Josphine was the first wife of Napoléon Bonaparte, and thus the first Empress of the French. Through her daughter, Hortense, she was the maternal grandmother of Napoléon III.
Joséphine de Beauharnais, a widow, became the mistress of several leading political figures. In 1795, she met General Napoléon Bonaparte, six years her junior, and
became his mistress. The coronation ceremony, officiated by Pope Pius VII, took place at Notre Dame de Paris, on 2 December 1804. Following a pre-arranged protocol, Napoléon first crowned himself, then put the crown on Joséphine's head, proclaiming her empress.
When, after a few years, it became clear she could not have a child, Joséphine agreed to a divorce so the Emperor could remarry in the hope of having an heir. The divorce took place on 10 January 1810. On 11 March, Napoléon married Marie-Louise of Austria by proxy; the formal ceremony took place at the Louvre on 1 April.Joséphine died of pneumonia on 29 May 1814, four days after catching cold during a walk with Czar Alexander in the gardens of Malmaison.Napoléon claimed to a friend, while in exile on Saint Helena, that "I truly loved my Joséphine, but I did not respect her." Despite his numerous affairs, eventual divorce, and remarriage, the Emperor's last words on the Island of St. Helena were "France, the Army, the Head of the Army, Joséphine."
Josphines coronation Paitings: There are two such painting on Canvas - One I saw in Louver (where this photo was taken) and the other in Versailles. I am not sure if it is copied later. But both of them look alike. I had difficulty in covering the eitire picture - It was too big adorning a wide wall. The shot came out well.
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