Where the House of Bernadotte rules. The Bernadotte dynasty: kings of interesting origins. Sometimes unexpected people become kings.

How did this happen?

The Swedish royal house is unusually small. Only seven people: five members of the king's family plus a childless couple - Prince Bertil and Princess Lillian. In addition, according to the State Calendar, the Danish Queen Ingrid and Princess Birgitta also officially enter it. In general, the Bernadotte family includes another fifty people.

The Bernadotte dynasty sits on the throne longer than all other royal families in Sweden. Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte became the Swedish monarch at a time when fundamental changes began to take place in the sanitary condition and living conditions of Western European countries. The former dynasties, both in Sweden and elsewhere, were short-lived, as infant mortality persisted, as well as the danger of dying from other ailments, not to mention the fact that adult members of the royal family often diligently sent each other to the next world with swords. , daggers, spears or pea soup. As a result, the royal houses of Europe were dying out all the time, just as noble and other families who were less accurate in counting their representatives died out. The extinction of the royal family was often fraught with wars of succession and other troubles, which could be avoided only by urgently placing on the throne some cousin-nephew or other distant relatives.

In 1949, the Bernadottes broke the previous Vasa record of 131 years in power. The remaining dynasties were nothing more than passing ones: the Folkungs ruled for 114 years, the Palatinate clan for 66 years, and the Holstein-Gottorps for 67 years. In the year 1996 from the Nativity of Christ, 178 years have passed since the throne was occupied by Bernadotte, and the end-edge of their reign is not foreseen. This was made possible in the first place due to the fact that doctors and midwives learned how to wash their hands.

One way or another, all modern Bernadottes trace their origins to Oscar II (which is true of many people who are not Bernadottes, but that's another story).

Here's how things stand in this regard.

Charles XIV Johan had only one son, Oscar I, who made up the second generation of Bernadottes.

The third generation was four sons and the only daughter of Oscar I. However, only one of the sons continued the dynasty, namely Oscar II.

The fourth generation consisted of four sons of Oscar II, of which three - Gustav V, Prince Oscar and Prince Karl - had a bunch of children, while Prince Eugene, the most talented representative of the dynasty after Charles XIV Johan, left only an artistic legacy.

The fifth generation included the three sons of Gustav V and the daughter of Prince Charles, while the son of Prince Charles lost his affiliation to the dynasty due to his marriage, and the children of Prince Oscar were lucky not to be born heirs to the throne. Prince Charles's son, Charles Jr., was not only descended from Oscar II (he was his grandson) but also from Oscar II's brother, Charles XV (he was his great-grandson), and for those who intend to maintain genealogical accuracy, there are many examples of such coincidences.

Below we will restrict ourselves to members of the royal family, while other representatives of the family (both included and not included in the number of heirs to the throne) are preferable to be left for more detailed study by those who would like to deal with them and their tree.

So, back to the actual royal family. Of the three offspring of Gustav V mentioned above, two married and produced offspring. Firstly, Gustav VI Adolf, who had four sons and one daughter. Secondly, his brother Wilhelm, who had only one son, Lennart. But Lennart entered into a marriage that deprived him of the right to the throne - just like the two sons of Gustav VI Adolf. There was no one else in the sixth generation.

In short, only two male representatives of the royal house remained in it - Crown Prince Gustav Adolf and his brother Bertil.

Before Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf died untimely at the age of forty, he had had four daughters and one son, who is the present King Carl XVI Gustaf; Bertil, who was devoted to the king, long refrained from marrying, so that Sweden would have a legitimate candidate in case a regent was needed while Gustav VI Adolf was excavating in Italy, or in case the king died before his grandson Carl XVI Gustaf came of age.

And Carl XVI Gustaf did manage to reach adulthood, he was even twenty-seven years old before he became king and headed the family as a representative of the seventh generation, we now have a continuation of the dynasty, since three children were born in the royal family.

Most of the living Swedish representatives of the Bernadotte family date back to Prince Oscar (b. 1859), the son of Oscar II, although almost more descendants owe their birth to Lennart Bernadotte, who showed enviable perseverance in this matter.

In total, only five male Bernadottes, born with the right to inherit the throne, entered into marriages that deprived them of such a right, however, this was enough for nine-tenths of the members of the family to find themselves outside the royal house at the present time. This five was made up of: Prince Oskar, who retained the title of prince (the exit from the number of heirs to the throne occurred in 1888), as well as princes from whom the title of prince was “taken away”: Lennart (1932), Sigvard (1934), Karl Johan (1946) and Karl Jr. (1937). Subsequently, Charles Jr. received the title of prince abroad, but if we ask ourselves what such a title is suitable for, we cannot answer, since it is not known what Charles Jr. used it for. Over time, Sigvard Bernadotte received the title of prince back, which can only be commented on in one way: by doing this, he could have depicted more joy on his face.

For many subjects of the king, all this information is nothing more than curious. And among those who would like to keep the monarchy, and among the minority in favor of the republic, there are very few people who are interested in such details. However, although since Charles XV the Swedish kings have been gradually losing power, it cannot be said that these curious details about our royal house are completely uninteresting. In particular, they play a significant role in resolving the important question of whether our state should preserve the monarchy, as the majority of three-quarters of the population believes for the last half century, or is it time to appoint the head of state according to the rules that exist in other democratic states, to which we have been for almost a century. we also count ourselves (a sixth of the population stubbornly wants just this, although very few of the Swedish subjects are ready to defend this thesis to the last).

In addition, it is always fun to see what different people the family unites, because geniuses, madmen, bastards, noble natures, etc. coexist under the same surname. Apparently, royal families are subject to the same mathematical distribution as all others. However, very unusual conditions, in which the main family of the country lives, lead to the fact that some qualities that exist latently in the genus are more clearly manifested. Given the demands that parents make of their offspring, some qualities can create huge problems, while in other circumstances they would not play the slightest important role. Apparently, Charles XV suffered from a minor mental defect, which in most cases passes with time (this monarch also passed), and the current king, like his father, was found to have a strong legacy (inability to read), from which a knowledgeable teacher can save a child today. But if in a large family of a peasant or tenant these personal qualities would not matter, then for the members of the royal family they created, to put it mildly, significant difficulties.

Now in the Bernadotte family, if we go from its ancestor, the Napoleonic Marshal Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, there are seven kings and about one hundred and twenty persons of both sexes - wise statesmen, brave warriors, boring princes, strict keepers of the hearth and beautiful princesses. And besides, there are lumberjacks, vacuum cleaner sellers, designers and even one of the best Swedish artists. Writer and journalist Staffan Scott skillfully, and, most importantly, humorously describes the royal family, and at the same time presents the reader with a completely unexpected image of Sweden. His book is filled with facts that have never before been published either in the press or in research on the royal family.

Intro - Our miniature royal house today 1

Part I - Kings 2

Part II - Three Failed Kings 33

Part III - The royal house in the course of time. Other 38

Part IV - Folke Bernadotte (1895–1948) 61

Part V - Those Who Expelled Themselves from the Dynasty and Their Offspring 64

Part VI - Of ducal titles and titles of princes 79

Literature 81

Notes 82

Staffan Scott
The Bernadotte dynasty: kings, princes and others ...

The sun is shining! The sun is shining!
Our brave people have passed the wrath of the storm.
K. Ossiannilsson

Introduction
Our miniature royal house today

One way or another, all modern Bernadottes trace their origins to Oscar II (which is true of many people who are not Bernadottes, but that's another story).

Here's how things stand in this regard.

Charles XIV Johan had only one son, Oscar I, who made up the second generation of Bernadottes.

The third generation was four sons and the only daughter of Oscar I. However, only one of the sons continued the dynasty, namely Oscar II.

In short, only two male representatives of the royal house remained in it - Crown Prince Gustav Adolf and his brother Bertil.

In total, only five male Bernadottes, born with the right to inherit the throne, entered into marriages that deprived them of such a right, however, this was enough for nine-tenths of the members of the family to find themselves outside the royal house at the present time. This five was made up of: Prince Oscar, who retained the title of prince (the exit from the number of heirs to the throne occurred in 1888), as well as princes from whom the title of prince was "taken away": Lennart (1932), Sigvard (1934), Karl Johan (1946) and Karl Jr. (1937). Subsequently, Charles Jr. received the title of prince abroad, but if we ask ourselves what such a title is suitable for, we cannot answer, since it is not known what Charles Jr. used it for. Over time, Sigvard Bernadotte received the title of prince back, which can only be commented on in one way: by doing this, he could have depicted more joy on his face.

Desiree Clary had her own revolution that made her queen

She died quietly and unnoticed in Stockholm on December 17, 1860. And the day before she visited the Swedish Royal Opera, where the sounds of music, probably, somehow reconciled her with the surrounding reality. They were already alien to each other - she and reality. She was 83 years old, and she outlived everyone - her husband, son, beloved sister and son-in-law, friends, rivals and envious women, brilliant generals and marshals, always preoccupied politicians and carefree gentlemen-zhuyers, with whom an amazing fate brought her through life in different countries . In tinsel and sequins of the dying Gallant Age...

... In the bloody poverty of the Revolution and the luxury of the revived Empire. His empire. In cold stiffness and Nordic restraint, already her kingdom ...

... Her fate and life were truly amazing. The daughter of a simple Marseille silk merchant died as queen of Sweden. When she was collected for burial, the senile remains were examined with special attention, fearing surprises that struck the court physicians and embalmers, who 16 years earlier had prepared her husband, King Charles XIV Johan, on his last journey. All his life he did not take off his undershirt in front of courtiers. Even in the bath. And only after death did everyone understand why. On the senile chest, a tattoo was well read - “Death to kings!”. And now the courtiers were afraid to read something similar on the body of the queen, dried up by a long life ...

Historians of the dynasty already knew, but during their lifetime they tried not to focus on the fact that both the king himself and his queen were radical and implacable republicans in their youth. And they happily welcomed the execution of their crowned rulers - King Louis XVI of France and Queen Marie Antoinette.

Desiree Clary, Queen Desideria

They themselves got married almost 5 years after this execution, back in 1798. A year later, she gave birth to a son, who was named Oscar - then mystical Scandinavian poetry was in vogue. The son also became king. Very popular in his new country, and because of this, the Swedes tolerated and respected his mother's whims. She herself hardly loved her husband. She was rather grateful to him. For saving an abandoned bride from shame. It is unlikely that she fell in love with her husband, and when he became king. Because she loved the Other all her life. The emperor, whom she recognized as a beggar general. The general of the revolution, an impoverished Corsican nobleman in the service of France, who wanted to improve his financial situation by marrying a wonderful, young, with beautiful radiant brown eyes and a rich bourgeois girl ...

It was not quite an ordinary, not a classic love triangle, so similar to the usual “lamour de trois” of the eccentric Gallant Age, which now seems so light-weighted and even airy. Rather, it is an intricate and very harsh relationship between two men and a woman for their entire lives, which would have been bright and unique for everyone anyway. She loved one of them all her life, but she married his own comrade-in-arms, who at one time was even considered a comrade. The first also said that he loved her, he was even engaged to her, but fell out of love when he met another and married her. And the second fell in love with her, abandoned, and took her as his wife in order to save her from gossip and loneliness. And then he loved his wife all his life, despite all her oddities and eccentricities ...

Well, it seems it's time to name them. She is Bernadine Eugenie Desiree Clary (1777-1860), better known in history as Desiree Clary and Desideria, Queen of Sweden and Norway. her legal and only husband- Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte (1763-1844), marshal of France, who in 1818 became king of Sweden and Norway, reigned until 1844 and left a dynasty on the throne that has ruled Sweden to this day. Their invisible shadow, friend and rival, enemy and lover, inspirer and object of envy - Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), emperor of all the French, a great commander and statesman who forever changed and, it seems, predetermined the history of France for a long time. And he fully enjoyed fame both during his lifetime and after it, dying, however, in humiliating confinement far from his homeland under the supervision of vicious, but mortally afraid of his conquerors.

Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte, King of Sweden and Norway

Completely rootless or semi-rootless, all three of them were from the 18th century, which struck everyone with its apparent carelessness and therefore seemed eternal and comfortable for life in all its manifestations. From the time about which their contemporary Charles Maurice de Talleyrand said: "He who did not live in the 18th century did not live at all." They lived happily in it.

And, apparently, such are the quirks of history, which two of them mercilessly spurred and forced to rush galloping across an unexplored field with treacherous gullies and potholes of the outgoing 18th and emerging 19th centuries. And she just gave their life such an amazing flair. The aura of a woman's love, which made the life of men more meaningful, spiritualized and ... clearer.

And that's why. Jean-Baptiste, who during the revolution added “Jules” (in honor of Julius Caesar) to the name, would never have become king if Emperor Napoleon had not been grateful to him, who always sacredly kept family traditions and revered family ties. At one time in post-revolutionary France, they were even equal in military glory and services to the country. Politicians of all stripes sought to enlist their support, understanding the popularity of the generals among the soldiers and, of course, counting on the soldiers. A bayonet always gives rise to power And France at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries was no exception, despite the fact that the Chinese Mao Zedong voiced this truth much later, removing his power from bayonets, bloody including in the fight against former comrades-in-arms ...

Napoleon I, Emperor of all the French

Jean-Baptiste, we recall, was an ardent republican and always opposed the desire of Napoleon's comrade-in-arms, whom he met on the battlefields for the ideals of the revolution, for sole rule. And he always criticized him for the fact that in 1799 he overthrew the Republican Directory and became the first consul-dictator, and in 1804 he generally proclaimed himself emperor. General Jean-Baptiste was even seen among the revolutionary Jacobin "Fronde", which already defended the revolution from Napoleon. But he never openly, with arms in hand, opposed the dictator-emperor, for which he was promoted to marshal of France. Then Bernadotte held all sorts of important posts in Napoleonic France, became the governor of the conquered Hanover, Prince of Pontecorvo, and in 1810 he was invited to ... the crown princes of Sweden.

So decided the Swedish officers and politicians. Some of them knew the mercy of Bernadotte, who let them go home after the battle he lost. Others counted precisely on this “special attitude” of Napoleon towards his obstinate marshal and by that time a close relative and hoped, by making him king, to save their country from French occupation. The Swedes turned out to be subtle psychologists: Napoleon released the marshal, taking from him a promise never to turn the Swedish bayonets against France. But Jean-Baptiste betrayed his emperor-benefactor, first in 1812 by entering into an alliance with Russia, and then in 1813-1814 joining his troops in the anti-Napoleonic coalition. He became the collective winner of Napoleon in the "Battle of the Nations" near Leipzig (1813), and near Waterloo (1815) ...

However, the main paradox of this whole situation was that for Desiree Clary, all these vicissitudes did not matter. She was the wife and heiress of one crown, and she loved the bearer of another. The one that everyone tried to rip off and plucked from the head of her lover, including her husband, who endured everything, even when in 1818 he became a full-fledged king of Sweden ...

crown princess

...The revolution introduced them. More precisely, its cruel confusion, in which, as usual in any revolution, unscrupulous rogues tried to solve their problems by betrayal, scientism on "enemies", slander and quick reprisals. In 1794, the young and, we recall, half-destitute General Napoleon Bonaparte ended up in Marseille with an inspection of the entire coast. His older brother Joseph already lived there, who managed to help his brother Desiree avoid arrest and even marry her older sister Julie. It was his brother who introduced Napoleon to Desiree, whom the enamored general called "Mademoiselle Eugenie" in his letters.

Napoleon clearly loved his Eugenie and wanted to marry her. He did not hide this in his letters to both her and his brother, impatiently and decisively, as always on the battlefield, seeking reciprocity. And they were engaged in 1795. Because Desire also fell in love with the unsightly warrior. And forever. She saw in him something that would later throw all other women into his arms. Including her happier rivals...

Desire's father had already died by that time, and the mother in every possible way opposed the marriage of her youngest daughter with the younger Bonaparte. “One Banapart in the family is enough for me,” she stubbornly. And everything was decided for them by time, chance and ... the male bestiality of Napoleon, who always did not favor women. After his engagement to Desiree, he returned to Paris, and he was fully, as they say, swirled with metropolitan life. A hero of the revolution and war, an assistant to the Directory established in France with his help and a friend of one of the main "directors" Paul Barras, he enters all the then fashionable houses and salons and begins to make up for years of female inattention to his person, changing women like gloves. Biographers bring to us the names of some of them - Madame de Permont with two children, Madame de la Bouchardery and, finally, Madame Josephine Tachet de la Pagerie de Beauharnais, a beautiful Creole from Martinique, widow of a general executed during the years of terror, Viscount Alexandre de Beauharnais, She is also a mother of two young children.

Josephine de Beauharnais, a happy and fortunate rival

With Josephine, Napoleon loses his head so much that he forgets his provincial "Mademoiselle Eugenie." Desire learns about the betrayal of the groom. And when the marriage was concluded with Josephine, she writes him a piercing letter: “You made me unhappy, and yet I forgive you in my weakness ... You are married! .. Now poor Desire has no more right to love you, to think about you ... My the only consolation is the knowledge that you are convinced of my constancy and immutability ... Now I only wish for death. Life has become an unbearable torment for me since I can no longer devote it to you ... You are married! I still can't get over the idea, it's killing me. I will never belong to anyone else ... I, who hoped to soon become the happiest woman in the world, your wife ... Your marriage has destroyed all my dreams of happiness ... Still, I wish you all the happiness and prosperity in your marriage. May the woman you have chosen be able to give you the happiness that I dreamed of giving you and that you deserve. But in the midst of your happiness, do not forget all the same the very poor Evgenia and take pity on her in her bitter share!

Lucky for this Napoleon! Agree, only an offended, but infinitely in love woman, whose feelings made her heart beat unevenly and appealed to the conscience of even such a person as Napoleon, rushing to the heights of power, can write like that. He helps the appointment of brother Joseph as ambassador to Italy and asks him to take with him to Rome, along with his wife, her sister Desire and the failed mother-in-law. Joseph takes women away to “arrange feelings” on a warm “boot”

There, in Italy, Desire is waiting for another terrible blow. Napoleon, taking care of the fate of Desire, "prescribes" to her husband the 26-year-old handsome and brave French general Leonard Dufo. Napoleon writes to Joseph in Rome, where Desire was also staying: “General Dufo will give you this letter. He will tell you about his intentions to marry your sister-in-law. I consider this marriage very beneficial for her, because Dufo is an excellent officer. The matter went well and was also already going to the wedding, but the general was killed in 1797 by the rebellious mob, who tried to deal with the French ambassador. According to some sources, he was killed right in front of the bride. All the same Desiree ...

Leonard Dufo

Desire and her mother return to France, and there she finally meets Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, who falls in love with her without memory. In August 1798 they were married. They were an amazing couple. According to the biographer of Napoleon Frederic Mason, Bernadotte was for Desire “a good match, but the character of this Jacobin was the most unbearable; a pedant and a bore, he behaved like the most boring school tutor; there was neither liveliness nor fire in this Bearnian, and he did not shine with courtesy, but he calculated his actions with the accuracy of an adding machine, skillfully hiding a double game. The pedantic Madame Stael was for him the first among women, and during his honeymoon he forced his wife to write dictations.

Desire tried her best to demonstrate love for her savior husband in such a way that they even believed in her. The Duchess d'Abrantes even recalled: “She loved him, but this love became a real disaster for the poor Bearn. He was by no means the hero of a sensitive novel, and his wife's behavior puzzled him. These were continuous tears. when he was away, she also shed tears; and even when he returned, she sobbed because he had to leave again in a week.

In the time strictly designated by nature, the Bernadottes had their only son, the aforementioned Oscar. By that time, Desire moved with her husband to Paris and, through the family of Joseph and sister, resumed relations with the couple of younger Bonapartes - Napoleon and Josephine. She asks former lover become godfather, but he coldly refuses, limiting himself only to advice on how to name the baby. And be that as it may, the future Swedish king also owes his name to the future French emperor. But the families don't meet in person.

Queen Desideria

Desire hates Josephine, calls her "old woman", but in her heart. And so he tries to support with her a good relationship. She always takes her side in disputes with her mother and numerous sisters of Napoleon, who did not like her daughter-in-law. The need of the Napoleonic couple for the Bernadotte couple arose when Napoleon decided to put an end to the Directory, which was gradually enveloping post-revolutionary France in networks of corruption and total poverty.

It was a truly amazing time in France. The Gallant Age, the luxury of which surprised even contemporaries, ended with terrible poverty even for the former masters of life. The brilliance and luxury of the dresses, the translucent body, the rosy lips, the sweet, insinuating words of the ladies, the diamonds on the powdered necks, the thick purses of the men—all this was the lot of the few. And there, in salons closed to the mob, where the old aristocracy merged with the new - bourgeois, speculative. The future chic and riches of the empire, which did not know defeat on the European fields, were just glimpsing in Napoleon's inflamed brain. And most of the French, according to the recollections of contemporaries, even used sugar almost at a glance: a piece tied with a thread was hung over the dining table, and each family member alternately dipped it in his cup of coffee or herbal decoction for a certain time. Anyone who exceeded the allotted time by a few seconds was showered with abuse, as if he had been convicted of theft ...

The people louder and louder demanded to restore order and use power against those who only fattened and thought of nothing else. And Napoleon planned a coup. But he knew that in Paris there was one person equal to him in popularity and military talents - Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte. And he is the only one who treated Bonaparte coldly, who by that time had already returned from Egypt after the inglorious conquest of this country, called, nevertheless, a “victory”. Bernadotte even refused to personally visit Bonaparte. "I don't want to catch the plague," he grumbled. And he was even called "obstacle man"...

Coronation of Desideria

And then Napoleon's brother Joseph and his wife Julie decided to influence the obstinate and recalcitrant son-in-law through his wife, Desiree. The first meeting of the two couples took place, and when Bernadotte suspected that Bonaparte wanted to seize power in the republic, he coldly and bluntly declared: “I firmly believe in the salvation of the Republic - it will cope with all its enemies, external and internal” ...

The men understood each other, teeth clenched in anger. And if not for women, reconciliation might not have happened. But Josephine and Desiree turned the conversation to other topics. And Bonaparte went on a return visit, now to Bernadotte. And then, after dessert, the two couples went to Vacation home brother Joseph in Mortefontaine. In the carriage, Desire sat opposite Bonaparte, their knees touched, and she, as biographers later write, “felt how in her heart, unexpectedly for herself, the old love was reborn.”

Women were the first to tame Bernadotte. And Desire joined the game with a new-old passion flared up. However, biographer Leon Pignot strongly doubts Desiree's exclusively romantic desire to help her lover seize power and rise: “We must ask ourselves if Madame Bernadotte was guided in her behavior by a sense of jealousy and revenge on Josephine? Bonaparte returned to Paris, having received information about his wife's infidelity, with firm decision get a divorce. Perhaps Madame Bernadotte, seized with tender memories, also thought of a divorce in order to revive the past and unite her life with the conqueror of Egypt, Mr. tomorrow? At that time, morality was shaken, and such a project did not seem impossible.

Napoleon Bonaparte - First Consul

However, be that as it may, even contemporaries noted that Desire's role in curbing her husband, who could prevent Napoleon from seizing power, is enormous. She literally spied on her husband and, through her sister Julie, reported all his plans and talked about his mood. Paul Barras, the actual head of the Directory being prepared for the “slaughter”, wrote about that time: “Madame Bernadotte’s disposition towards the Corsicans and constant communication with them prompted her to dangerous revelations about her husband’s political concerns ... Thus, Bonaparte, through Joseph, and Joseph, through Bernadotte's wife, conducted their policy almost in Bernadotte's bed.

Bernadotte knew about the tricks of his wife, but either he resigned himself to the plans of his rival, or he decided to submit to the inevitable and agree with his wife. Barras recalled: “Noticing several times the unpleasant consequences of his frankness with his wife, he carefully protected himself, as far as possible, from her expansiveness. One day, when he was discussing political affairs with his private secretary and Madame Bernadotte entered his office, he fell silent and signaled to his secretary to break off the conversation in the presence of a "talker", whom he sometimes called, laughing, "a spy" ...

When Napoleon overthrew the Directory in November 1799, Bernadotte did not intercede for it. And Napoleon said enough about him to Jean-Jacques-Régis de Cambaceres, whom he planned for the role of his assistant and second consul on the way to imperial power: “You should not be afraid of him. He will make a gloomy face, make a speech about his fiery Jacobin faith and indignation at violators of the law, but will not do anything serious against us. ...I found a way to bind him hand and foot even though he doesn't know it. He pretends that he still wants our failure, but deep down - I will tell you someday about the reasons for this - he is now more disposed towards us.

On deathbed

Smug Napoleon! But the winners are not judged. However, Bernadotte also did not lose. In 1810, he left for Sweden, and in France he appeared already the winner of Napoleon. And all the time before and after that, he only dutifully observed the behavior of his wife, without interfering in her actions, without publicly condemning or commenting on them.

And Desire patiently loved and waited. Napoleon tried to remove the Bernadotte couple from Paris. However, Desire stubbornly did not leave the capital. In 1804, during the coronation of Napoleon, she, along with his sisters, meekly carried the headdress of Empress Josephine. Then she got herself a lover - the Italian Ange Chapp. But she hoped even after Napoleon's divorce and his marriage to the Austrian princess Marie-Louise in 1809. And only in 1810 she left for Sweden for several months. Already as a hereditary princess.

But she never wanted to be queen. She was painful customs and rituals, ostentatious etiquette and pretentiousness, snobbery and falsity of the royal court. The cold climate and the changeable weather of Sweden further finished it off. "Don't talk to me about Stockholm, I catch a cold as soon as I hear that word," she said of her new home. She did not love her new compatriots and said that their nobility was only in the fact that they looked at her with icy eyes. She never learned Swedish and knew only a few words of it.

Armand Emmanuel Sophia-Septimani de Vignero du Plessis, Comte de Chinon, 5th Duke of Richelieu

In 1811 she returned to France under the name of Countess Gottlieb, but as hereditary princess, she still maintained her house with a small royal court. In 1813, Napoleon was defeated for the first time near Leipzig, and his wife Marie-Louise and his heir were removed from him. In 1814, Josephine died, and a year later, the “emperor of all the French” himself was finally defeated. And all this time, Desire, who lived in Paris incognito, under the supervision of the secret police, then Napoleon, then the Bourbons, assisted and gave shelter to Napoleon's relatives - brothers and sisters. And before Napoleon was sent into exile, she was the only woman who did not leave him and consoled him in the bitterness of defeat and collapse ...

In 1821, Napoleon Bonaparte died on the distant island of St. Helena, and then, perhaps, out of hopelessness, 44-year-old Desire fell in love again. And this last love of hers is also relevant for Ukraine. Her "object" was Armand Emmanuel Sophia-Septimani de Vignero du Plessis, Comte de Chinon, 5th Duke de Richelieu, more familiar to Ukrainians as Emmanuel Osipovich de Richelieu. Yes, yes, the one who is rightfully considered one of the founding fathers of Odessa and whose monument adorns its embankment. At that time, the Duc de Richelieu had already returned from Russian service to France and was prime minister under King Louis XVIII of Bourbon. Duke, they say, reciprocated Desiree, but died already in 1822. And only then Desire decided to return to Sweden. To my husband and son...

But even there Napoleon did not leave her. In 1823, she arrived in Stockholm with her son's bride, Josephine of Leuchtenberg, daughter of Eugene de Beauharnais, stepson of Napoleon and son of Empress Josephine. And only in 1829 she expressed a desire to be fully crowned as Queen of Sweden. Thus, the Frenchwoman Desiree Clari, under the name Desideria, became the second commoner who, after the Finnish Karin Monsdotter (XVI century, we will talk about this somehow), took the Swedish throne.

Sarcophagus in a church in Stockholm. Husband next...

But then for the rest of her life she wanted to return to Paris and amazed the Swedes with her eccentricities. She was still weary of her royal duties and did not want to get involved in politics. She went to bed late and got up late. She could go out to her husband-king, who received visitors, in a long nightgown. She was often late even for dinners that the king arranged for subordinates and guests. She kept her French staff to herself. Then her court was ruled by two Norwegian ladies of state - Katinka and Yana Falbe, who, for their eccentric, to match the queen, tempers were called "Mademoiselle Calamity."

Having been widowed in 1844, Desiree-Desideria again wants to return to France. And she had such an opportunity when, in 1853, another Bonaparte, Napoleon III, the nephew of her lover, became the new emperor there. But she got scared sea travel and stayed in her new home...

And her subjects could often meet the queen mother walking at night in the park of her beloved royal castle Rosenberg: her lady of state usually walked in front of the old woman, dressed in all white to scare away bats. Or, on the streets of the city, stumble upon a night carriage with a queen, in any weather, describing circles around the royal castle in Stockholm. The Swedes called this eccentricity "Kring-kring" - according to that Swedish expression "around the bush", which their queen remembered. She often called ordinary children to her from the street, took them to the palace and distributed sweets to them there.

Princess Victoria, heir to the Swedish throne. She looks like Desiree...

Often, without turning on the light, she wandered through the corridors of the castle, as if wondering at its size and luxury. One French diplomat who observed her wrote: “The kingdom has not changed her. Unfortunately for the authority of the crown. She has always been and will remain an ordinary merchant, surprised by her position and stay on the throne. What this woman was looking for in the twilight of the grandeur that suddenly fell on her and surrounded her, or among the flickering reflections of light and shadows on the streets of rainy Stockholm, no one will know. Queen Desideria was dying alone. Her grandson King Charles XV was already a real Swede, the first Bernadotte born on Swedish soil. He respected his grandmother, but he hardly understood her. And even more so, he could not understand her great love, which did not prevent her from receiving the crown, but did not give complete happiness ...

However, in the history of the Swedish Bernadottes, who received the crown from the revolution in France, and in the history of Queen Desideria, there is another amazing coincidence. Exactly 200 years after the birth of Desiree Clary, in 1977, a daughter, Crown Princess Victoria, was born in the family of the current reigning Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf. After changes in the constitution of Sweden, prohibiting any discrimination, it is she, a woman, and not a man-son, as it was before, who will take the Swedish throne. After his father. She is Desiree's great granddaughter for six generations and is very similar to her in appearance. And she, unlike her great-grandmother, still became happy and in love. In 2010, Crown Princess Victoria married her personal trainer Daniel Westling, a simple Swedish guy turned prince. And even gave birth to his daughter Estelle, who, after her mother, is second in the order of succession to the throne in Sweden. So, it turns out, it also happens ...

BERNADOTS

The Bernadotte dynasty was founded in 1818. Its representatives were previously the monarchs of Sweden and Norway, but in 1905, when the union between these two states was broken, Bernadotte began to inherit only the title of the Swedish king.

The founder of the Bernadotte dynasty is the Marshal of France since 1804, a participant in the revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte (born January 26, 1763 in Pau, Bearn - died March 8, 1844 in Stockholm), who was elected heir to the Swedish throne in 1810 . In 1818, he simultaneously assumed the thrones of Sweden and Norway under the name of King Charles XIV Johan.

Actually, Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte could have lived a different, less eventful life. Fifth and last child in the family of the famous Bearnes lawyer Henri Bernadotte (1711–1780), he was to continue the family dynasty of lawyers. However young man I was not tempted by the prospect of fiddling with papers all my life and sorting out other people's slander, fraud and squabbles. Instead, after the death of his father, in August 1780, he decided to become a military man. To begin with, Jean Baptiste joined the Royal Marine Infantry Regiment as a private (its composition was intended for service on the islands, in seaports and overseas territories). For a year and a half, the future founder of the dynasty served in Corsica, in hometown Napoleon Bonaparte - Ajaccio. In 1784, Bernadotte was transferred to the capital of the province of Dauphine - Grenoble.

Clever, brave, somewhat harsh in his judgments, a bearer who was fluent in weapons immediately attracted the attention of the commanders and soon began to take advantage of their location. Nevertheless, he managed to achieve the rank of sergeant only in May 1788. Yes, and this could be considered a huge success: traditionally, all officer ranks in the French royal army were reserved exclusively for the nobility. And the blood of Jean Baptiste, even with a stretch, could not be called blue.

However, Fate, for all its capriciousness and unpredictability, did not plan to keep this young man on the sidelines all his life. A revolution was brewing in France; a few days after Bernadotte received his sergeant's insignia, it was in Dauphine that a social explosion took place, the echoes of which swept throughout the country, causing a general indignation of the French. The problems began when the commander of the local troops, the Duke of Clermont-Tonnerre, dissolved the provincial parliament. Following this, indignant citizens, members of craft corporations, took to the streets of Grenoble. They were joined by peasants from the surrounding villages. The situation became threatening, and on June 7, 1788, the duke ordered two infantry regiments (including the Royal Marine) to restore order in the city. But the officers who led the soldiers into the streets did not dare to use weapons: the crowd, although hostile and even aggressive, was unarmed. The parties were frozen in anticipation. The situation corresponded to the classic "calm before the storm". When one of the women, unable to stand it, jumped out of the crowd and slapped the sergeant in the face (he, unfortunately, turned out to be Bernadotte), the so-called blood rushed to the head. Bearer could not tolerate insults; boiling over, he ordered his subordinates to immediately open fire. When corpses began to fall on the pavement, the townspeople began to throw at the soldiers everything that had a decent weight and was tucked under the arm. Tiles rained down from rooftops and balconies on the Royal Regiment; Jean Baptiste was wounded and had to flee from a crowd of brutalized citizens. Since then, June 7, 1788 is listed in the history of France as the Day of Tiles, and the name of Bernadotte is first mentioned on its pages - as a faithful servant of the crown.

In May 1789, the Naval Regiment was relocated to Marseille. By that time, Jean Baptiste was already the orderly of the regiment commander, the Marquis d'Amber. In a new place, the sergeant rented a room for himself in the house of a wealthy merchant Francois Clary. The owner's daughters - 18-year-old Julie and 12-year-old Desiree - played a huge role in the lives of many of the then prominent figures in French and world history. Including Bernadotte.

On July 14, 1789, the Bastille fell in Paris, and the townspeople stormed it. Following this, revolutionary sentiments swept the whole of France. Detachments of the National Guard were formed everywhere in the country; in the royal army, discipline fell every hour, and mass desertion of soldiers began. Nevertheless, Bernadotte remained faithful to the oath; he even managed to save his regimental commander, whom the national guards were about to hang from the first lantern. Interestingly, at the same time, the sergeant ... supported the ideals of the revolution! Perhaps, in many ways, he was driven by a sober calculation: after all, it was precisely this situation that opened up wide prospects for him. He took the slogan "Freedom, equality and fraternity" literally. And in order to convince others (and possibly himself) of his devotion to revolutionary ideals, Jean Baptiste made himself a tattoo "Death to tsars and tyrants." He seems to have fully appreciated the comedy of this inscription two decades later ...

The first officer rank of sub-lieutenant Bernadotte received in the spring of 1792. Then he was transferred to serve in the 36th Infantry Regiment, which was stationed in Brittany. After the war between France and Austria began on April 20 of the same year (later Prussia joined it), the regiment was transferred to Strasbourg, at the disposal of the commander of the Army of the Rhine. The next two years for Bernadotte became a continuous series of battles. At the same time, the bearer, who was distinguished by impeccable courage, showed devotion to the revolution and, moreover, had professional experience and brilliant military abilities, began to quickly move up the career ladder: in the middle of summer 1793 he received the rank of captain, in August - colonel, and in April of the following year he became a brigadier general. At the Battle of Fleurus, Jean Baptiste commanded a division. Ahead of him was participation in campaigns on the Main and in Italy, which brought the failed lawyer the glory of a general, absolutely intolerant of looting and indiscipline.

In 1797, Bernadotte met Napoleon Bonaparte and even struck up quite friendly relations with the future emperor. However, very soon the relationship between the military leaders deteriorated: both were quite ambitious and openly competed.

In January - August of the following year, Jean Baptiste was appointed to Vienna as the official ambassador of France. After returning to Paris on August 17, he married the same Desire Clary, the daughter of his Marseille landlord, who managed to be Napoleon's bride. Elder sister Desiree, Julie, was the wife of Bonaparte's brother, Joseph.

However, Jean Baptiste could not enjoy the relatively quiet life in the capital for long. Military duty called him into the army, and the brave general spent the winter of 1798/99 in Germany. Then they started talking about Bernadotte as one of the most prominent generals of the French Republic. Therefore, no one was surprised to learn that in July 1799, the Bearer became the country's new minister of war. But the leaders of the Directory (especially one of them - Emmanuel Seyes) began to worry about Bernadotte's Jacobin connections and his huge popularity among both the military and the civilian population. Therefore, in September 1799, Jean Baptiste was hastily sent, out of harm's way, into retirement.

The former minister repaid the spiteful critics very quickly. In the coup of the Eighteenth Brumaire, although he did not support Napoleon, he refused to even lift a finger in order to save the Directory. As a result, in 1800-1802, the general served as state adviser and commander of the troops of Western France. In this capacity, Bernadotte had to deal with the suppression of the uprising in the Vendée (1800) and fight off accusations of involvement in the Rhine conspiracy (the distribution of anti-Napoleonic pamphlets).

In January 1803, Jean Baptiste was again appointed ambassador - this time he was to go to the United States of America. But since France had just entered the war with England, they decided to postpone the mission. The general spent almost a year in Paris inactive. It cannot be said that this pleased such an active person. When, on May 18, 1804, Bonaparte proclaimed himself emperor, the Bearish, after weighing all the pros and cons, expressed loyalty to the new monarch. In gratitude, Napoleon gave Jean Baptiste the title of Marshal of France and already in June sent him as his governor to Hanover. There, Bernadotte first demonstrated his abilities as an economist, politician and lawyer, having carried out a series of transformations of the taxation system.

When in 1805 a new military campaign, the governor again had to remember that he was primarily a military man, and at the head of the 1st Army Corps went to South Germany, where he took part in the Battle of Ulm, captured Ingolstadt, crossed the Danube and went to Munich. After the capture of Salzburg, the corps joined the main forces of Napoleon and took on the most powerful blow of the enemy in the battle of Austerlitz. When the peace with Austria was signed, Bernadotte moved to Bavaria, in Ansbach. In 1806, in gratitude for his good service, he was granted the title of Prince of Pontecorvo. In the same year, the corps of the newly minted aristocrat defeated the retreating Prussians at Halle and forced them to surrender, which was signed on November 7th. And on January 25, 1807, the Bearer defeated the Russian troops at Morungen. In July, Bernadotte became commander of the troops in Northern Germany and Denmark; at the same time he began to hatch a plan for a campaign against Sweden, but he did not receive support in this matter. Later, in 1809, the future monarch was the commander of the troops in Holland, where he managed to defeat the English landing force that landed on the island of Walchern.

In the same year, a coup d'état took place in Sweden, during which King Gustav IV was overthrown and a constitutional monarchy was established. The old and sick Charles XIII, who, moreover, had no children, ascended the throne. The Danish prince Christian August became the heir to the throne, but just a year later this contender for the crown died suddenly. Since Sweden at that time was heavily dependent on France, the Riksdag sent ambassadors to Napoleon with the eternal question: “What to do ?!” The emperor hesitated for a long time, choosing the candidacy of the crown prince. Finally, Baron Karl Otto Merner, a member of the Swedish delegation, could not stand it. In order to put an end to the "suspended" position and finally complete his mission, he turned to Bernadotte with a request to take the throne of the state in the future. Merner knew what he was doing: the Bearer, who had established himself as a talented military leader, a skilled diplomat and a wise administrator, was very popular in Sweden, because he showed rare humanity towards the baron's captured fellow citizens. In addition, the general had a solid fortune and maintained close ties with the trading circles of the Hanseatic cities. In general, the best candidate for the role of the monarch at that time, perhaps, did not exist.

The State Council of Sweden approved and supported Merner's undertaking. The only thing that was required of Bernadotte in order to become heir to the crown was to convert to the Lutheran faith. Bearnets, unlike Napoleon, did not hesitate for a long time, and on August 21, 1810 he was elected Crown Prince of Sweden by the Riksdag. On October 20, as required "by contract", he accepted Lutheranism, and already on October 5 he officially became the adopted son of Charles XIII (so that there would be no problems of a dynastic nature in the future). Now he bore the name of Karl Johan, and since his new "parent" could not perform state duties for health reasons, Bernadotte began to act as regent of the country.

It is unlikely that Napoleon was delighted that the throne of Sweden was "attached" without his participation. However, the emperor believed that the state, headed by one of his marshals, was a vassal of France. And if so, he demanded that Bernadotte declare war on England and join the continental blockade. Jean Baptiste was forced to submit, but Sweden, through his efforts, did not take part in the actual hostilities. True, Napoleon recalled the obligation to listen to his opinion: in January 1812, his troops occupied Swedish Pomerania. Nevertheless, Bernadotte also abstained from the war with Russia, and in the spring of 1813, as soon as the anti-Napoleonic coalition began to form, he broke off relations with France altogether. The regent was going to attack one of the emperor's allies, Denmark, and take Norway from her. However, the new allies of Jean Baptiste, Russia and Great Britain, who allocated a subsidy to Sweden for this "project", insisted that the campaign against Denmark be postponed until the defeat of Napoleon. By the way, it was the arrival of the Northern Allied Army under the command of Bernadotte near Leipzig on October 17, 1813 that decided the outcome of the battle. After that, the crown prince went to Denmark and already in January 1814 forced Frederick VI to sign the Treaty of Kiel, according to which Norway was ceded to Sweden. Bernadotte then again led troops against the Napoleonic army. Entering Paris in the spring of 1814, Jean Baptiste offered himself for the role of King of France. However, such a “brother by profession” did not suit the European monarchs, and they preferred to return the throne of the Bourbon dynasty usurped by Napoleon.

Norway, meanwhile, was not enthusiastic about its forcible annexation to Sweden, and in May 1814 adopted a liberal constitution. Then the Swedish regent again took up the realization of his dream, invading the bounds of the obstinate country. He nevertheless managed - through compromise and numerous concessions - to achieve recognition by the Norwegians of the union of the two powers. But due to the fault of Austria and the Bourbons who returned to the throne of France, he had an added headache: his opponents did not recognize the crown prince of Sweden and strove to transfer this title to the son of the deposed Henry VI. In addition, taking advantage of the tense situation, Bernadotte's opponents became more active in Sweden itself. True, thanks to the support of Russia and Great Britain, the regent retained power, but he still had to say goodbye to Western Pomerania, which was the last possession of the country on the southern coast of the Baltic: in 1815 this territory was annexed to Prussia.

On the thrones of Sweden and Norway, Bernadotte, who took the name Charles XIV Johan, entered at the age of 54, after Charles XIII died on February 5, 1818. The wife of the former regent became Queen Desideria of Sweden; however, she moved to her own country only in the 20s of the XIX century.

Actually, under Charles XIV Johan, a constitutional monarchy was established in Sweden. Bernadotte really deserved the throne: this man gave all his considerable strength, talents and energy for the good of his new homeland. At the same time, he was especially concerned about holding an exclusively peaceful foreign policy, although within the country he has established himself as a rare conservative, gravitating toward authoritarianism and restricting the civil liberties of his subjects. Perhaps he really was driven to abandon radical reforms by the fear of destroying the shaky social harmony that had finally been established in the state.

But the harsh measures of government revived the opposition, which in the 30s of the 19th century received support in the Riksdag. Dissatisfied with the policies of Charles XIV Johan began to accuse the monarch of many sins, among which were even poor knowledge of the Swedish language and a quick temper. Nevertheless, the speech of the opposition had no significant consequences: the king, using his vast political experience and personal charm, settled the conflict. To a large extent, his quick resolution was also facilitated by the respect of Bernadotte's subjects for his military merits.

Despite all the shortcomings of Karl Johan's policy, the state became much stronger under him: the economy and industry, agriculture developed rapidly, the merchant fleet achieved great success, and the population of both countries grew significantly. By decree of the king, between the Baltic Sea, lakes Vennern and Vättern, the Goetsky Canal, impressive in its size, was built. In general, when in 1844 the first of the Bernadotte dynasty died at the age of 81, mourning for him in Sweden and Norway was announced not only for the sake of decency. Karl Johan was really respected and appreciated by the subjects of both countries.

Following the death of the king, his son and heir were elevated to the throne. He went down in history as Oscar I (1799–1859). This representative of the dynasty, who was an ardent supporter of Scandinavianism, largely continued the policy of his predecessor and, in addition, carried out a number of necessary radical reforms in the country.

The last of the Bernadottes, who ruled simultaneously in two states, was Oscar II (1829-1907), who occupied the throne of Sweden in 1872-1907 and Norway in 1872-1905. After a coup d'etat took place in Norway, the union between the powers was broken and the Bernadotte monarchy in this country was finished.

All subsequent Swedish kings of this dynasty traditionally enjoyed quite sincere, and not ostentatious love of their subjects. So it was with Gustav VI Adolf (reigned in 1950-1973), and with Carl XVI Gustav (born in 1946, ruled since 1973), whose slogan, by the way, was the words: "Duty comes first." The last monarch of Sweden came to the throne prematurely, due to tragic circumstances. Carl Gustav's father died in 1943 in a plane crash. Gustav VI Adolf, who outlived his heir by 30 years, did not have more sons and therefore left the throne to his grandson.

Carl Gustav grew up as a rather shy and quiet child. The fact that the crown prince was ill was hidden from the public for a long time. He suffered from dyslexia (impaired ability to read). Dyslexia by itself does not indicate mental retardation or weak intellect. This ailment occurs as a result of changes in the anterior sections of the occipital part of the brain, which can be caused by both a certain underdevelopment of this area, and a tumor or a stroke. In severe cases, the patient completely loses the ability to read, and in milder cases, he is simply unable to read fluently. As a rule, if a child’s dyslexia is not a consequence of a serious illness, then by the age of 11–15 it disappears without a trace.

Nevertheless, the Bernadotte family was in no hurry to publish the official diagnosis of the prince, fearing that the Swedes would not bother to delve into the essence of the problem, but would immediately express fears that in the future the throne might go to a person with a weakened intellect. However, these fears were not justified. When the subjects of Gustav Adolf became aware of the state of Carl Gustav, the boy ... began to love even more. Over the years, as expected, dyslexia went away by itself.

The heir to the throne received a military education mandatory for Swedish monarchs, and then became a student at the oldest university in the country, located in Uppsala. And although from time to time there were reports in the press about the prince's love interests, scandals on this basis never arose.

Carl Gustav met his future wife on August 26, 1972, at three in the afternoon. Where does such accuracy come from? Yes, just the acquaintance of the spouses coincided with the opening of the Olympic Games in Munich. Then the 30-year-old translator Silvia Sommerlath was looking for her place on the podium and suddenly felt that someone was staring at her. Sylvia turned around and saw that the heir to the throne of Sweden, who at that time was 26 years old, was looking at her through ... binoculars! And this despite the fact that the distance between the young people did not exceed two meters ... They laughed almost simultaneously. In general, the future spouses missed the beginning of the ceremony.

Sylvia was born into an ordinary German family that did not have aristocratic roots. After graduating from a private school in Düsseldorf, the girl at first was going to become a teacher, but then she entered the Munich school of translators. According to the current royal legislation, Sylvia could in no case be considered as a contender for the place of the wife of the heir. However, hardly anyone could compare with Carl Gustav in stubbornness. For almost four years, the stubborn young man, having gathered his will into a fist, literally fought his way to personal happiness with his forehead through the wall of public opinion, family resistance and paragraphs of laws. As a result, he overcame all obstacles and on June 19, 1976, he led his beloved down the aisle. And he never seemed to regret it.

For 30 years now, the royal couple has been an example of faithful and loving spouses. And, mind you, without falsehood! For all the years of their marriage, no one managed to "unearth" at least something scandalous from the personal life of the monarch and his "half". They are almost always together to this day.

Sylvia and Carl prefer to relax in Paris, London and New York: they do not like noise and excessive fuss around their own person and therefore happily roam the streets where no one knows them by sight. But at home, the royal couple tries to hide the details of their private life from outsiders, and they do it very successfully.

Swedish monarchs must go to bed early and wake up early. For the queen, this is as easy as shelling pears: she is a "lark" by nature. But Carl Gustav has a hard time: he is a classic "owl" and therefore can work all night until dawn, and in the morning he is barely able to open his eyes.

The Bernadottes have three children: Victoria, who is the heir to the crown, Carl Philip and Madeleine (she is often called the "wild" princess for her passion for horseback riding and a rather sharp character). Having become an adult, Victoria received the official right to act as head of state. However, when journalists began to show increased interest in the girl, she lost a lot of weight and began to avoid contact with the press. Because of this, a lot of rumors arose in the country: they say that the heiress received “in addition” to the title of dyslexia, which once tormented her father, and it is not known whether her illness will go away just as quickly and imperceptibly. The queen took eldest daughter under protection, declaring that she was perfectly healthy and only not quite ready for new duties. It was decided to protect Victoria from the increased attention of the “sharks of the pen”. That is why the heiress went to study not at Uppsala University, as planned, but at one of the American ones. And although the girl was noticed from time to time in New York (she sometimes dined incognito with friends in some Vietnamese restaurant), the future queen prefers to avoid contact with the curious. She apparently learned her mother's words well: "We divide our life into official, private and very private, and I respect those who value the human right to privacy."

This text is an introductory piece.

Ambitious Hero Alexandra Dumas d'Artagnan dreamed of a marshal's baton, which, at the behest of the author, he received before his death. The real countryman of the book hero, Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, went further - the youngest son of a French lawyer became the king of an entire country.

Napoleon Bonaparte, who conquered almost all of Europe, made his relatives and best military leaders rulers of entire powers. Someone lost the crown after the fall of the emperor. Jean-Baptiste managed to resist, because he had a special relationship with Napoleon - Bernadotte, serving him, for many years saw Bonaparte as a competitor and rival.

Son of a lawyer

Jean-Baptiste was born on January 26, 1763. baby's father, Henri Bernadotte, was by that time already 52 years old, and this may have caused the frailty of the newborn.

The baby was so bad that the mother asked the priest to baptize Jean-Baptiste the very next morning - so that the boy would not go to the next world unbaptized.

commons.wikimedia.org

Contrary to fears, Jean-Baptiste survived, and his father, who did not have a noble rank, but made a fortune as a lawyer in the College of Queen's Counsel, began to prepare his son for a career in the same field.

Given to study with the Benedictine monks, Jean-Baptiste did not demonstrate the patience and reasonableness necessary for a lawyer. The stronger boy preferred to resolve all conflicts with his peers in a fight.

However, after school, Bernadotte Jr. really began to learn the basics of his father's craft, and by the age of 23 he had achieved some success as a lawyer.

Now you are in the army

But Henri Bernadotte died, leaving the family heavily indebted. The widow sold the house, moving to a more modest dwelling. Jean-Baptiste's older brother, Jean, took care of his mother and sister. And the youngest now had to settle in life himself.

Jean-Baptiste did what many others who found themselves in a similar position did then - he enlisted in the army.

The Great French Revolution opened the way for Bernadotte to the coveted officer rank, although the cautious Jean-Baptiste at first preferred to remain neutral in a civil conflict.

But military operations were his element. Fighting in the ranks of the Army of the Rhine, Bernadotte built his own career ladder with his personal courage and skillful leadership of his subordinates. His rise was swift. By the beginning of the summer of 1793, he had risen to the rank of captain, and a year later he already commanded a division, having the rank of brigadier general.

How profitable to marry an abandoned bride

In 1797, General Bernadotte first encountered General Bonaparte. They did not like each other too much - Jean-Baptiste, who had heard about Napoleon's successes, considered him a self-confident upstart. Bonaparte considered that Bernadotte was too arrogant and arrogant. At the same time, the future emperor recognized Bernadotte's military talent, which predetermined subsequent events.

And in the life of Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, a successful marriage played an important role.

Desiree Clary, the daughter of a Marseille silk merchant and shipowner, was considered the bride of Napoleon. Her sister was married to the general's brother, Joseph Bonaparte. But after Napoleon's meeting with Josephine Desiree was fired.

The abandoned bride was acquainted with Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, and turned her hopeful eyes on him. General Bernadotte was not averse to taking Desiree as his wife, but he certainly did not want to quarrel over her with the Bonapartes.

But Napoleon gave the go-ahead for marriage, believing that this was the best way to arrange the fate of Desiree.

So Jean-Baptiste started family ties with Bonaparte.

Talented but untrustworthy

When Napoleon proclaimed himself emperor, Bernadotte, who had once tattooed "Long Live the Republic!", took what was happening for granted. In gratitude for his loyalty, Bonaparte made Bernadotte marshal and viceroy in Hanover.

In the military campaign of 1805, Bernadotte commanded an army corps. The marshal distinguished himself in the battle of Ulm, captured Ingolstadt, crossing the Danube, went to Munich and blocked the army of General Mack, ensuring its defeat. For outstanding military services in 1806, Bernadotte was awarded the title of Prince of Pontecorvo.

Success, however, did not always accompany Bernadotte. For example, in 1809, in the battle of Wagram, the marshal lost a third of his corps.

Probably, Emperor Bonaparte never received as many denunciations against anyone as against Bernadotte. Many knew that the marshal allowed himself to doubt the orders and actions of Napoleon. Scammers wrote - Bernadotte is preparing a conspiracy, welcoming the enemies of the emperor. Napoleon, however, continued to trust the marshal.

Historians attribute this to the emperor's special attitude towards his former bride. If the offended Desire supported the confrontation of the new betrothed with Napoleon, the emperor himself emphasized in response that, in spite of everything, he would treat Desire with respect and tenderness. Of course, this concern for Desiree's well-being extended to her husband, Bernadotte.

Who is the last king here?

In the same year, 1809, an unexpected turn took place in the life of Bernadotte. Ascended the throne in Sweden King Charles XIII without legal heirs. And the Swedes offered Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte to become crown prince.

Firstly, in Sweden they considered such a proposal as a way to please Napoleon, on whom the country was to a certain extent dependent. Secondly, Bernadotte had previously become famous for his humane treatment of prisoners and his ability to govern, which he demonstrated as a Napoleonic governor.

The youngest son of a Gascon lawyer got the opportunity to become king, but did not lose his head.

He waited for a response from Napoleon, emphasizing that he could not make such a decision without the approval of the emperor. Approval was received, Bernadotte was dismissed from service, and in August 1810 he was officially proclaimed crown prince. To finally remove all contradictions, Charles XIII adopted Jean-Baptiste.

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To betray in time means to foresee

Bernadotte, who became Karl Johan in Sweden, initially supported Napoleon's course, but then showed character. Sweden, at the suggestion of the crown prince, did not support the war with Russia, even though it promised benefits, for example, the return of lost France.

Bernadotte was sure that this time Napoleon had gone too far, and the matter would turn out to be a heavy defeat for France, and entered into an alliance with the Russian emperor.

When the campaign in Russia ended in failure, Sweden officially took the side of the anti-Napoleonic coalition, and the former French marshal fought against his compatriots in the "Battle of the Nations". On the sly, the crown prince forced Denmark to abandon Norway in favor of Sweden.

Not everyone in Europe was delighted with the prospect of seeing the former Napoleonic military leader as the king of Sweden, but Russian support helped here.

In 1818, after the death of Charles XIII, Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte became King of Sweden and Norway, Charles XIV Johan.

Father and son

The monarch never learned to speak Swedish tolerably until the end of his life. French was also enough to govern the country, and Charles XIV delivered official speeches in much the same way as Vitaly Mutko in front of an English-speaking audience - reading out the text written on paper in the French alphabet.

The Swedes were ready to endure this, because in the region government controlled Bernadotte showed himself with the best side. He carried out reforms for the development of education, Agriculture, strengthening finances, restoring the prestige of the country. Under Charles XIV, the foundations of Swedish neutrality were laid, which allowed the country to avoid participation in major military conflicts.

The Royal Family of Sweden and Norway in 1837. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

When the king did not have enough knowledge of the language to communicate with the ministers, his son helped him, Oscar.

Oscar Bernadotte got his name when his father could not even think that the Swedish throne was waiting for him in the future - just in France at that time there was a fashion for names of Scandinavian origin. The son of Jean-Baptiste came to Sweden at the age of 12, and, unlike his parents, quickly mastered both the language and the customs of the locals, earning incredible popularity.

Descendants of the Napoleonic marshal rule Sweden for 200 years

But Jean-Baptiste's wife and Oscar's mother, Desiree Bernadotte, lived away from her loved ones for many years. Having visited Sweden in 1811, she considered this country a remote province, and left for Paris, flatly refusing to reunite with her husband.

She surrendered only in 1823. Her official coronation as Queen of Sweden took place in 1829.

Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte died in March 1844. His son, Oscar I, became the new king of Sweden.

February 2018 marks 200 years since the Swedish crown belongs to the representatives of the Bernadotte dynasty. It is the longest reigning dynasty in Swedish history.