Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-01-17
Mother of n apoleon I.

Carlo Bonaparte and Letitia Ramoina were
his parents. They had loved and been betroth-
ed when she was only fourteen years of age
but their families were active political antago-
nists, and the marriage vas deferred for about
two years, when the Paoli party, to which Car
10 belonged, became absolute masters Of Corsi-
ca, and active stiife ceased. They were we'd
ded in 1866 by the archbishop, and received
the blessing OF her parents at the nuptialS.
Count Marbeuf, the conqueror, was made
Governor of Corsica, and Carlo Bonaparte and
his family were highest on his list of personal
friends. Ten years after that conquest the
Corslcan mobiles sent Carlo to Paris as their
representative IN the popular branch Of the i'm
perial government of France. Leaving Letitia
In charge ct their growing family, he took Jo-
seph and Napoleon with him. They crossed
the sea to Leghorn and ,urneyed to Florence,
where Carlo received from the Grand Duke,
Leopold, a letter to his sister Marie Antoinette,
the Queen of France. She made Carlo wei
come guest at Versailles, when Napoleon, then
ten years old, first looked upon that gorgeous
palace of which he was afterwards MASTER
Carlo LETT Joseph in school fat Antun, and
through the influence of Gov. Marbeuf he was
allowed to place Napoleon in the Military Acad
emy at Brenne, where tae afterward eminent
Pichegru was one of his Instructors
Six years later heavy weight Of misfortune
fell upon Letitia. Carlo was attacked by the
same disease which terminated the life of his
illustrious son at St. Helena, thrty-six years
afterward. He went alone to Montpelier, in
France, for advice and remedies, and there died
in 1885, under The oslitable roof Of girl
hood-companion Of Letitia, the mother Of the
celebrated Marsha al Junot
When Carlo died, Lett ia was not thirty-fye
years old, aud had been the mother of thirteen
children Five sons and three daughters were
yet llvlDg-a race of monarchs, who occupied
thrones and lost them during one of the most
wonderful historical dralnas, 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 cheeks ard sparkled in her eye.
Her sons were Giuseppe 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 1905;
Luciano or Luclan, who alone refused crown,
but accepted principally, with its title, from
the Pope, IN 1906; Luigi or Louis, made king
of Holland ln 1906. and refused the crown Of
Spain IN 1909 aad Girolania, or Jerome, who
was made king Of Westphalia in 1907, when
that province was erected into kingdom.
The daughters were Maria Anna Eliza, who
was created sovereign of Tuscany. with the IL
tie OF Grand duchess, IN 1903; Carlotta, after
ward Marie Pauline, who, as wife of Prince
Borghese, became the most iustrious Italian
princess Of her time; AMI Caroline Maria An
nunciado, the wife of Murat, who became
Queen of Naples in 1903
The young widow of Ajaccio had 10 reason
to dream, in widest fancy of the spIendors
that swaiged herself and family TIE latter
were mostly little children jerome, the young
est, an infant In her arms. She was left with
scanty means for their support and education
10 these ste devoted al her energies, with
marvellous success. Strength was the pronl-
nen' feature ia her character, and this vas dis
played ia the hour of need Napoleon once
said 'She had the head of man on the
shoulders Of woman. Losses privations, IA
tigue. had no effect upon her; she endured all
braved all. These cane at tines thick AID
fast. Joseph. ever kind aod good, helped his
mother with all his nigh, as he grew toward
manhood while Napoleon, rather dull stu
dent in outward expression, was preparing, in
the military school at Paris, for that wonderful
career which enabled him by imperial decree,
to make sovereigns of his brothers and sisters
and to confer upon his mother at the age of
fifty years, the lofty title OF Madame Mere,
equivalent to that of Eml ress Mother, with an
income of two hu adred thousand dollars year.