Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte

Charles XIV John (Swedish and Norwegian: Karl XIV Johan; 1763 – 1844), born Jean Bernadotte and subsequently known as Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, was King of Sweden and Norway from 1818 to his death in 1844. Formerly a high-ranking officer in the French Army, Bernadotte fought alongside Napoleon Bonaparte in the French Revolutionary Wars and the subsequent Napoleonic Wars before being appointed as heir to the Swedish and Norwegian throne.
==Biography==
===Early life===
Bernadotte spent his youth as a stable boy and was nicknamed "Fanfan Belle-Jambe" for his muscular legs. At the age of 17, he joined the army as a private and continued to rise up the ranks after the French Revolution broke out.Assassin's Creed: Unity – Database: Jean Bernadotte
===Meeting Désirée===
By 1795, Bernadotte was a captain, alongside his fellow officer, Napoleon Bonaparte, the latter frequently having him do favors. Bernadotte himself felt lonely and desired a wife. When Napoleon's fiancée, Désirée Clary, was kidnapped by sans-culottes, he had Bernadotte and the Assassin Arno Dorian rescue her. As Désirée herself fought the sans-culottes alongside them, she and Bernadotte immediately became smitten with one another, although they both know that they could not be together.Assassin's Creed: Unity – Désirée Desired
As Napoleon later went to dine with Désirée at the Restaurant Boulanger, Bernadotte resolved to go there and bring her a silver pendant as a declaration of love. With Napoleon already suspicious, he sent Arno to investigate the matter. Arno learned of Bernadotte's plans, discovered several suspicious objects: Like a letter written by Napoleon and a silver pendant as a gift. He prepared to escort him out of the restaurant. However, the other patrons at the restaurant gossiped about Désirée, causing Bernadotte to attack them. In the ensuing fight, Arno was forced to protect him. Embarassed, Désirée told Bernadotte that she never wanted to see him again, leaving the latter heartbroken.Assassin's Creed: Unity – Désirée Dismayed
He began soliciting prostitutes and drinking heavily, which caused Désirée to regret her words, as she still loved him. She thus had Arno find Bernadotte and escort him back to her. To prove her love, she then sent Arno to recover her love letters to Napoleon, promising to burn them. Napoleon himself had shifted his attentions towards Joséphine de Beauharnais. As Arno returned with the letters, she burned them in front of Bernadotte, who proposed to her. At that moment, the three were attacked by thugs, whom they fought off. Afterwards, Désirée accepted Bernadotte's hand in marriage.Assassin's Creed: Unity – Désirée Delighted
===Later career===
In the meantime, Bernadotte became a brigadier general, and, six months after that, a general of division. He continued to serve under Napoleon, including at his great victory at the . Bernadotte would eventually abandon his former revolutionary principles, when in 1810, the ailing Charles XIII of Sweden adopted him as his heir and crown prince. When the former died, Bernadotte was crowned King Charles XIV John of Sweden and Norway, and Désirée became his queen.
==Appearances==
*Assassin's Creed: Unity
==References==
Category:1763 births
Category:1844 deaths
Category:Individuals
Category:French people
Category:Swedes
Category:Politicians
Category:French Army personnel
Category:Freemasons
Category:Monarchs of Sweden
Category:Monarchs of Norway
Category:Order of the Golden Fleece
fr:Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte