Beauharnais Eugenede

Beauharnais, Eugene de, the son of the foregoing, was born in 1781. In 1795 he went to General Bonaparte to claim his father's sword, and his bearing attracted the future emperor, who next year became his step-father, and took him as aide-de-camp to the Italian campaign. The lad accompanied his protector to Egypt, where he showed great courage, and played a brilliant part in the second Italian war. He rose rapidly, and in 1804, being then colonel-in-chief of chasseurs, was created a prince of the empire. In 1805 he acted as viceroy in Italy, and filled the post with tact and intelligence. Next year he married Augusta Amelia, daughter of the King of Bavaria, and was adopted by Napoleon as his successor. In 1809 he foiled with much skill the attempt of Austria to recover her hold on Italy, and followed up his successes at Raab and Wagram. The jealousy of the Bonaparte family now began to undermine the influence of Josephine and her son. Eugene gave his assent to the divorce, and served Napoleon with zeal in the disastrous invasion of Russia, and in the subsequent operations in north Italy. After the battle of Bellegarde he fought no more. In 1814 he was deprived of his viceroyalty, but was allowed by Louis XVIII. to retain his title of prince. He preserved a quiescent attitude during the Hundred Days, and retiring to Munich received the principality of Eichstadt and the dukedom of Leuchtenburg. He died of apoplexy in 1824. Of his six children the eldest married Donna Maria, Queen of Portugal, and died early; Josephine became the wife of Oscar Bernadotte, Crown Prince of Sweden; and Amelia was the consort of Pedro, the Emperor of Brazil.