Carolina Bonaparte

Carolina Bonaparte (Ajaccio, March 25, 1782-Florence, May 18, 1839) was the seventh surviving child (the third of the daughters) of Carlo Buonaparte and María Leticia Ramolino, and younger sister of Napoleon Bonaparte. She was queen of Naples during the reign of her spouse there, and regent of Naples during her absence on four occasions: in 1812-13, 1813, 1814 and 1815.

Early years

Carolina was born in Ajaccio, Corsica. She was the younger sister of Joseph I Bonaparte, Napoleon Bonaparte, Lucian Bonaparte, Elisa Bonaparte, Louis Bonaparte and Pauline Bonaparte. She was the older sister of Jerome Bonaparte.

In 1793 he emigrated with his family to France during the French Revolution. Carolina was educated as a student at the Saint-Germain-en-Laye school founded by Madame Juana Luisa Enriqueta Genet. She attended the school at the same time as Hortensia de Beauharnais, Josephine's daughter and the wife of Carolina's brother, Louis. She fell in love with the soldier Joaquín Murat, a general in her brother's army, whom she married on January 20, 1800. Carolina was seventeen years old. Initially, Napoleon did not want to allow them to marry, however, his wife Josephine de Beauharnais persuaded him to change his mind.

When Napoleon became Emperor, she and her sisters successfully petitioned to be made imperial princesses.

Queen consort of Naples

Caroline became Grand Duchess of Berg and Cleves on March 15, 1806 and Queen Consort of Naples on August 1, 1808, when her brother appointed her husband to the equivalent positions. Under the terms of the appointment, she would retain the title of queen even after the death of her spouse.

As queen, Carolina renovated the royal residences in Naples, planned new gardens, encouraged growing interest in classically designed furniture, patronized the silk and cotton industry and French artists in Naples, showed interest in archaeological discoveries of Pompeii and founded a school for girls.

She was described as intensely jealous of her sister-in-law Josephine and her children, reportedly because she felt that Napoleon favored them over her Bonaparte relatives. Carolina reportedly arranged for Napoleon to take a mistress, Éléonore Denuelle, who gave birth to her first illegitimate child. This had the desired effect of establishing that Josephine was infertile, as Napoleon demonstrated that he was clearly capable of fathering children, which ultimately resulted in his divorce from Josephine and her remarriage. In 1810, when Napoleon married his second empress consort Marie Louise of Austria, Caroline was responsible for accompanying her to France. After meeting her on the border of Austria and her duchy, Carolina forced Maria Luisa to leave all of her luggage, her servants, and even her pet dog, in Austria.

Carolina dedicated herself to the interests of her husband Joaquín Murat, the King of Naples, where she was closely involved in the affairs of the Kingdom. As queen of Naples, she acted as regent of Naples during Joachim's absence on four occasions: during her participation in the war against Russia in 1812-1813, during her participation in the German war in 1813, during the war against Napoleon in 1814 and finally during Napoleon's return to power in 1815. In 1814, she supported his decision to make a separate peace with the anti-Napoleonic allies, maintaining her throne while Napoleon was deposed.

Then, during the Hundred Days of 1815, Joachim set out to find Napoleon. During his absence, Carolina remained as regent of Naples. Joachim was defeated and executed, and Carolina fled to the Austrian Empire. While she was in exile, she adopted the title of 'Countess of Lipona'; 'Lipona' is an anagram of 'Napoli' (Naples).

Offspring

With her husband, Prince Joaquín Murat had 4 children, two boys and two girls:

• Achilles Carlos Luis Napoléon Murat, Crown Prince of Berg, Prince of Naples and II Prince Murat (Paris, January 21, 1801-Jefferson County, Florida, April 15, 1847). He married 12 July 1826 in Tallahassee, Florida with Catherine Willis Gray (1803-1867), daughter of Colonel Byrd C. Willis and Maria Lewis. No offspring.
• Princess María Letizia Josefina Announced Murat (Paris, 26 April 1802-Bolonia, 12 March 1859). He contracted marriage in Venice on October 27, 1823 with the Marquis Guido Tadeo Pepoli, Count of Castiglione; with descent.
• Luciano Carlos José Napoléon Murat, II Sovereign Prince of Pontecorvo and III Prince Murat (Milan, 16 May 1803-Paris, 10 April 1878). He contracted marriage in Bordentown, New Jersey on August 1831 with Carolina Fraser (1810-1879), daughter of Tomás Fraser and Ana Lauton; with descent.
• Princess Luisa Julia Carolina Murat (Paris, 21 March 1805-Rávena, 1 December 1889). He contracted marriage in Trieste on 25 October 1825 with Count Giulio Rasponi (1787-1876); with descendants.

Honorary distinctions

• Lady of the Order of the Noble Ladies of Queen Mary Louise (Reino de España, 08/09/1807).

Ancestors