Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-11-24
THE soNAIAArs FAMILY.
II Was Probably Of Italian origis and
Was Patslcian.

THE BoNAHAHtE FAMILY.
u Was Probably Of Italian origie and
Was Patslcian.
In the newslife Of Napoleon by Pro-
fessor w. NJ. Sloan Of Princeton in The
Century the professor. after describing
the efforts Of the Corsicans under the
lead Of one Of the national heroes, Pas
cal Paoli, to resist Genoese encroach-
ments and tyranny, says; Curiously
longing in his exile for "A second Sam
piero TO have welded the physical pow
er while he himself should have be-
come the Lycurgus, Paoli's wish was
to be half way fulfilled in that a war
rior greater than Salnpiero was about
to be born in Corsica. one who should.
by the very union so long resisted. come.
as the master of France. TO WELD pow
er strong enough to shatter both tyran-
mics and dyiiastieS, thus clearing tho
ground for a law giving closely related
to Paoli's own just and wise concep-
tions of legislation.
This scion was TO come from the stock
which bore the name of Bcnaparte, or,
as the heraldic etymology later spelled
it, Buonaparte There We're branches of
lshe same stock. or at least Of the samo
name, in many other parts Of Italy
Whatever tho origin Of the Corsican
Buonapartes, it was neither royal from
the twin brother of Louis MY, thought
to be the Iron Mask. nor imperial from
the Julian gems, nor Greek. nor Saraeen,
nor, in short anything which some lat
er invented and lying genealogies de-
clared it to be Bnt it was really Ital.
ian and probably patrieian, for i'll 1850
q Tuscan gentleman Of side line de-
vised scanty estate to his CorSican
kinsman. Tho earliest home of the fam
lily was probably at Sarzana, in TuS.
cany, where for generations men Of that
namo had exercised the profession OF
advocates.
Moreover, they were persons OF local
consequence in their latest seats. partly
because Of their Italian connections.
partly in their substantial possessions Of
land and partly through the official POI
sitions which they held in the city of
Ajaccio. Their syinpathios as lowland
ers and townspcople were with the coun-
try Of their origin and with Genoa.
During the last years OF the sixteenth
century that republic authorized Jcr-
ome then head of the family, to prefix
the distinguishing particle Iii to his
name, but the Ihalian custom was averso
TO its use, which was not revived until
later. and then only for short time
Nearly two centuries fed before Tie
grand duke Of Tuscany issued formal
patents attcsting the Bqonaparte nohil.
ity. TWAS Joseph, the grandsiro of Ma
poleon, who received them. Soon after.
ward he announced that the coat Of
arms of the family was counts coro-
net, or two chevrons and two mullcts,
with the two letters b p, signiiying
Buona Parte, the tinoture gales, the
charges azure. etc.
Such heraldic cant shows that either
the sovereign or the receiver was poor
herald. This was in 1857. In 1909 tho
same sovereign granted further the titlo
of patrician. Charles, the son Of Joseph,
received similar grant from the arch
bishop Of Pisa in 1869. These facts have
substantial historical value, since by
reason Of them the family was rccogniz-
ed Ms noble in lf7l by the French au-
thorities, and as a consequence the most
illustrious scion of the stem became
eight years later the ward Of France,
which was still monarchical. Reading
between the lines OF such narrative IL
appears as il the short lived family OF
Corsican lawyers had some difficulty ia
preserving an influence proportionato to
their descent, and therefore sought TO
draw all the strength they could from
hygone grandeur, easily forgotten by
their neighbors in the moderate oircum.
stances Of the later day
No task had lain nearer TO paoli's
heart than to unto in one nation tho
two factions into which no found his
people divided. Accordingly, when at
his request Carlo do Buonaparte, tho
single slender stem ON which the con
sequential lowland family depended for
continuance, appeared at Cortc, the
stranger was received with nattorinR
kindness and probably. as ono account
has it, was appointed to post Of emo
ument and honor as Paoli's private sec
Rotary. The new patrician, according
TO custom common among Corsicians
of his class, had already studied at both
Rome and Pisa, and in 1863 no was
made doctor Of laws by the latter uni.
versity. There arc many pleasant anee-
dotes told 10 illustrate tho good follow
ship Of the young advocate among his
comrades while a student on tho main
land There are likewise mythical mar
ratiyes Of his persuasive eloquenco ct
homo and Of his Influence as patriot
In short, an organized effort Of sycO-
phantic admirers, who would, If posi-
BILE, illuminate the whole family in or
der 10 heighten Napoleon's renown. has
invented fables and distorted facts 50
that the truth rs 10 Charles character
il almost uurccqyIliZable