
Secret society
A secret society is a club or organization whose activities and inner functioning are concealed from non-members. The society may or may not attempt to conceal its existence. The term usually excludes covert groups, such as intelligence agencies or guerrilla insurgencies, which hide their...
handshake.
Having lost those who have brought him glory and love, Hippolyte Charles sells the Cassan estate in 1828 to Jacques-Honoré Recappé, a former notary public and general counsel of the Seine and Oise region. He decided to retire to his native land where he bought an even more expensive castle in Génissieux
Génissieux
Génissieux is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:-References:*...
in the Drôme.
Hippolyte Charles died there in 1837.
In popular culture
In the novel Les Paysans, the author, Honoré de BalzacHonoré de Balzac
Honoré de Balzac was a French novelist and playwright. His magnum opus was a sequence of short stories and novels collectively entitled La Comédie humaine, which presents a panorama of French life in the years after the 1815 fall of Napoleon....
bases his character the General Comte de Montcornet on Hippolyte Charles. The same character also appears in the book La Muse du département by the same author where Montcornet serves in the Peninsular war.
Hippolyte Charles was portrayed by English actor Tony Anholt
Tony Anholt
Anthony "Tony" Anholt was a British actor best known for his roles as Security Chief Tony Verdeschi in the second season of Gerry Anderson's television series Space: 1999 , Paul Buchet in The Protectors and as Charles Frere in the highly-successful BBC drama series Howards' Way .Anholt was...
in the 1974 mini-series Napoleon and Love
Napoleon and Love
Napoleon and Love was a 1974 British television series originally aired on ITV and lasting for 9 episodes from 5 March to 30 April 1974. The series starred Ian Holm in the title role as Napoleon I and depicts his relationships with the woman who featured in his life as a backdrop to his rise and...
. In the series, Josephine
Josephine
Josephine is a female name, a feminine form of Joseph. It may refer to:-People:* Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first Empress of the French.* Josephine Brunsvik, Hungarian Countess, most likely Beethoven's Immortal Beloved* Josephine -Other:...
's infidelities with Charles are accidentally disclosed to Napoleon by a drunken Jean-Andoche Junot
Jean-Andoche Junot
Jean-Andoche Junot, 1st Duke of Abrantès was a French general during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.-Early life:...
during the French Campaign in Egypt and Syria. On his return to France, Napoleon is determined to divorce Josephine immediately. He is, however, convinced by Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord to delay the divorce and conceal the infidelities on the grounds that it would be politically unwise to reveal that he is a cuckold on the verge of his planned coup d'état of 18 Brumaire
18 Brumaire
The coup of 18 Brumaire was the coup d'état by which General Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the French Directory, replacing it with the French Consulate...
.
Further reading
- Balteau, J. et al. (1933) Dictionnaire de biographie française. vol. 8. Letouzey et Ané.
- Delorme, Eleanor P. (2002). Josephine: Napoleon's Incomparable Empress. (1st ed.) Harry N. Abrams. pp. 248. ISBN 0810912295.
- Gulland, Sandra (1999). Tales Of Passion Tales Of Woe. (1st ed.) Scribner. pp. 370. ISBN 0684856077.
- Fallou, Louis (2008). Nos Hussards 1692-1902. (2nd ed.) Lavauzelle. 352 pp. ISBN 2702510191.
External links
- Joséphine de Beauharnais (de Tascher de la Pagerie) Site published by the current members of the family Tascher de la Pagerie.