Napoleon's Gift To Josephine After Conquering Bavaria

Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine de Beauharnais' relationship has been the subject of much fascination, with popular culture often portraying him as a romantic figure. One such portrayal is in the film 'The Terminal', where, upon winning Bavaria, Napoleon is said to have gifted Josephine 1,000 fountains. While this may be a fictionalised account, it is believed that Napoleon gave Josephine a gold medallion inscribed with the words To Destiny on their wedding day.

A gold medallion

After winning Bavaria, Napoleon gave Josephine a gold medallion. This was also the gift he gave her on their wedding day, inscribed with the words "To Destiny". It is said that Josephine wore the medallion on her wedding day.

The medallion was a famous gift, and it was not the only one. Napoleon was known to be a romantic, and he gave Josephine many gifts throughout their relationship. For instance, he also gave her 1,000 fountains after conquering Bavaria.

The couple's relationship was not always rosy, and Josephine was not always amused by Napoleon's gifts. However, the gold medallion was a significant gift, and it is said that the couple did not imagine how significant the words "To Destiny" would become.

The medallion was a symbol of Napoleon and Josephine's love story, which began when Napoleon fell in love with Josephine at first sight. Despite the ups and downs of their relationship, the medallion represents the deep connection and passion between the two.

1,000 fountains

After conquering Bavaria, Napoleon Bonaparte gave his wife Josephine 1,000 fountains. This romantic gesture is depicted in the film "The Terminal", where Tom Hanks' character mentions it.

Napoleon and Josephine's relationship was not always rosy, and he is even quoted as saying that he had no respect for his wife. However, he did give her several other gifts, including a gold medallion inscribed with the words "To Destiny", which he gave her as a wedding gift. This medallion was famously worn by Josephine on their wedding day, where Napoleon arrived late.

Josephine was born Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de la Pagerie on June 23, 1763, in Martinique. She was the eldest daughter of Joseph Gaspard de Tascher and Rose-Claire des Vergers de Sannois, both descendants of French nobility. She married Napoleon in a civil ceremony on March 9, 1796, and their honeymoon was short-lived as Napoleon soon left to become the commander of the French army in Italy. Their relationship was often strained due to Napoleon's military career and Josephine's spending habits and infidelities. Despite this, they remained married until their divorce in 1809, after which Napoleon married Marie Louise in the hopes of producing a male heir.

A Vacheron Constantin watch

In 1755, a young man called Jean-Marc Vacheron founded a watch-making workshop in Geneva, Switzerland. This marked the beginning of the Vacheron Constantin brand, which has since become synonymous with luxury timepieces. With a proud heritage of watchmaking excellence and stylistic sophistication, Vacheron Constantin is the world's oldest watch manufacturer in continuous production. The company has been faithfully perpetuating its commitment to technical innovation and aesthetic sophistication for over 260 years, across generations of master craftsmen.

Vacheron Constantin timepieces are renowned for their unparalleled heritage and spirit of innovation, with key collections such as Patrimony, Traditionnelle, Métiers d’Art, Overseas, Fiftysix, and Historiques. The brand is also known for its sporty Overseas collection and the more dressy Patrimony family. The former is characterised by its integrated bracelet design, tonneau-shaped case, and robust sports functionality, while the latter offers a range of complications and functions, including minute repeaters, perpetual calendars, and moon phase retrograde dates.

The Phase 1 Vacheron Constantin Overseas, released in 1996, is a descendant of the iconic 222 model. This casual yet elegant statement watch has earned praise and fame, leading to the availability of various styles and limited editions. For example, the Overseas Automatic Deep Stream and the Ultra-Thin Boutique Exclusive ref. 2000V/120G-B122, featuring an 18k white gold case and a mesmerizing grey dial. For those seeking chronograph iterations, the Vacheron Overseas Chronograph and the Overseas Chronometer in 18k yellow gold are exceptional choices.

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A gift from her lover, Barras

Josephine de Beauharnais, born Marie-Joseph Rose de Tascher de la Pagerie, was the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. She was previously married to Alexandre de Beauharnais, with whom she had two children, Eugène and Hortense. However, Alexandre was unfaithful and the couple separated. Josephine was imprisoned during the Reign of Terror but was released following the fall of Robespierre. After her release, she turned to her network of friends and acquaintances, including Paul Barras, a powerful political and military figure who had survived the Revolution and the Terror.

It is rumoured that Josephine became Barras's mistress, and he is said to have taken her under his wing and protected her financially. According to some sources, Barras played a role in introducing Josephine to Napoleon, who was a rising military star at the time. Barras may have been looking to pass Josephine on to another lover, and it is speculated that he arranged for Napoleon to be appointed commander of the French army in Italy in exchange for Napoleon marrying Josephine.

Thus, a gift that Barras gave Josephine was, indirectly, Napoleon himself.

A new name

Napoleon Bonaparte gave his wife, Josephine, a new name. She was born Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de la Pagerie, but her friends and family called her Rose. However, Napoleon was not content with this and renamed her Josephine, derived from her second Christian name, Josèphe. This was possibly to distance himself from her previous lovers.

Napoleon's desire to rename his wife may have been motivated by his own insecurities and lack of social graces. He was penniless, with little experience in romance, and six years younger than Josephine. In contrast, Josephine had already climbed to the top of the social ladder and was involved in many interesting things. She was also six years older, previously married, and had two children from her first marriage.

Despite the imbalance in their relationship, with Napoleon passionately in love and Josephine less so, their positions would eventually change. Over the years, Napoleon's ardour cooled, and Josephine came to appreciate her husband fully. They were also politically compatible, with Josephine providing Napoleon access to high society and using her famous charm to win over the public for him.

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