In a recent excerpt we shared of Napoleon’s Memoirs as recounted to Las Cases, Napoleon was complaining about his brother Louis. During Napoleon’s reign, Louis was offering to return to Napoleon but only under various conditions. Mostly, he wanted to divorce Hortense and he wanted Napoleon to give him the Dutch throne again.
Napoleon sounded very offended at the mere suggestion that Louis might want to divorce the wife who could not stand him and was with someone else at the time. This says a lot more about Napoleon’s need to keep Hortense attached to him as a Bonaparte and the mother of his heirs - should 2nd wife daughter-of-his-enemy Marie Louise not work out. I’ve also been asserting all along that Napoleon was trying to conceal a very deep passion for Hortense.
From the point of Louis’ marriage to Hortense in 1802 on, Louis seems enraged towards both Napoleon and Hortense. I suspect that the main reason was that he felt aggravated for getting stuck with a wife who was really in love with his brother - and he with her.
It was widely believed at the time that Louis’ marriage was just a smokescreen for Napoleon’s ongoing affair with Hortense. Since Louis really did love Hortense and Napoleon, this situation may have contributed to his mental and health problems.
It is also true that Louis had wanted to marry Hortense’s cousin Emilie, later the famous Madame Lavalette who saved her husband. Napoleon would not allow the marriage between Louis and Emilie because Emilie’s father was an emigré - someone who abandoned France during the Revolution.
Before the marriage of Louis and Hortense, Napoleon and Louis are on excellent terms by all accounts.
Napoleon Louis and Louis Bonaparte.
During the tragic year of 1813, when as a consequence of his 2nd marriage, everything was falling apart, Napoleon had Louis pestering him for Holland.
Let’s find out what that looked like. Napoleon’s mother known as Madame Mère (Mrs. Mother) was telling Louis what she was thinking and Louis had to cool down first but he responded to his mother in a letter.
Its worth noting how similar Madame sounds to Napoleon. Not surprisingly, he got a lot of his ways from her.
Napoleon’s mother, Letizia.
Madame Mère to her son Louis.
Paris, February 20, 1813.
My dear son,
Your letters of January 1 and 2 were delivered to me by the Emperor. He communicated to me, at the same time, that which you addressed to me through him. I cannot tell you how much I have experienced satisfaction and contentment.
I bless heaven, from the bottom of my soul, for having inspired you with this approach in the present circumstances. It honors your heart, as well as your mind; and I would love you more if my tenderness for you were liable to increase.
But it is not enough, my dear son, to have taken a first step; we must not be put off and crown the work. The Emperor read me the answer he gave you. As far as I can tell, apart from the article from Holland, you must be happy with it.
He ends up strongly urging you to come and join him in Paris, and I join my urging with his to ask you not to refuse this time this invitation.
I ask you, in the name of all that you hold dear and as the greatest proof that you can give me of your attachment: I order you, if necessary, as your mother.
If I could entrust to paper all the powerful motives that call you to Paris, I am sure that you would not hesitate for a moment to leave your exile and go to your family; but it is enough to tell you that your presence here is urgently needed, and much more necessary than you can imagine from afar.
Put aside all the reasons that could still keep you away from us: Listen only to the voice of nature; meet your family who needs you right now. The circumstance, moreover, could not be more favorable for you.
Your return during this crisis will excite the same admiration in Europe, which your firmness of character has excited for three years. The public will applaud your noble dedication. And then, what consolation will you not feel to see your children again, to watch closely, the education of your Napoleon (Napoleon Louis), who is so amiable, so interesting and who already gives so much hope!
It will make you forget, I have no doubt, all the past. I will not repeat to you what I have told you a thousand times about my situation.
I owe you the peace and quiet of my soul, if you return; otherwise, you will have to blame yourself for having shortened the sad remains of my life and for having brought me down to the tomb, without being sorry for losing my life.
My health has been fairly good so far. Paulette tells me that she is starting to get better. Your uncle [Cardinal Fesch] is still in Lyon where he enjoys good health. The Queen of Spain gives you news directly. The Emperor, the Empress and the King of Rome are doing well.
The Emperor forgot to give me your poems; but I will ask for them and I will tell you what I think about them in my next letter.
Adieu, my dear son; do not make me wait long for your answer, and I hope that it conforms to the wishes of my heart.
I embrace you with all my soul.
Vostra affettuosa Madre.
…
Letter from Louis to Madame Mère.
Gratz, March 7, 1813.
I received your letter of February 26, along with that of Julie [Queen of Spain]. If I waited a long time to answer you, it is because I am holding on to things that affect me too much for me to talk about.
Why, my dear Mom, do you always make me repeat the same things? I can only stay in Holland, which has become, in spite of myself, my country, since 1806.
I would agree to become French again, if my brother wanted to give Holland back to my son and consent to my becoming a private individual.
What can I do? Go to France, see unfaithful Dutch people who seem to thank, through my person, my brother for what he took away, as well as what he took from my children, the throne which he had so much contributed to make me obtain?
If he cannot or will not agree that I was forced to abdicate, and maintains that I left my kingdom by my own will, can he deny that my son at least has not abdicated? He had done nothing to be disinherited, nor did his father!
No, my dear mother, I would suffer a thousand times more if I stayed abroad; I would rather suffer a thousand deaths than do what is against my conscience and my duty. Don't talk to me about it anymore.
However if ever my brother could recognize the truth, rest assured that I would not waste a minute to place myself in the natural situation, the only one made for me.
But I fear that we are too close to great and terrible events, against which the intrigues of his enemies and the self-esteem of a great man prevent him from fighting and acting effectively, or from seeking to prevent them, as would be necessary.
Farewell, my friendship to Julie and her children; I kiss Pauline and my uncle.
Your very evil and resolute son,
LOUIS.
…
Dans un récent extrait que nous avons partagé des Mémoires de Napoléon racontés à Las Cases, Napoléon se plaignait de son frère Louis. Pendant le règne de Napoléon, Louis proposait de retourner à Napoléon mais seulement sous diverses conditions. Surtout, il voulait divorcer Hortense et il voulait que Napoléon lui redonne le trône néerlandais. Napoléon semblait très offensé à la simple suggestion que Louis pourrait vouloir divorcer de la femme qui ne pouvait pas le supporter et qui était avec quelqu'un d'autre à l'époque.
Cela en dit beaucoup plus sur le besoin de Napoléon de garder Hortense attaché à lui en tant que Bonaparte et mère de ses héritiers - si la deuxième épouse, fille de son ennemi, Marie Louise, ne fonctionnait pas.
J'ai également affirmé tout au long du processus que Napoléon essayait de cacher une passion très profonde pour Hortense. Depuis le mariage de Louis avec Hortense en 1802, Louis semble enragé envers Napoléon et Hortense. Je soupçonne que la principale raison était qu'il se sentait aggravé d'être coincé avec une femme qui était vraiment amoureuse de son frère - et lui avec elle.
Il était largement admis à l'époque que le mariage de Louis n'était qu'un écran de fumée pour l'affaire en cours de Napoléon avec Hortense.
Puisque Louis aimait vraiment Hortense et Napoléon, cette situation peut avoir contribué à ses problèmes mentaux et de santé.
Avant ce mariage, Napoléon et Louis sont en excellente condition à tous points de vue.
…
Au cours de l'année tragique de 1813, alors que, à la suite de son deuxième mariage, tout s'effondrait, Napoléon demanda à Louis de le harceler pour la Hollande.
Voyons à quoi cela ressemblait. La mère de Napoléon connue sous le nom de Madame Mère disait à Louis ce qu'elle pensait et Louis devait d'abord se calmer mais il a répondu à sa mère dans une lettre.
Il vaut la peine de noter à quel point Madame ressemble à Napoléon. Sans surprise, il a obtenu beaucoup de ses moyens d'elle.
Let’s look at transits at the time of Napoleon’s mother’s letter to Louis. This is Napoleon’s natal chart.
Limiting Saturn is transiting Napoleon’s natal Pluto in his 2nd house of values (Taurus/Venus). This could imply a major reversal of fortune.
Napoleon 4th house of home and origins (Moon/Cancer) is experiencing a slow transit of destructive Pluto. These letters are about the slow dissolution of Napoleon’s family life.
Voyons les transits au moment de la lettre de la mère de Napoléon à Louis. Voici le thème natal de Napoléon.
Limitante Saturne transite Pluton natal de Napoléon dans sa 2ème maison de valeurs (Taureau / Vénus). Cela pourrait impliquer un renversement de fortune majeur.
La 4ème maison d'origine de Napoléon (Lune / Cancer) connaît un lent transit de Pluton destructeur. Ces lettres parlent de la lente dissolution de la vie de famille de Napoléon.
These are the transits affecting Hortense son, Napoleon Louis. As Napoleon Louis’ status as heir was demoted by the birth of his cousin, Napoleon François, and his uncle’s Empire falls we see Pluto transiting natal Pluto in the 1st house of identity (Mars). Chiron (affliction) and the Sun (fame) are in that space as well.
Napoleon Louis.
Ce sont les transits qui affectent le fils de Hortense, Napoléon Louis. Alors que le statut d’héritier de Napoléon Louis a été rétrogradé par la naissance de son cousin, Napoléon François, et que l’empire de son oncle tombe, nous voyons Pluton transiter Pluton natal dans la 1ère maison d’identité (Mars). Chiron (affliction) et le Soleil (renommée) sont également dans cet espace.
