Jeanne Bonaparte

Princess Jeanne Bonaparte (15 September 1861 – 25 July 1910) was a great-niece of Napoleon I of France, and the only daughter of Pierre Napoleon Bonaparte by his wife Éléonore-Justine Ruflin.[1] She was well known in French society as an artist and sculptor, and was married to Christian de Villeneuve-Esclapon.

Jeanne Bonaparte
Marquise de Villeneuve-Escaplon
Born	15 September 1861 Orval Abbey, Belgium
Died	25 July 1910 (aged 48) Paris, France
Spouse	Christian de Villeneuve-Esclapon
House	Bonaparte
Father	Pierre Napoleon Bonaparte
Mother	Éléonore-Justine Ruflin

Biography

Early life

Jeanne was born on 15 September 1861 in Orval Abbey in Belgium.[2] She was one of five children born to her parents, although she only had one sibling that survived to adulthood: Roland Bonaparte.[3] Though born during the reign of Napoleon III of France, her family was never well received at the French imperial court.[3] He was very intelligent and well-educated; in his youth, he did much traveling.[2] Upon his return from fighting in Spain, he devoted himself to the study of literature and history; his writings were much admired by critics.[2] One observer commented at their wedding:

Jeanne Bonaparte advanced up the nave leaning on the arm of her brother... She has little of her mother's striking beauty, although she resembles her a good deal, but she is tall, distinguished looking, and has a wealth of raven tresses...[4]

Jeanne and Christian had six children.

Later life

Jeanne had a Paris salon that was frequented by illustrious writers and painters, as well as the cream of American society. Her husband was, apart from politics, mostly interested in occultism.[5] George Greville Moore, an English officer, was a contemporary of Jeanne's. He wrote that she:

used to make a great display of toilette at certain balls. She was remarkable for her beauty, which was more of the Oriental style; she was very dark and had a sallow complexion, but beautiful black eyes and long eyelashes. I remember one evening every one crowding around the staircase to see her arrive at a ball. On that occasion she wore a white dress trimmed with water-lilies, with a tremendously long train, and no jewelry whatsoever. She rarely, if ever, danced; her long train scarcely allowed it.[6]

On 21 November 1907, Jeanne served as a witness for the marriage of her niece Princess Marie Bonaparte to Prince George of Greece and Denmark.

Jeanne died on 25 July 1910 in Paris, at the age of 48.[1]

Ancestry

Ancestors of Jeanne Bonaparte
16. Giuseppe Maria Buonaparte 8. Carlo Buonaparte 17. Maria Saveria Paravisini 4. Lucien Bonaparte 18. Giovanni Geronimo Ramolino 9. Letizia Ramolino 19. Angela Maria Pietrasanta 2. Pierre Napoleon Bonaparte 10. Charles Jacob de Bleschamp 5. Alexandrine de Bleschamp 11. Philiberte Bouvet 1. Jeanne Bonaparte 6. Julian Ruflin 3. Justine Eleanore Ruflin 7. Justine Lucard

References

1. Lundy, Darryl. "The Peerage: Jeanne Bonaparte". Retrieved 18 August 2010.
2. "Princess Jeanne Bonaparte", Galveston Daily News, 11 November 1894
3. "Princess Jeanne Bonaparte", The Washington Post, 14 October 1894
4. "Two Weddings in Paris", The New York Times, Paris, 10 April 1882
5. "Romance of Princess Jeanne Bonaparte", The New York Times, Paris, 29 October 1905
6. Greville Moore, George (1907). Society Recollections in Paris and Vienna, 1879-1904. London: John Long. p. 8.

External links

• Media related to Jeanne Bonaparte at Wikimedia Commons