Caroline Bonaparte & Joachim Murat

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• published: 13 Aug 2010
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Marshal Joachim Murat: Napoleon's greatest Cavalry General, & Caroline Bonaparte-Murat: Napopleon's youngest and most ambitious sister. Caroline was Napoleon I's youngest sister. She first met Murat in 1797 and despite the 15 year age difference, by 1799 they had fallen in love. Their match was approved by Joseph Bonaparte but denied by Napoleon. Murat was able to marry Caroline after playing an important role in the Coup of 1799. The night after he personally rode to Caroline's school to tell her the news; ignoring the late time of which he arrived, he apparently woke up the Headmistress and other students. They married in a civil ceremony in 1800 and had their first child, a son, Achille, in 1801. In 1802, they married in a religious ceremony beside Louis Bonaparte and Hortense de Beauharnais, whom commented on the other couple's obvious happiness and her great sadness. In 1802, their second child was born: Marie Letizia. In 1803 they had their second son, Lucien Charles. Their last child was born in 1805, Louisa. The couple occassionally strayed from eachother but always remained loving and devoted to one another. Caroline also always supported her husband's decisions, and he ran along with her schemes to raise themselves to higher power. Joachim Murat is regarded as one men responsible for "il Risorgimento" (Italian Unification). Murat was made by Napoleon King of Naples and he reigned from 1808 to his death in 1815. While King he became very attached to the country and sympathised with the people who had, like France, been under the Bourbon Dynasty's thumb. Murat had been enamoured by words of the Jacobin Marat and was strong believer in the Revolution. In 1813 Murat left Napoleon's side and made alliance with Napoleon's enemies, the Austrian Empire, in order to retain his throne and keep Bourbon rule out of Naples. From mid 1813 to early 1815 Naples exeperinced a short time of peace. However with Napoleon's return from exile and increased Bourbon pressure to force him from Naples, Murat attempted to ally himself with Napoleon. Napoleon refused Murat's assistance and went to face Waterloo, where he suffered his greatest and final defeat. Years later while in exile on St. Helene, Napoleon would lament refusing Murat's assistance and pondered the possible victory that may have been otherwise. Murat in turn tried to regain his throne in Naples but failed and was executed by a firing squad in October of 1815. In his final moments he looked upon a cameo of Caroline and then gave the order to 'Fire' himself. Before he died, Murat called upon the citizens of Italy to rise up against the Bourbons and Austrians (whom at the time had captured his wife and children) with the 'Proclama di Rimini'. The Proclaimation is considered one of the first important documents of 'il Risorgimento'. Italian Patriots would use it and Murat's name for the next 60 years until Italy became an unified nation; 'Viva la Gioacchino' Murat's eldest daughter made her home a meeting location for Italian Patriots in the 1830's. Statues of Murat are erected all across Italy and memorials were made for him in both France and Italy. Music: La Valse de Amelie