63 moments

1. Birth at Trois-Îlets plantation

   1763-06-23 · Les Trois-Îlets, Martinique, France

   

   Joséphine was born Marie-Joseph Rose de Tascher de la Pagerie on her family’s plantation at Trois-Îlets in Martinique. Her birthplace is disputed in some accounts, which identify Paix Bouche, Saint Lucia; this card follows the Fondation Napoléon chronology and the English Wikipedia infobox.

2. Education at the Dames-de-la-Providence convent

   1773-01-01 · Fort-Royal (Fort-de-France), Martinique, France

   

   Rose was sent from her family home for a four-year education at the Dames-de-la-Providence convent in Fort-Royal. Coordinates represent Fort-Royal, now Fort-de-France; the convent’s exact historical site is not specified.

3. Departure for France

   1779-10-01 · Brest, Brittany, France

   

   Rose traveled with her father to Brest before her marriage to Alexandre de Beauharnais.

4. Marriage to Alexandre de Beauharnais

   1779-12-13 · Church of Saint-Sulpice, Noisy-le-Grand, France

   

   Rose and Alexandre de Beauharnais married at the church of Noisy-le-Grand, beginning her first marriage. Coordinates represent the historic parish church in Noisy-le-Grand.

5. Residence at Pentemont Abbey

   1783-11-01 · Pentemont Abbey, Paris, France

   

   Amid the breakdown of her marriage, Rose entered Pentemont Abbey in Paris. The abbey complex no longer survives in its former form; coordinates identify its historic Rue de Grenelle site.

6. Move to Fontainebleau

   1785-09-01 · Fontainebleau, Île-de-France, France

   

   After separating from Alexandre, Rose moved to Fontainebleau to stay with her father-in-law and aunt.

7. Arrival in Paris after Fontainebleau

   1787-11-01 · Paris, France

   

   Rose left Fontainebleau and accepted the hospitality of the Rougemont du Löwenberg family in Paris. Coordinates represent central Paris because the residence’s exact address is not given.

8. Return to Martinique with Hortense

   1788-06-01 · Martinique, France

   

   Rose returned to Martinique with her daughter Hortense and remained there for about two years. Coordinates are a representative point for Martinique; the chronology does not specify a settlement for this stay.

9. Residence in Fontainebleau after return from Martinique

   1790-10-01 · Fontainebleau, Île-de-France, France

   

   Following their arrival in Toulon, Rose and Hortense went directly to Fontainebleau and remained there into 1791. The chronology says she stayed in Fontainebleau until summer 1791, with occasional journeys to Paris.

10. Arrival at Toulon from Martinique

    1790-10-29 · Toulon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

    

    Rose and Hortense arrived at Toulon after leaving Martinique during revolutionary unrest.

11. Establishment in Paris

    1791-01-01 · Paris, France

    

    Rose established herself in Paris and built a social and political circle during the Revolution. The cited chronology places this development in 1791.

12. Stay at Croissy with Hortense

    1792-10-01 · Croissy-sur-Seine, Île-de-France, France

    

    Rose left Paris for Croissy-sur-Seine with Hortense as political conditions worsened.

13. Imprisonment at the Carmes

    1794-04-21 · Carmes Prison, Paris, France

    

    Arrested during the Terror, Rose was sent to the Carmes prison in Paris, where she was held until after Robespierre’s fall. The Fondation Napoléon chronology records her release on 6 August 1794; English Wikipedia gives 28 July 1794.

14. Civil marriage to Napoleon Bonaparte

    1796-03-09 · Mairie of the 2nd Arrondissement, Paris, France

    

    Joséphine and Napoleon contracted their civil marriage at the mairie of Paris’s 2nd arrondissement. Coordinates represent the present mairie site in the 2nd arrondissement; the historic municipal office was in the same arrondissement.

15. Visit to Fontainebleau en route to Italy

    1796-06-26 · Fontainebleau, Île-de-France, France

    

    Before crossing into Italy, Joséphine visited her aunt and father-in-law at Fontainebleau.

16. Arrival in Milan

    1796-07-10 · Milan, Lombardy, Italy

    

    Joséphine arrived in Milan to join Napoleon during the Italian campaign and began an eighteen-month stay in Italy.

17. Residence at Château de Mombello

    1797-01-01 · Château de Mombello, Limbiate, Lombardy, Italy

    

    The Bonapartes established themselves at the Château de Mombello near Milan, where Joséphine received members of Napoleon’s family. Coordinates represent Mombello in present-day Limbiate, the location identified with the château.

18. Return to Paris from Italy

    1798-01-02 · Paris, France

    

    Joséphine returned to Paris after her extended Italian stay.

19. Journey to Toulon with Napoleon

    1798-05-04 · Toulon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

    

    Joséphine traveled to Toulon with Napoleon shortly before he departed on the Egyptian expedition.

20. First cure at Plombières

    1798-06-14 · Plombières-les-Bains, Grand Est, France

    

    Joséphine traveled to Plombières to take the thermal waters, which were believed to help infertility. Plombières-les-Bains is in present-day Grand Est; the source’s parenthetical regional identification is retained in the quotation.

21. Purchase and summer stay at Malmaison

    1799-04-21 · Château de Malmaison, Rueil-Malmaison, France

    

    Joséphine bought the Château de Malmaison at Rueil and spent the summer there, establishing the residence central to her later life. The wording 'seems to have stayed' makes the residence evidence slightly less direct than other cards.

22. Journey to Lyons to meet Napoleon

    1799-10-10 · Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

    

    Joséphine went to Lyons intending to meet Napoleon as he returned from Egypt; they missed one another on different routes.

23. Return to Paris after the Lyons journey

    1799-10-18 · Paris, France

    

    Joséphine returned to Paris shortly before the coup of 18 Brumaire and reconciled with Napoleon.

24. Move to the Petit-Luxembourg

    1799-11-15 · Petit-Luxembourg Palace, Paris, France

    

    After Napoleon became provisional consul, the consular couple moved into the Petit-Luxembourg palace.

25. Move into the Tuileries Palace

    1800-02-19 · Tuileries Palace, Paris, France

    

    Joséphine and Napoleon moved into Louis XVI’s apartments in the Tuileries Palace, their principal Paris residence as consular couple. The Tuileries Palace was destroyed in the nineteenth century; coordinates identify the former palace site.

26. Marengo victory dinner at Malmaison

    1800-07-02 · Château de Malmaison, Rueil-Malmaison, France

    

    A formal dinner at Malmaison marked Napoleon’s return from Italy and the victory at Marengo. Joséphine’s presence is established by the surrounding consular-couple chronology and the event at her residence, but the sentence does not name her explicitly.

27. Visit to Mortefontaine

    1800-07-27 · Château de Mortefontaine, Mortefontaine, France

    

    Joséphine went with her children to Joseph Bonaparte’s château at Mortefontaine, followed by Napoleon the next day.

28. Rue Saint-Nicaise assassination attempt

    1800-12-24 · Rue Saint-Nicaise, Paris, France

    

    Joséphine’s carriage was damaged in the failed attack on Napoleon while the consular couple traveled to the opera. Rue Saint-Nicaise no longer exists under that name; coordinates identify its former vicinity near the Tuileries.

29. Second cure at Plombières

    1801-07-07 · Plombières-les-Bains, Grand Est, France

    

    Joséphine made a second documented visit to Plombières for a thermal-water cure.

30. Journey to Lyons for Italian Republic ceremonies

    1802-01-09 · Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

    

    Joséphine and Napoleon traveled to Lyons for Napoleon’s investiture as president of the Italian Republic.

31. Move to Château de Saint-Cloud

    1802-09-18 · Château de Saint-Cloud, Saint-Cloud, France

    

    The consular couple moved to the Château de Saint-Cloud, a principal official residence before and after the Empire’s proclamation. The palace was destroyed in 1870; coordinates identify the château site.

32. Spa stay at Aix-la-Chapelle

    1804-08-01 · Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

    

    Joséphine went to Aix-la-Chapelle to take the waters and was joined there by Napoleon in September.

33. Stay at Fontainebleau before the coronation

    1804-11-22 · Palace of Fontainebleau, Fontainebleau, France

    

    Joséphine and Napoleon stayed at Fontainebleau to receive Pope Pius VII before the imperial coronation.

34. Coronation as Empress

    1804-12-02 · Notre-Dame de Paris, Paris, France

    

    Joséphine was crowned Empress at Notre-Dame de Paris in Napoleon’s coronation ceremony.

35. Journey to Milan for the Italian coronation

    1805-04-02 · Milan, Lombardy, Italy

    

    Joséphine traveled with Napoleon to Milan for his coronation as King of Italy.

36. Stay in Strasbourg during the 1805 campaign

    1805-09-24 · Palais Rohan, Strasbourg, France

    

    Joséphine stayed at Strasbourg’s imperial palace during Napoleon’s opening movements in the 1805 campaign. The Strasbourg imperial palace is identified with the Palais Rohan; the place identification is supported by the Palais Rohan’s documented imperial use.

37. Arrival in Munich after Austerlitz

    1805-12-05 · Munich, Bavaria, Germany

    

    Traveling independently after leaving Strasbourg, Joséphine arrived in Munich and was later joined by Napoleon after Austerlitz. Coordinates represent central Munich; the chronology does not name a specific residence.

38. Stay at Mainz

    1806-09-25 · Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

    

    The imperial couple went to Mainz; after Napoleon departed for Prussia, Joséphine remained there until early 1807.

39. Stay at Laeken with Hortense

    1807-05-14 · Royal Palace of Laeken, Brussels, Belgium

    

    Joséphine stayed with her daughter Hortense at the Château de Laeken outside Brussels.

40. Stay at Rambouillet

    1807-09-07 · Château de Rambouillet, Rambouillet, France

    

    Joséphine stayed at Rambouillet during the autumn of 1807. Coordinates identify the Château de Rambouillet, the principal royal and imperial site in the town.

41. Visit to the court at Fontainebleau

    1807-09-21 · Palace of Fontainebleau, Fontainebleau, France

    

    Joséphine attended the imperial court’s stay at Fontainebleau. The entry’s context is Joséphine’s personal chronology; coordinates identify the Palace of Fontainebleau.

42. Visit to Bordeaux Palace

    1808-04-10 · Bordeaux, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France

    

    Joséphine visited Bordeaux with Napoleon during their spring 1808 progress through southwestern France. The chronology calls the venue 'Bordeaux Palace' without a precise surviving building identification; coordinates represent central Bordeaux.

43. Residence at Château de Marracq

    1808-04-27 · Château de Marracq, Bayonne, France

    

    Joséphine arrived at the Château de Marracq near Bayonne and lived there with Napoleon for nearly three months.

44. Second stay at the Palais de Strasbourg

    1809-04-13 · Palais Rohan, Strasbourg, France

    

    Joséphine made a second extended stay at Strasbourg’s imperial palace while Napoleon campaigned elsewhere. The Palais de Strasbourg is identified with the Palais Rohan.

45. Final cure at Plombières

    1809-06-12 · Plombières-les-Bains, Grand Est, France

    

    Joséphine made her fifth and final documented stay at the Plombières thermal baths.

46. Court stay at Fontainebleau before separation

    1809-10-26 · Palace of Fontainebleau, Fontainebleau, France

    

    Joséphine accompanied the court to Fontainebleau shortly before Napoleon announced their separation. The entry is in Joséphine’s chronology and refers to the imperial court; coordinates identify the Palace of Fontainebleau.

47. Retreat to Malmaison after dissolution announcement

    1809-12-16 · Château de Malmaison, Rueil-Malmaison, France

    

    After the Senate adopted the dissolution of her marriage, Joséphine went to Malmaison while Napoleon went to Trianon.

48. Temporary residence at the Élysée Palace

    1810-02-03 · Élysée Palace, Paris, France

    

    Following the divorce, Joséphine went to the Palais de l’Élysée before returning to Malmaison.

49. First stay at Château de Navarre

    1810-03-29 · Château de Navarre, Évreux, France

    

    Joséphine began her first stay at the Château de Navarre near Évreux, a residence Napoleon acquired for her after their separation. The Château de Navarre no longer survives; coordinates are a representative point for Évreux because the timeline gives only 'near Evreux'.

50. Cure at Aix-les-Bains

    1810-06-18 · Aix-les-Bains, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

    

    Joséphine traveled to Aix-les-Bains for a lengthy thermal cure after the divorce.

51. Stay at Sécheron near Geneva

    1810-07-01 · Sécheron, Geneva, Switzerland

    

    During her Aix-les-Bains cure, Joséphine went to Sécheron on the outskirts of Geneva and stayed for a month. The source does not give exact arrival and departure dates for this month-long stay.

52. Excursion to Chamonix

    1810-08-29 · Chamonix, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

    

    Joséphine visited Chamonix during her 1810 Alpine travels.

53. Return to Sécheron and acquisition at Pregny

    1810-10-21 · Pregny-Chambésy, Geneva, Switzerland

    

    Joséphine returned to Sécheron and acquired the Château de Pregny-la-Tour during this visit. Coordinates represent the Pregny-Chambésy area associated with the château; the source describes her return to nearby Sécheron.

54. Residence at Château de Navarre

    1810-11-22 · Château de Navarre, Évreux, France

    

    After a brief return to Malmaison, Joséphine took up residence at the Château de Navarre through 1 April 1811. The Château de Navarre no longer survives; coordinates are representative for Évreux.

55. Return to Malmaison in 1811

    1811-04-01 · Château de Malmaison, Rueil-Malmaison, France

    

    Joséphine returned to Malmaison after her winter residence at Château de Navarre.

56. Return to Château de Navarre

    1811-07-10 · Château de Navarre, Évreux, France

    

    Joséphine returned to the Château de Navarre for nearly two months in summer 1811. The Château de Navarre no longer survives; coordinates are representative for Évreux.

57. Residence at Malmaison before Italian journey

    1811-09-03 · Château de Malmaison, Rueil-Malmaison, France

    

    After leaving Château de Navarre, Joséphine returned to Malmaison and remained there until her journey to Milan in July 1812.

58. Journey to Milan via Geneva

    1812-07-16 · Milan, Lombardy, Italy

    

    Joséphine traveled from Malmaison to Milan via Geneva and stayed with her son Eugène and his children for more than a month. The stated dates mark the journey; the source explicitly says that her stay in Milan lasted more than a month.

59. Stay at Château de Pregny-la-Tour

    1812-09-28 · Château de Pregny-la-Tour, Pregny-Chambésy, Switzerland

    

    Joséphine stayed at the Château de Pregny-la-Tour near Geneva following another visit to Aix-les-Bains. Coordinates represent the Pregny-Chambésy château area.

60. Final long residence at Malmaison

    1812-10-27 · Château de Malmaison, Rueil-Malmaison, France

    

    Joséphine resided at Malmaison from late 1812 until fleeing temporarily in spring 1814.

61. Flight to Château de Navarre after the fall of Paris

    1814-03-30 · Château de Navarre, Évreux, France

    

    As enemy forces approached after the fall of Paris, Joséphine fled Malmaison for the Château de Navarre. The Château de Navarre no longer survives; coordinates are representative for Évreux.

62. Return to Malmaison

    1814-04-15 · Château de Malmaison, Rueil-Malmaison, France

    

    Joséphine returned to Malmaison from Château de Navarre and remained there for the rest of her life.

63. Death at Malmaison

    1814-05-29 · Château de Malmaison, Rueil-Malmaison, France

    

    Joséphine died at Malmaison after illness in the final weeks of her life. Her age is misstated in this timeline entry: she was 50, having been born on 23 June 1763.