Explore the complex attitude of Napoleon Bonaparte towards sex and his obsession with Josephine. Discover the intimate details of their passionate love affair through Napoleon's letters. Learn about Josephine's incredible life as a courtesan and her strategic affairs with influential figures. Delve into the tumultuous relationship between Napoleon and Josephine, including his anger, her affair, and the pressure to have a baby. Uncover Napoleon's reaction to Josephine's death and his ultimate defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.
Napoleon and Josephine's relationship was marked by passionate love, as shown through Napoleon's intimate and heartfelt letters to Josephine.
Josephine, a survivor of the French Revolution, embraced a lifestyle of debauchery and became a courtesan before meeting and marrying Napoleon.
Deep dives
Napoleon and Josephine's Intense Love Affair
Napoleon and Josephine's relationship is known as one of history's great love affairs. Napoleon's passionate letters to Josephine reveal the depth of his love for her. Josephine, a survivor of the French Revolution's terror, found solace in debauchery and became a courtesan. When she met Napoleon, it was initially a relationship of convenience, but he quickly became infatuated with her. They married, despite their turbulent relationship, which included Josephine's affairs. The divorce had an impact on both of them, and Josephine's death devastated Napoleon, marking the end of their extraordinary love story.
Napoleon's Awkward Teenage Years
Napoleon had a difficult childhood, marked by his Corsican background, strange accent, and being socially awkward. He struggled to fit in with his peers and lacked charisma. His early romantic encounters were awkward, and he had a complex relationship with sex and sexuality. Napoleon lost his virginity at 18 in a brothel but felt uncomfortable around sex. However, he became involved in numerous affairs later in life and was known for his passionate love letters. Despite his initial awkwardness, Napoleon had a reputation as a romantic and was devoted to Josephine.
Josephine's Remarkable Life and Transformation
Josephine, born in 1763 as Marie, had a tumultuous life. She survived the horrors of the French Revolution, including imprisonment and her husband's execution. After the revolution, she embraced a lifestyle of debauchery and became a mistress to wealthy men. Her charm and intelligence helped her navigate high society, but as she grew older, she realized the need to secure her future. Meeting Napoleon at a ball in 1795 was a turning point. They formed a powerful connection, leading to their marriage and Josephine becoming the first Empress of the French.
The Turbulent End of Napoleon and Josephine's Relationship
Napoleon and Josephine's relationship faced numerous challenges, including Josephine's affairs and difficulties in conceiving an heir. Despite their deep love, their marriage ultimately ended in divorce. Following their separation in 1809, they maintained a sentimental correspondence, and Napoleon was devastated by Josephine's death in 1814. Even after their divorce, Napoleon's love for Josephine remained, as seen in his decision to collect violets from her garden and wear them until his death. Their bond and its influence on Napoleon's life and legacy are central to their remarkable story.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions about sex which may not be suitable for children.
Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the few commanders in history to be known for his capacity as a fierce fighter and a passionate lover. His romance with Joséphine de Beauharnais is one of the greatest in history and we know the intimate details about it because of the hundreds of passionate letters he sent to her over the years, some more explicit than others...
In episode 3 of Dan's Napoleon series, he's joined by sex historian and host of Betwixt the Sheets podcast Dr Kate Lister to explore another side of the French commander- his complex attitude towards sex, his obsession with Josephine and the way their relationship coloured his emotional life.
Meanwhile, Josephine was an incredible figure in her own right; she was a courtesan to rich men - glamorous and intelligent with an elegant figure and magnetic aura. When she met Napoleon in 1795, she was older than him and having had a number of strategic affairs with influential political figures, clever in her means of securing a stable life for her two children.
Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon' is in cinemas on November 22nd.
Produced by Mariana Des Forges, Charlotte Long and edited by Dougal Patmore.
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