From Heartbreak to Happiness: Princess Augusta of Bavaria, Duchess of Leuchtenberg

Princess Augusta of Bavaria, Duchess of Leuchtenberg (Augusta Amalia Ludovika Georgia von Bayern; Strasbourg, France, 21st June 1788 - Munich, Germany, 13th May 1851)

Princess Augusta of Bavaria by Joseph Karl Stieler

In this, the week of the 199th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, we find ourselves once more meeting members of the extended Bonaparte family. We have previously made the acquaintance of the Emperor's stepson, Eugène de Beauharnais, and today seemed like a nice moment to meet Eugène's wife, Princess Augusta of Bavaria.

Augusta was born to Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt. She lost her mother when she was just eight years old and though Maximilian married Princess Caroline of Baden, it took some years for the young Augusta to get used to her stepmother. From the start, it was intended that she would make a good dynastic match. Initially the young woman was promised to Charles, heir to the Grand Dukedom of Baden and brother of her stepmother. However, Napoleon had other ideas and prevailed upon Maximilian to offer his daughter as a bride for Eugène.

The Marriage of Eugene de Beauharnais and Princess Augusta by Francois Guillaume Menageot

Although Augusta and Charles were very fond of one another, Maximilian eventually capitulated and on 14th January 1806, Munich saw the lavish wedding ceremony that joined Augusta and Eugène. The young bride was distraught at the loss of the man she had come to adore but agreed to the wedding as a matter of national duty, recognising the importance to her father and the territories that would become his.

Despite its political beginnings, it is my pleasure to say that the marriage was, in fact, a happy one. They fell in love almost immediately and eventually had seven children, six of whom survived childhood. The joyful marriage was ended only by the death of Eugène in 1824. Throughout his final illness, he was nursed by his devoted wife, who was at his side when he passed away.

Augusta never fully recovered from the loss of her husband and retired into a quiet life. For two decades she devoted herself to philanthropy and faith before, finally, she too passed away.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

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Marriage, War and Living up to Napoleon: Eugène de Beauharnais

Eugène Rose de Beauharnais (Paris, France, 3rd September 1781 – Munich, Bavaria, 21st February 1824)

Eugène de Beauharnais  by Andrea Appiani, 1810

We met a lady by the name of de Beauharnais just a few days ago and now it's time to meet a gentleman by the same name. We're staying in France and not straying too far from Napoleon as we say happy birthday to Eugène Rose de Beauharnais.

Eugène was the eldest child of Alexandre de Beauharnais, later to die on the revolutionary guillotine, and Joséphine Tascher de la Pagerie, better known to history as the wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. When his mother and father were incarcerated during the Reign of Terror, Eugène's time was devoted to his military education,  initially under General Lazare Hoche and then at the Collège Irlandais.

Eugène de Beauharnais  by Henry Scheffer, 1906

Eugène first encountered Napoleon when he requested an audience to demand the return of Alexandre's sword, taken from him at his arrest. The young man was thoroughly was unimpressed with Napoleon at that meeting but the feeling was far from mutual. Impressed with Eugène's loyalty and courage, Napoleon duly saw to it that the sword was returned.

Already making a name for himself as a soldier, following his mother's marriage to Napoleon, Eugène's career improved in leaps and bounds. Although he initially disliked his new stepfather, he went on to fight alongside Napoleon in Egypt, where he was wounded at the Siege of Acre in 1799. The young man's injuries caused him to return to Paris where he found his mother and Napoleon at odds, each furious at the infidelities of the other. Proving himself a shrewd negotiator on the domestic front Eugène brought the couple back together, though their relationship would continue to be rocky.

The Marriage of Eugene de Beauharnais and Princess Augusta by Francois Guillaume Menageot

With his injuries healed, Eugène returned to active service and was given command of the Army of Italy, eventually earning himself the title of Viceroy of Italy in 1805, one in a growing pile of honours. The following year would prove eventful for our hero as he was legally adopted by Napoleon and subsequently given the title, Prince de Venise. He also married Princess Augusta of Bavaria in a union arranged between Napoleon and her father, Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, Their politically astute marriage was to mature into a contented and happy bond, with the couple eventually having seven children together.

Princess Augusta of Bavaria by Joseph Karl Stieler

Eugène proved himself a popular leader in Italy, taking an interest in the country's constitutional reform and defending his territory against Austrian forces during the 1809 War of the Fifth Coalition. It was here that he experienced his first significant defeat in battle at the Battle of Sacile. Following this failure he regrouped, returned to the strategy table and went on to win a series of victories, securing his position and reputation.

Eugène's glittering career would come to a juddering halt with the fall of Napoleon. Seeking advice from his father-in-law, Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, he retired with his family to Munich and remained there until his death, his reputation as a fearless soldier and gifted military strategist secure.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

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