I’ve been making a case that Napoleon loved his wife Josephine but was concealing the depth of his fascination with his stepdaughter Hortense. Despite his efforts, it really was believed during Napoleon’s time that he was both with his wife and his stepdaughter. Hortense was married to Napoleon’s brother Louis and Louis behaved as if he believed these rumors.
Here are a few letters Napoleon wrote around the time of the loss of Hortense’s son, Napoleon Charles. It may give a sense of how these three came across.
Josephine and Hortense were certainly close to each other and they were both undoubtedly obsessed with Napoleon.
Josephine acknowledged that Hortense “reigned also” in Napoleon’s heart. There’s a line in Hortense’s memoirs where she says there was no way she could express the love she felt under her circumstances. Hortense also found marriage to Louis Bonaparte unendurable.
It’s also worth noting that though Napoleon complains about Hortense’s stupor at the loss of her son, Napoleon was also said to have reacted to the loss of his son - who was captured through his mother’s help - in the same manner. The story of this sad occasion is here.
Napoleon references his anger quite a bit in these letters. Napoleon was also furious at Hortense when he returned from Elba because she had stayed in France - which she did to keep his heirs rooted in France and to look after her mother who had just died. Napoleon felt she had abandoned him.
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This letter is by Napoleon to Josephine:
LETTER CXXVIII TO THE EMPRESS,
TO LACKEN.
May 26, 1807.
I received your letter of the 16th. I was pleased to see that Hortense had arrived in Lacken.
I am angry about what you are sending me, about the kind of stupor in which she is still.
She must have more courage, and she must take it upon herself. I don't understand why we want her to go to the waters; she would be much more distracted in Paris, and would find more consolations.
Take it upon yourself, be cheerful, and be well.
My health is very good. Farewell, my friend; I am really suffering from all your troubles; I’m annoyed at not being near you.
NAPOLEON.
…
LETTER CXXIX TO THE EMPRESS
TO MALMAISON.
June 2, 1807.
My friend, I learned of your arrival at Malmaison. I have no letters from you; I am angry with Hortense; she doesn't write me a word.
Everything you tell me about her pains me. How could you not distract her a little? You cry!
I hope you’ll take control of yourself, so that I don't find you all sad.
I've been in Dantzick for two days; the weather is fine, I am doing well.
I think of you more than you think of this absent person. Farewell, my friend; a thousand kind things.
Show this letter to Hortense.
NAPOLEON.
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A letter from Napoleon to Hortense:
June 2nd.
My daughter, you have not written a word to me. Your tears and great pain are justified and understandable.
But you have forgotten everything, as if you still have nothing left in the world.
It is said that you no longer love anything, that you are indifferent to everything; I notice this at your silence.
This is not good, Hortense!
This is not what you promised us. Your son was everything to you. So your mother and I are nothing! If I had been at Malmaison, I would have shared your grief; but I also wanted you to be with your best friends.
Goodbye, my daughter; be joyful: you must resign yourself. Be well, so you can fulfill all your duties.
My wife is very sad about your condition; don't make her even sadder.
Your affectionate father. Napoleon.
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Napoleon to Hortense:
This June 16th, 1807.
My daughter, I received your letter dated from Orleans; your troubles touch me, but I would like you to have more courage; to live is to suffer, and the honest man always fights to remain master of his feelings.
I do not like to see you unjust towards little Napoleon Louis. and to all your friends.
Your mother and I hoped to be more than we are in your heart. I won a big victory on June 14th [Friendland].
I am well, and love you very much.
Goodbye, my daughter; I kiss you from the heart.
NAPOLEON.
…
J'ai fait valoir que Napoléon aimait sa femme Joséphine mais que je dissimulais la profondeur de sa fascination pour sa belle-fille Hortense.
Malgré ses efforts, on croyait vraiment à l'époque de Napoléon qu'il était à la fois avec sa femme et sa belle-fille.
Hortense était mariée au frère de Napoléon, Louis et Louis se comportait comme s'il croyait à ces rumeurs.
Voici quelques lettres que Napoléon a écrites à l'époque de la perte du fils d'Hortense, Napoléon Charles.
Cela peut donner une idée de la façon dont ces trois était. Joséphine et Hortense étaient certainement proches l'une de l'autre et elles étaient sans aucun doute obsédées par Napoléon.
Joséphine a reconnu que Hortense «régnait aussi» dans le cœur de Napoléon. Il y a une réplique dans les mémoires d'Hortense où elle dit qu'elle ne pouvait pas exprimer l'amour qu'elle ressentait dans ses circonstances.
Hortense a également trouvé le mariage avec Louis Bonaparte insupportable.
Il convient également de noter que même si Napoléon se plaint de la stupeur d'Hortense à la suite de la perte de son fils. Napoléon aurait également réagi à la perte de son fils - qui a été capturé grâce à l'aide de sa mère - de la même manière.
Napoléon fait un peu référence à sa colère dans ces lettres. Napoléon était également furieux contre Hortense à son retour d'Elbe parce qu'elle était restée en France - ce qu'elle a fait pour garder ses héritiers enracinés en France et pour s'occuper de sa mère qui venait de mourir.
Napoléon sent qu'elle l'a abandonné.
