The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-09-30
The Mother Of Napoleon I.

Carlo Bonaparte and Letitia Ramolini
were his parents. They had loved and
been betrothed when she was only four
teen years of age; but their families were
active political antagonists, ahd the mar
riage was deferred for about two years,
when the Paoli party, to which Carlo be.
longed, became absolute masters of COrsi-
ca, and active strife ceased. They were
welded in 1866 by the archbishop, and
received the blessing of her parents at the
nuptials.
Count MarbGuf the conqueror. was
made Governor of Corsica, and Carlo BO-
naparte and his family were highest on
his list of personal friends. Ten years
after that conquest the Corsican mobiles
sent Carlo to Paris as their representative
In the popular branch of the imperial gov
ernment of France. Leaving Letitia In
charge OF their growing family, he took
Joseph and Napoleon with him. They
crossed the sea to Leghorn and journeyed
to Florence. where Carlo received from
the Grand Duke, Leopold. letter to his
sister, Marie Antoinette, the Queen OF
France. She made Carlo q welcome
guest Mt Versailles. when Napoleon, then
ten years old, first looked upon that gor-
geous palace Of which he was afterward
the master. Carlo LEFT Joseph In a school
Mt Autun. and through the influence Of
Governor MarbGuf he was allowed TO
place Napoleon in the military Academy
mt Brienne, where the afterward eminent
Pichegru was one of his instructors.
Six years later heavy weight Of mis-
fortune fell upon Letitia. Carlo was at
tackled by the same disease which termi-
mated the life of his most illustrious son at
st. Helena thirty-six years afterward.
He went alone to Montpelier, in France,
for advice and remedies, and there he
died, in 1885, under the hospitable roof
of n girlhood companion Of letitia, the
mother of the celebrated Marshal Junot.
When Carlo died Letitia was not thirty
FIVE years Of age. and had been the moth
or OF thirteen children. Five sons and
three daughters were yet living-a race
Of monarchs who occupied thrones and
lost them during one Of the most wonder
ful historic dramas, enacted in the space
of ten years the world has ever known.
She saw them rise and fall while her
treSses were yet dark, and the beauty OF
her youth yet bloomed on her checks and
sparklsd In her eyes. Her sons were Gui-
seppe, or Joseph, who was made King Of
Naples in 1906, and Of Spain In 1908;
Napoleon, who made himself Emperor
of the French and disposer of thrones In
1906; Luciano, or Lucien, who alone re-
fused crown. but accepted a principality
with its title. from the Pope, In 1903; Lni-
gi or Louis, made King of Holland In
1906, and refused the crown OF Spain In
1909; and Girolania, or Jerome. who was
made King Of Westphalia In 1907. when
that province was erected into king
dom. W
The daughters were Maria Anna Eliza,
who was created sovereign OF Tuscany,
with the title Of Grand Duchess, In 1908;
Cariotta. afterward Marie Pauline. vino,
- wife OF Prince Borghese, became the
most illustrious Italian princess Of her
time; and Carolina Maria Annunciado.
the wife Of Murat. who became queen Of
Naples in eS0S.
The young widow Of Ajaccio had no
reason TO dream, In widest fancy. OF the
splendors that awaited herself and family
Tho latter wcrc mostly little children;
Jerome. tho youngest, An infant In her
arms. She was LEFT with scanty means
for their support and education. To
these she devoted all her energies, with
marvellous success. Strength, we have
observed, was the prominent feature OF
her character. and this was displayed In
the hour Of need. Napoleon once said.
''She had the head OF man on the shoul-
ders OF woman. sss IOsSoS priyn-