New-York tribune., 1910-09-02
The New Duke of Otrantc.


The New Duke of Otrantc.
Although the dukedom of OtraHte ere
ated by the first Napoleon in favor of his
Minister Of Police, FouchG. is 4 French
dignity yet the new duke -. like his father
before him. a Swede holds a commission
as captain in the crack regiment Of ORA
goon Guards. is a chamberlain of the
Queen Of Sweden and a godson of queen
Alexandra OF England. on the occasion
of the visit Of Edward VII and Of his con-
sort to Stockholm three years ago he was
attached to their suite, and was decorated
on that occasion with the English Vic
torian order. The dukes mother. by birth
the Swedish Countess Stodingk, married as
her first husband the Hon. William George
Grey, one OF the many sons of the second
Earl Grey and. as the Hon. Mrs Grey,
was appointed one of the Iadies-in-waiting
10 Queen Alexandra on the occasion Of the
latter's marriage, in 1863. Mrs. Grey. after
becoming i widow, married the late and
fifth Duke of OTante, continued to be d
member Of the household of queen Alex
andra until the latters accession to the
throne on the death OF queen Victoria, and
died shortly afterward at Baden-Baden,
having throughout her long association
with Queen Alexandra enjoyed the latter 5
intimacy and friendship 10 u degree COM
parable only 10 that possessed to-day by
the Hon. Charlotte hnolys. The new duke
sixth of his line, is married to Countess
Madeleine Douglas OF the Swedish line Of
the great Scotch House of Douglas, which
has also two branches in Germany
FouchA the first duke hailed from
Nantes. where he was q dealer in pigs. He
vas twice married, the second time 10
Gabrielle dc CastelIane. by whom ne had
no children. and the first time 10 Jeanne
Coiduaud, Of whom il has been asserted
without foundation that she had at one
time been n nun. She was renowned for
her uslineSs. had sggressively red hair, red
eyebrows snd red eyelashes like her nus
band. and their first two children, both of
whom died young, were albinos. Barras.
in his Memoirs, describes them q $ the
most hideous couple that he ever in his
life encountered. Yet they were devoted 20
each other. and Fouche, who showed such
cruelty in connection with the terrible
ulassacres for which ne was responsible at
Lyons during the days Of the Terror. and
afterward "a Minister OF Police, was the
most tender and loving husband to his
hofneIy wife who accompanied hira every
where. even when he was sent a anbassa-
dor 20 q foreign capital. always remaining
IN The background, -Four children survived
daughter. who died not long ago as
Cemtesse de Thermes. and whose own
daughter, the Comtesse de CasteIbajac is
herself grandmother. There were also
three sons. Joseph. Armande and Athana-
sius, who each in turn bore the title of
Duke of Otrante, the late duke being the
son OF the youngest of the three brothers.
Fouche. after the overthrow of Napoleon
found difficulty in being allowed to settle
down anywhere, owing to the part which he
had played in connection with the kdnap-
ping and execution at Eincennes of the i'll
fated Due d'Englien, and by reason of the
fact that lie had voted for the death Of
Louis XVI and OF Queen Marie Antoinette
he was expressly excluded from the am
Besty which Louis XVIII found it prudent
10 issue after securing possession of the
throne Emperor Alexander in Russia. the
Prince Regent in England, King Ferdinand
Of Spain, as well as other sovereIgns, re
fused 10 permit him TO settle in their re
specuve countries. He found himself driven
from pillar to post ostracized everywhere,
to all inrents and purposes an outcast until
ne finally died at Trieste.
Taught ny sad experience. his sons be
took themselves to Stockholm, where they
found in former Field Marshal Bernadotte,
who had meanwhile become King of Sweden,
u sovereign not only willing to permit them
to make their home in his dominions, but
also TO take them into his service. Perhaps
he did not forget that he himself had been
on duty as a soldier at the foot of the scat
fold when King Louis was executed, and
that on his LEFT arm was indelibly tattooed
Phrvgian cap, with the motto Death 10
<ingsg and Tyrants 80
The second. third and fourth dukes Of
Otrante all held high Office al the court of
Stockholm. and the late duke was master
Of the horse TO King oscar Of Sweden.
The body Of the fifth Duke of Otrante,
who has just died at Stockholm, IS being
taken 10 France Tor inJerment in the cene-
te-y of Ferrieres. where the first duke-that
Is TO say Fouche himself-lies buried,
wiki his Two wives. his daughter the Com
Jesse de Themes. and his three sons his
grandson aad great grandson The cha
lean Of F'esriares. now owned by Baron
Edouard ROJhschild. head of the French
lire Of that financial dynasty. belonged 70
Fouche in the days Of the Empire. and when
after the overthrow Of the First Empire and
his exile hc sold II to the Rothschilds ne
expressly reserved that small parcel OF
ground which Is included in the cemetery.
and where he had constructed his family
nlausoleUm.
IARQUISE DE FONTENOY.