Impérial Mistresses

[britt.25]

I read that he lacked any kind of humor.  

He married three times and had 7 children (not sure if all had grown up).
  
1. Catharine Caroline Montagu
   Louise Marie Colonna-Walewska
   George Eduard Auguste Colonna-Walewski

2. Maria Anna di Ricci
    Isabelle Colonna-Walewski
    Charles Walewski
    Elise Colonna-Walewski
    Eugenie Colonna-Walewski

3. Rachel Felix
    Alexandre Antoine Colonna-Walewski

Alexander Walewski was not married to the famous jewish actress Rachel Felix, she was only his mistress (she had many famous lovers and had one other boy by another man, but was never married). They had a son together, Alexandre (1844-1898). When Rachel died quite early, Alexandre adopted this son and threated him like a legitime one.
Concerning the other children: They did not all survive, three of them died quite early. From the first marriage there seem to be no descendants from the children (they might have died in a very young age), from the second marriage there are only todays descendants from the daughters (female lines). The todays "Walewskis" (also the current count Walewski) and his close relatives are all  descendants from Alexandre, who was the result from the liaison of count Alexander with actress Rachel.

[britt.25]

He knew about his real paternity and I believe he was proud of his father's greatness.  He too was a very capable government official as well.  

Actually Walewski was in military things not at all talented like his famous father. This is not the only example in history, where sons a famous person or a "genius" are not like that. He was very similar to Napoleon in his looks and his stature (even when he was taller, I think), and his voice was very similar to that of Napoleon as well. There is one interesting story about Walewski and his voice: Once he was giving a speech for a deceased person during the time of the Empire of Napoleon III. and during the mourning guests there was also a very old general (or anybody like that) of Napoleon I. and when Walewski began to speak he burst out into tears. When his neighbour, who saw him cry asked: "Oh, I did not know that the deceased was such a close person to you!" And the old man (who had once fought in battles for Napoleon) replied: " No, I didn´t know the deceased that close...but I would never have thought to hear the voice of the emperor once again!"  I think this story says enough about the similary, it´s really fascinating. But indeed, from the character and from the talents he was not so close to Napoleon. It´s also important to say that Alexander Walewski never said or mentioned in publicity that he was the emperor´s son. The is again one interesting story, which I have read in a french newspaper: When he (count Walewski) was among guests in the Second Empire, there was a woman telling him: "Oh, how similar are you to your famous father!" And Walewski responded:
"Oh, I did not know, that you know the count Walewski that good!" (He meant his mother´s husband!) I have read he did not tell it, to save the fame of his mother. It´s quite strange. Maybe he was proud of his natural father in his mind, for himself, but he never said anything in publicity, contrary: he denied his real roots.

[britt.25]

wasn't he a fun person? you can't be with me but you can't be with anyone else either

are there any living descendants of alexander walewski?

Many, many, many, all from the line of Rachel´s son by Alexandre, Alexandre (1844-1898). I have just been in contact with Nathalie one of them, but unfortunately she´s not very involved in napoleonic activities. Her father was the official count Walewski (very much involved in Napoleonic organizations and occasations) until 2003, but suddenly died then with only 68 years of age. His name was count Florian W.. Now Florians brother Alexandre is the current count Walewski (official title), the uncle of Nathalie. I am already trying to make a contact, because of my interested in his activities.   
I have pictures and articles on current relatives, if anyone is interested, no problem.

[britt.25]

Point de Vue 1969:

(Only small and bad quality...sorry...)

1) line of Alexandre and Rachel



2) more current descendants of that time



- sorry if from the time a bit off-topic-


 


other pictures in the thread of the "Bonaparte news"

[britt.25]

Three Walewski grandchildren of emperor Napoleon I.




I guess they are: Charles, Isabelle, Elise (children of Alexandre and Anna Maria Ricci)


Source: Poirson, Philippe, Walewski- fils de Napoléon, Balzac, 1943.

[Suzanne]

I recommend Christopher Hibbert's work, "Napoleon: His Wives and Women" for more information on all these ladies

[britt.25]

Thanks for naming that book. Unfortunately I haven´t read it. As there are many women connected with Napoleon, how many are in that book? Maybe only the most important. Is there also something about the mother of count León?

[Kaiserin_Sissi]

I like to know who are exactly all the mistresses of Napoléon 1er ( I just Know Maria Walewska) and Napléon III ( I know Comtesse de Castiglione). Can you help me ?

[Yseult]

Of course

Napoleon I:

*Marguerite Pauline Bellisle Foures.
*Louise Catherine Eléonore Denuelle de la Plaigne, mother of his illegitimate son Leon.

Napoleon III:

*Eléonore Vergeot, mother of his illegitimate sons Eugène-Alexandre, count of Orx, and Louis-Ernest, count of Labenne.
*Harriet Howard, countess of Beauregard, mother of his illegitimate son Martin Harriet Bonaparte, count of Béchevet.
*Valentine Haussmann, mother of his illegitimate son Jules Hadot.

[Kaiserin_Sissi]

Thank you Yseult. 

[pouvoir_aux_canard]

Dear Kaiserin Sissi,

I think Mrs Yseult is kidding with you !

The sexuallife of our napoleonic rulers was rather more active...

between so many mistresses of the two men we can find :

                            for Napoleon 1
 
                                          Marguerite-Joseph Weimer, known as  Mademoiselle George (1787-1867) , a very good actress of french theatre - she became his mistress when she was sixteen.

                                          Giuseppina Grassini (1773-1850), an italian opera singer (very brave)

                                          Elisabeth Le Michaud d'Arçon    (1874 -?) a lady-in -waiting of Josephine

                                          Caroline Chevalier de Lavit (1780-1850) , a very talented soprano singer, married to Branchu, a dancer.

                                          and so on and so on ... and during the exile at St Helène  Albine de Montholon. probabely the last one...


                         for Napoleon 3:
                                           so many girls in Italy, Swizerland, England... Eleonore Vergeot was the daughter of his gaoler (at Le fort de Ham) and you can immagine when he was not jailed... Anyway we can certainly write the name of Louise de Mercy-Argenteau, his mistress at the begenning of his life as a ruler (1848-1853).

I am not a specialist of the mistresses of the Bonaparte, anyway,  if you are interested I can tell you something about Mlle Georges, G. Grassini and C. Branchu. About E. Le Michaud d'Arçon, there is a recent book in french. (a sad story). My english is very bad, so I need time to write a text...

I remain anyway your (and to Mrs Yseult) humble servant
Mr Canard

                                           

[pouvoir_aux_canard]

I can also write few things about
 
Marie-Clotilde-Elisabeth Louise de Riquet, comtesse de Mercy-Argenteau,  née Princesse de Caraman-Chimay,

 if you like it.

Mr Canard

[Princess Susan]

Napoleon I. had son (Alexandre) also with Marie Walewska.
I wonder why she died so soon, in 1817 aged 31 even before Napoleon, who was much older.

[pouvoir_aux_canard]

Dear Princess Susan,

Maria Walewska was the one Kaiserin Sissi knew... (very first post in this thread)

Maria Walewska (1786 - 1817), née  Maria Łączyńska, was married with comte Athenasius Walewski (quite 40 years older). Count Walewski died 1814  (?) and in September of 1816 MWa married a second cousin of Napoleon I, Count Philippe Antoine d’Ornano. She died in labor, in 1817 giving birth to a living son, Roland d’Ornano.

Other mistresses of Napoléon 1 : Thérèse-Etienne Bourgoin (a dancer) and Catherine Joséphine Duchesnois, actress (in competition on the stage with... Mlle Georges !)

Other mistress of Napoléon 3 : Maria Anna Ricci, italian nobildonna ... later married with ... Alexandre Colonna Walewski (son of M.Wa. and Napoléon 1 !)

My dear princesses, let
Mr Canard kiss devotely your hands !

[pouvoir_aux_canard]

I am going far from home for 10 days.... I do remember the texts about some mistresses. I will post end of September

Your devoted

Mr Canard