Empress Josephine's 250th Birthday

Empress Josephine 

b. June 23, 1763


I live no longer when away from you, the joy of my life is to be near my sweet Josephine.  
-Napoleon

I win only battles--Josephine wins me all hearts.  -Napoleon

My most honorable title is derived, not from having been crowned, 

but assuredly from having been chosen by you.  -Josephine

You who alone can reign in my heart, you who know too well, undoubtedly, 

the absolute empire you have over me.  -Napoleon

I trust soon to fold you in my arms, and then I will overwhelm you with a million kisses burning like the equator.  -Napoleon

My happiness consists in being near you.  Constantly does my memory renew your kisses, your tears, your amiable jealousy, and the charms of the incomparable Josephine kindle incessantly a burning flame within my heart and throughout my senses.  -Napoleon

Ah sire, why can I not fly to you!  -Josephine

In repairing whatever these ruffians of Revolution labored to annihilate, 

I shall diffuse comfort around me, and the benedictions of the poor

will afford me infinitely more pleasure than the feigned adulation of courtiers.  -Josephine

I will not say of so many sacrifices, they were made sweet, because made for you. 

 -Josephine

 

Farewell my sole happiness!  A thousand kisses, burning as my heart, as pure as yours.  

-Napoleon

When you recall how dearly you loved my son, you will not be surprised at my affection.

The moment I saw you enter, leading young Napoleon in your hand, 

was unquestionably one of the happiest in my life.  -Josephine

I can not accustom myself to be separate for so long a time from my beloved children.

I feel the need of pressing them to my heart.  -Josephine

 

My love...I am always the same.  My affections never change.  -Napoleon

I have recovered my heart all entire, and such as it will ever remain.  

There are sentiments which are even life, and which can only pass away with life.  -Josephine

Say the word and I depart.  Adieu sire, whatever I could add would still be too little.

It is no longer by words that my sentiments for you are proved, 

and for actions your consent is necessary.

Malmaison has been respected.  

I am surrounded by the foreign sovereigns.  -Josephine 

Island of Elba!  Napoleon!  -Josephine's last words

 

‘Sire, Emperor (Papa),

…As you can imagine, the citizens of this nation are overwhelmed with grief at the news that their “Good Empress Josephine” is no longer with them. I was told by old Gontier that the gate could not be opened for the mountain of bouquets piled high there, that the long road from Paris to Malmaison has been thronged with people with tears in their eyes- peasants and aristocrats alike.  She was placed in a double casket. Over twenty thousand people came all the way out to Malmaison to pay their last respects. Astonishing. Even the gate here at Saint-Leu is covered with bouquets and letters of sympathy. Really, Papa, it touches us deeply to see such an outpouring of love. 

“Tell him I am waiting,” Mama told Hortense a few days before her death. Fever talk, we thought at the time, but now it all seems so clear. Mimi, who was with her through that last feverish night, says her last words were of you. Did she know how much we loved her? If Mama’s death has taught me anything Sire, it is that one must speak one’s heart when one can… Bon courage…May God be with you. I know her spirit will be. 

Your faithful and devoted son, Eugène’ 

Josephine was grace personified.  -Napoleon

I have just seen my good Josephine, but she would not embrace me.

She disappeared at the moment when I was about to take her in my arms.

She was seated there.  It seemed to me I saw her yesterday evening.

She is not changed.  She is still the same, full of devotion for me.

She told me that we were about to see each other again, never more to part.  -Napoleon

France, Army, Head of Army, Josephine!  -Napoleon's last words

Never entertain a doubt of the whole truth of my affection for you.

It will continue as long as I exist.  -Napoleon