French Royalty. She was the Sister of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, who appointed her Queen of Naples. She was born in Ajaccio, Corsica and moved with her family to France during the Revolution. As her brother was rising to power she fell in love with one of his generals, Joachim Murat, and they married in 1800. Napoleon opposed the match but his wife Josephine convinced him to allow it. They had four children, Achille (2nd Prince Murat, died in Tallahassee, Florida), Marie Letizia, Lucien Charles (3rd Prince Murat), and Louise. Caroline is regarded as Napoleon's most ambitious sister and has also been described as extravagant and power-hungry. In 1808 Napoleon extended his power into southern Italy and Sicily by placing Caroline and Murat on its throne, with Caroline ruling as regent during Murat's absences. This included the period when he invaded Russia with Napoleon. Caroline had designs on her own children becoming Napoleon's heirs, but this was thwarted after the Emperor divorced Josephine and his second wife gave birth to Napoleon II. Caroline is seen as having influenced her husband to strive for a united Kingdom of Italy independent of Napoleon's French Empire and she turned to Napoleon's rival Prince Metternich to help secure this ambition. This attempt failed and as Napoleon was losing his throne she and her husband fled to Corsica. Returning to Italy in 1815, Murat made a rash final attempt to reclaim his throne and was captured, court martialed, and executed at Calabria. Caroline escaped with her children to Austria and died 24 years later in exile in Florence. Her sons settled in the United States, though Lucien was later welcomed back to France by Napoleon III. There is a cenotaph to her at the Murat family tomb in Père Lachaise, Paris.
French Royalty. She was the Sister of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, who appointed her Queen of Naples. She was born in Ajaccio, Corsica and moved with her family to France during the Revolution. As her brother was rising to power she fell in love with one of his generals, Joachim Murat, and they married in 1800. Napoleon opposed the match but his wife Josephine convinced him to allow it. They had four children, Achille (2nd Prince Murat, died in Tallahassee, Florida), Marie Letizia, Lucien Charles (3rd Prince Murat), and Louise. Caroline is regarded as Napoleon's most ambitious sister and has also been described as extravagant and power-hungry. In 1808 Napoleon extended his power into southern Italy and Sicily by placing Caroline and Murat on its throne, with Caroline ruling as regent during Murat's absences. This included the period when he invaded Russia with Napoleon. Caroline had designs on her own children becoming Napoleon's heirs, but this was thwarted after the Emperor divorced Josephine and his second wife gave birth to Napoleon II. Caroline is seen as having influenced her husband to strive for a united Kingdom of Italy independent of Napoleon's French Empire and she turned to Napoleon's rival Prince Metternich to help secure this ambition. This attempt failed and as Napoleon was losing his throne she and her husband fled to Corsica. Returning to Italy in 1815, Murat made a rash final attempt to reclaim his throne and was captured, court martialed, and executed at Calabria. Caroline escaped with her children to Austria and died 24 years later in exile in Florence. Her sons settled in the United States, though Lucien was later welcomed back to France by Napoleon III. There is a cenotaph to her at the Murat family tomb in Père Lachaise, Paris.
Bio by: Paul S.
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