The New Student's Reference Work/Josephine, Marie Rose

Josephine (jō′ zḗ-fḗn), Marie Rose, empress of the French, was born on June 23, 1763, on Martinique.  She had only a poor education, but her qualities of mind and heart, even more than her beauty, won universal regard.  In 1779 she was married to Viscount Beauharnais.  Josephine’s husband was executed during the reign of terror, she herself barely escaping.  On March 9, 1796, she was married to Napoleon Bonaparte.  She accompanied him on his Italian campaign, and used her influence in restraining him from measures of violence and cruelty.  But as she had no children by Napoleon, her marriage was dissolved by law on Dec. 16, 1809.  The empress lived near Eoreux and died at Malmaison, May 29, 1814.  See the Memoirs of Madame Rémusat.