Désirée Clary - The Reluctant Queen
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ต.ค. 2024
- When Désirée Clary was a young lady, she met Napoleon Bonaparte. Although they got engaged, by a twist of fate, she actually married Napoleon’s rival, Jean Baptiste Bernadotte. However, when Bernadotte became King of Sweden and Norway, Désirée struggled to accept the situation.
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Sources / Further reading
Desiree, Queen of Sweden and Norway. Translated from the French of Baron Hochschild by Mrs. M. Carey, New York, Dodd, Mead & Co., 1890
A Queen of Napoleon’s Court, The Life-Story of Desiree Bernadotte by Catherine Bearne, New York, E.P. Dutton & Co, 31 West Twenty-Third Street, 1905
Letters of Napoleon, Selected, Translated, and Edited by J.M. Thompson, Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, Basil Blackwell, Oxford, 1934
this story has always been one of the most intriguing and confusing in all history , and I've always loved it for its amazing twists and turns , and you've done a marvelous job of telling it ! BRAVO !! ( the book and movie have nothing on you )
Glad you enjoy it! Thank you very much for your kind words.
What’s the movie called?
@@jessrosefawkes2721 ,
" Desiree " , book and movie ( a great read and a great watch - Jean Simmons , Michael Rennie , Marlon Brando as Napoleon , and beautiful Merle Oberon as Josephine ! )
@@XX-gy7ue thank you very much for letting me know I appreciate that 👍 and I can’t wait to watch it 😀 thanks again!
@@jessrosefawkes2721 , make popcorn , and have champagne , it's a fantastic flick ! ENJOY !
There's a movie based on Desiree's life starring Jean Simmons and Marlo Brando. It may not be historically accurate, but it's close enough and beautifully filmed.
Yes!! Jean Simmons as Desiree, Merle Oberon as Josephine, and Marlon Brando as Napoleon. A very sympathetic and surprisingly accurate portrayal (considering the free license that Hollywood has to "interpret" history) of history seen through the eyes of a woman. Women's stories are often relegated to the sidelines, and treated as footnotes in history.
If you can get your hands on a copy of, "Desiree" then share it with everyone you know!!
Thanks! Going to look for it now. Cherrs. 👍😀
Movie is based on a book called Desiree, not sure of author
Great movie!!
@@lucyburr5516 Annemarie Selinko is the name of the author (she was an Austrian novelist) who wrote a novel about Désirée, published in 1951.The book has been adapted into movie in 1954 - starring Jean Simmons and Marlon Brando.
I recommend the historical novel "Desiree" by Anne Marie Selinko. I love this fantastic story.
Desiree Clary, later Queen Consort of Sweden was a fascinating figure. The Swedish royal family today are her descendants.
Desiree has been my favourite book since I was 13! I read it ever year.
I haven't read it yet, but I'll put it on my TBR list. Thank you for watching my video, too.
I read the English and German version. Fabulous
@@livesandhistories it's a novel. But surprisingly follows the history and is written from Desiree's perspective. Loved your video.
@@TheSeedpearl Thank you.
Me too. Lovely greetings.
Great vlog! Thank you! The main street in Oslo, Norway is named after Bernadotte. Karl Johan. His son has also a street, Oscars gate. Now you know!
Thank you so much for watching and for adding your comment.
Thank you, this was very informative. My grandmother was a Clary and extremely proud to be a descendant of Desiree and Giulia.
Wonderful!
That's really cool.
There is a book on her life called Diseree and a movie of the same name with Marlon Brando. Both are good though historical fiction.
Seeing the movie, read the book, then my interest turned to Napoleon himself
The movie and the book were so off, the movie was a Hollywood product showcasing Brando, and Simmons. The book though enjoyable was historical fiction. Your videos are they best, I've enjoyed every one. Are you a History Professor if you are your students are lucky. Bless you from the USA and have a good holiday.
@@muffassa6739 Thank you for your comment. TH-cam showed it to me just now :) Yes, I studied history. Thank you for watching my videos.
*Marlin
Desiree could have been on the throne of Josephine.... her turn of luck was incredible.
Queen Desirée went to the opera (Life is a dream)and fell sick ,so she returned home and died the same night .she was 83 years old. So after her the Bernadotte dynasty began....
Thank you for your comment, Ivan.
@@livesandhistories ❤
Amazing how the actress that played her in the movie of the 1950s looks so much like her, as if she was born to play the character.
How interesting! Thank you for sharing.
It's her reincarnation lol
Jean Simmons, one of the most beautiful women of the cinema
Thank you so much for the delightful family history of Désirée Clary .It is fascinating how the world royals are related in their bloodlines.Your research and narration is impressionnante.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for your kind words Simone.
She was Napoléon's first great love 😢
I would rather say that SHE was crazy in love for him - however he very soon neglected this young lady . In a (very moving) letter, she expresses her sorrows (after Napoleon made it clear that he was to marry Josephine instead) and wished she would quickly die. She was not quite eighteen as these lines were written
I wish napoleon stayed with Desiree she was really in love unlike Josephine
@@anaavila3825 Josephine had been in love when very young with her unfaithful 1st husband Alexander of Beauharnais. But having grown older she was a bit cynical when she finally married Napoleon. But, as an aristocratic widow, she suited much better to Bonaparte’s aims . She was still charming by then and a very experienced woman : Napoleon for sure had never known such a creature and forgot about everything about Désirée’s pure and tendre feelings towards himself (but he was feeling somewhat guilty about her as it would later show) . Josephine had as much feelings for Napoleon as she could have (we know for sure that she fell for Hippolyte Charles when her husband was campaigning in Italy, but it clearly seems that he was her last lover) and was devastated every time he cheated on her .
Sorry, I of course meant tender feelings (french corrector ! 🤯)
A French general becoming king of Sweden and the ancestor of the current Swedish royals has to be one of the more improbable events in European history.Another Napoleonic general who became a king was Joachim Murat who was made king of Naples but he didn't last long not having survived the defeat of Napoleon and was executed by firing squad after Waterloo.I think Murat's wife was related to Desiree Clary somehow?
I made a mistake -previously to making Murat king of Naples Napoleon had made his own brother Joseph king of that area and it was Joseph Bonaparte who was married to Desiree Clary's sister -they subsequently became king and queen of Spain and its vast empires -so both the Clary sisters became queen consorts.
Thank you for watching.
Joachim Murat’s wife was Caroline née Bonaparte, a sister of Napoleon himself _ and so one her other bros happened to be Joseph, married to Julie née Clary and Desiree’s sister. All these persons were closely related indeed . You were not mistaken at all
She seems like a terribly selfish person and terrible wife. Probably never got over napoleon and treated a good man like crap because of it.
Her husband was surprisingly good considering those times. Perhaps choosing a kind spouse is more important than any other quality. Desiree certainly chose wisely after rejecting so many suitors. It's ironical though that she ended up doing what she accused Napoleon off being distracted by Parisian life.
@@sash8099 very wise observation. I read the novel called Desiree when in high school (I'm now in my 70's) and am amazed how close to reality it was. I fell in love with Bernadotte, from the way he was described. The book is written thr,ough the eyes of Desiree. I'm going to look for it and re read it.
She always loved Napoléon. But Bernadotte had failed so many things and wasn't a very successful man.
He was not such a great guy. The Swedes almost kicked him out at one point. He became more and more conservative as he aged, and was rather eccentric by the end. His growing conservatism and his affairs made him a less than congenial partner for Desirée as they got older--he picked her ladies without consulting with her.
Extraordinary ! Thank you! Love these vignettes on the lives of so many people who helped to shape history,but who have now been largely forgotten or overlooked.
Thank you for watching Julian.
Her husband was kind and patient with her. She spent years away from her only child but finally moved to where she had royalty and riches handed to her.
Indeed. Thank you for watching.
It does sound like he was too good for her, doesn't it? (*Marie)
Yeah she was trash
Yes he was nice but they both have lovers he in Sweden and she in Paris
@@karihansen1672 Désirée was not known for being untrue to her husband . The thing I know about her is her rather peculiar behaviour towards Richelieu (the famous Cardinal’s great-great…nephew) . Infatuation from her part is highly probable as she remained in mourning after his death (the « poor man » had always managed to avoid the « annoying queen »). Both were no lovers (at all)
12 years old ? They matured early then, but not that early. Of course it was her money, those larcenous Bonaparte's. Passed around like a designer purse this girl.
Another interesting subject would be Napoleon's sister Caroline Bonaparte, who married the famous cavalry general Joachim Murat. Murat became King of Naples, but he spent most of his time fighting in her brother's campaigns, so it was Caroline who was the de facto ruler!
Will look into it. Thank you James. Best wishes to you.
When I first learnt English, my teacher read a story about a 14-year-old girl falling asleep in a city's hall and a male grown-up was very kind to her, taking her home safely. He turned out to be Napoleon's older brother. Probably my English was not good at that time, I assumed that she would marry him later. Only now have I realized that her life had many twists. In a way, she had a lucky life.
marèchal bernadotte one of the few who safely came out of the whole ordeal with all his spoils intact
“I can only say Bernadotte let me down… I can accuse him of ingratitude, but not of treason”
Vasa was the name of the then Swedish ruling family, the last of whom had no children to succeed them. It was Marshal Jean Baptiste Bernadotte who established the present Royal Family of Sweden who are there to this day and whose family name is Bernadotte.
Excellent video. The Swedes remembered the kindness Bernadotte had shown to Swedish prisoners of war, and that put him on the list of candidates for the throne. Queen Josephine brought some of the most magnificent jewels still in possession of the Swedish royal family including the Leuchtenberg sapphires.
For some reason I liked Bernadotte. If I am not mistaken, some of Queen Josephine’s jewellery belonged to Napoleon’s first wife.
@@livesandhistories I know the beautiful cameo tiara belonged to Empress Josephine. Remember Queen Josephine was the granddaughter of Empress Josephine. The Duke of Leuchtenberg was Eugene de Beauharnais.
Very glad she did something for the Swedes, she seems to have been a spoilt brat who refused to be with her husband and child for many years because she loved the pleasures of Paris. What a patient and forbearing husband.
Truth, stranger than fiction.
This what I thought too reading and researching about her life. Thank you for watching.
But it was not a fairy tale. When we outsiders learn about it we do not understand her days, her feelings and her pains and struggles. From the outside it may have seemed to be a fairy tale, but living it was not one. If one reads between the lines or reads her story in more detail in the book Désirée, one learns a lot more about her as a person.
If that portrait is accurate, she was one of the most beautiful women on earth. But what a tangled life!
She was, wasn't she? Thank you for watching.
Desiree ? Charming, but no beauty I’m afraid (Jean Simmons brought her own good looks to Desiree’s character) . And Napoleon (not used to sentimental and shy virgins) soon got bored of her (he was to marry Josephine instead : much older and being a widow by then, she was more experienced and was gifted with interpersonal skills, which was not the case with a very young Desiree Clary). Bernadotte, becoming Joseph’s brother-in-law, was an ambitious man. He tried very hard to forget about his jacobin past (and to hide his famous motto « death to the tyrants », « tyrant » meaning any monarch by then, tattooed on his chest)
What I listened to is the story of a provincial girl with a very simple and rather superficial mind who loved the comfort and luxury of big city life rather than seeking greater purposes of life. She led a life according to her own desire and want rather than committing herself to duty and service for the others.
I don’t envy her so-called ‘fairytale’ life.
While hurting others that loved her. What a “strong woman”.
Facts
Not all people have that sense of responsibility and duty, some just don't have deep thoughts. Maybe she wasn't raised on values.
Her life was no fairy tale. She lived through the incredibly violent and frightening Revolution, and was thrust into a life she had not been raised to live, and had no taste for. Even in Paris she was not always safe. The Swedish court treated her with disdain and humiliated her because she was the daughter of a tradesman.
She was perhaps not admirable in every respect, but it is not a sin to be simple or even to enjoy comfort, luxury, and the big city.
What a fascinating story!! Thank you for telling it so well!!! Also, this portrait shown of young Prince Oscar bears an uncanny likeness to the late actor, Gene Wilder when he was young! If he had dark hair, there's no way you could tell them apart.
Thank you Dee. I'm really happy you enjoyed it! :)
Deseree is an Old movie, and is one of my favorites.
That's wonderful, Cynthia. I'm glad you watched mine too. Thank you.
Bravo! Very nice work. I majored in French history, and this a perfect introduction to this period of European history.
How strange are the ways of destiny and fate. Jilted by Napoleon, her blood flows through the veins of many current monarchs. Also jilted by Napoleon, Josephine's descendants sit on every throne in Europe, except Great Britain.
Napoleon left no legitimate heirs.
Who's laughing now Napoleon??
Well said. Thank you for watching.
You made some really good points.
Napoleon is more famous than all of them. Fact.
@@lmnll2742 But in spite of all his aspirations to establish a dynasty, his only legitimate heir died without issue, while Josephine and Desirée have numerous descendants. He may be more famous, but there, he was totally unsuccessful.
@@edithengel2284 It doesn't matter that much. He had many descendants anyway, like Josephine and Desiree, and nobody cares.
A very nice presentation of Desirée's life, but I think her later days as queen of Sweden were not so terribly happy: Her husband the king (who had grown cranky with age) appointed her ladies in waiting without consulting her, she didn't speak Swedish and was thus somewhat isolated, and she was viewed by the nobles as "only a merchant's daughter." Her son Oskar predeceased her, to her sorrow, and she became eccentric in her old age. But she was admired for her good heart, and for refraining from interfering in politics. Not really a fairy tale ending.
Yes, you're right - Desiree's final years were rather sad.
Lucky she was, since her husband became a prince and eventually king. Her son met her after twelve years. That's cold. But truly she was blessed by God.
Sometimes all one needs is a bit of luck.
Her husband became king because he was married to her, not the contrary.
Hestia probably lol
I am now a new subscriber, who loved the story that you wrote about Desiree Clary....It was concise and insightful into her personal and private life...I love your channel and the way that you tell the history of the historical figures, that you speak about.....I would like it very much, if you can do a bio story about Lady Diane de Poitiers...She was the long time mistress of King Henry II of France during the 16th century...If you could do a story about her I would appreciate it very much...
I will look into that, for sure. I am happy you are here. Thank you so much for you kind words.
You're very welcome....I am a loyal subscriber who loves history, and I am glad that you tell such good and compelling truths about historical people from the past....💓
@@PO-dr7tr Thank you Pamela.
She has her picks of Napoleonic kings and emperors. Sounds like 👍 she would hv been a better empress than Josephine.
I agree. Thank you for watching.
SO interesting! Thank you so much for your intimate focus on the lives of these incredible women in history. The work you put into your videos is obvious.
Thank you very much for your comment. Much appreciated.
Desireé should have a full-length film. Her story is much more interesting than the overrated british queens!
Thank you as always, her life was certainly an interesting one, have a great weekend.
Thank you for your support. Enjoy your weekend.
@@livesandhistories My plesure and thank you.
Thank you always interesting appreciate your time on these videos🌸🌸🌸
You are so welcome. As always, your support is greatly appreciated Stella. Thank you.
What a fascinating video I had never heard of these people before… Thank you for sharing
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for watching.
Karl XIV Johan (Charles XIV John in English) was not Charles IV John in Norway, he was Charles III John. Charles I of Norway was the medieval king known as Karl Knutsson Bonde or (incorrectly) as Charles VIII (he was actually the second Swedish king named Charles, but the later king Charles IX took his numeral from a list of kings that included fictional kings, the medieval kings of Sweden did not use numerals (like Charles VII or more correctly Charles I who is known as Karl Sverkersson) although Karl Knutsson is named as Charles II on his wife's tombstone. Karl XIII was Charles II in Norway (Bernadotte practically ruled as crown prince but Charles XIII was king in 1814 when the Swedish-Norwegian union was formed), thus Karl XIV Johan was Charles III John and his grandson Karl XV was Charles IV in Norway.
In Sweden, we are taught that she was born on the 8th of November 1777.
I know that there are various dates of birth according to different sources. The one mentioned in the video is what I found in the books I used as my sources. Thank you for watching.
Wow, a woman who don't want to be queen!
I love Jean Baptiste Bernadotte who became Charles XIV, King of Sweden.
She certainly was very lucky.
Bonaparte should marry desiree probably his end would not be isolated
I am really enjoying your work. Thank you so much for posting.
Glad you enjoy it! Thank you for your kind comment.
Wow this video is fantastic. Every line is a point. Your channel deserve more subscriber. According to my account your channel is the best channel on TH-cam I liked your channel very much. Your channel is my favourite .I liked your all videos. Please keep up this type of work in future please. Your all videos are stunning. I am your old subscriber from 2k subs
But can you please make a video on Skanderbeg?
Thank you so much. I am happy you like and appreciate my videos. I will keep in mind your suggestion for a future video. Sending you my best wishes.
I wonder if Princess Kate identifies with her? (She too comes from a "nouveau riche" family.)
You are right. There are some similarities ... Thank you for watching James.
I don;t think Kate knows about Desiree and or Bernadotte.
Isn't she Duchess Catherine at the moment?
I have read your comment on the "Queen Charlotte" video. (for some reason I could not reply there). Yes, there was some animosity between Queen Charlotte and Desiree Clary. Thank you for your suggestion on Thomas Alexandre Dumas as a topic for a future video.
I really can not see Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, identifying with someone whose love of a glamorous life in Paris was more important to her than her husband and child.
Désirée was actually born in 1777, Julie in 1771. So there was only a 6-year age difference. (*Marie)
At last a narrator who can speak!!! No corruption or torturing of names, places or words. Please follow her example. Bill in western Iowa.😊
I namedmy daughter Desirae because of this woman
I almost did. Was my favorite book for many years.
What wonderful life... Lucky lady
Yes, she was lucky. Thank you for watching.
Patty-I truly enjoyed this video. I've always wondered what happened to her. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Joseph Bonaparte wasn't engaged to Desiree, only her sister Julie, whom he married.
Great story. Thank you so much for sharing this. I truly enjoyed this. ❤
Bravo for a tale well told. earned my subscription. Hey, anyone want to become a king? let's find one in france. I always wondered WHY they could not find someone in their own country???
Thank you very much. Glad you liked it.
The Swedish royal line at the time weak. The Swedish nobility not much better. So getting new blood in perhaps best option?
How women did not die of pneumonia wearing dresses like nightdresses in early 19th century, is incredible ! Seen film Marlon Brando as Bonaparte. Great film.
She told Napoloeon she would never be happy for the rest of her life and she lived through that. An unhappy, bored woman just trying to be high until the end of her days is what I get from the video.
Watched the movie 🎥 last night Thanks for the history
Is there a mixup of depicted brothers?
Oh well, royalty in Sweden nowadays are so French. Love it, thanks for this video.
I'm glad you liked it. Thank you for watching.
I read the Book Desiree, wonderful
I did too..a long time ago in High School. I'm amazed how true to the actual story it is. The dialogue is fictional for the most part. The historical parts are quite accurate. It was a wonderful read.
Absolutely fascinating!
Glad you liked it! Thank you for watching.
Wonderful voice and ever interesting
Thank you kindly.
Thank you so very much I like your voice. Audio perfect.
So nice of you to say that. Thank you for watching.
I thought Napoleon, married Josephine, not. Desirae
Не знаю английский язык, а перевода на русский нет. Очень жаль, с удовольствием посмотрела бы фильмы исторические
Amazing story. I'm just getting my feet wet in Scandinavian history, so this was new to me.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. In my view, Scandinavian history is really interesting. Thank you for watching.
This is a lovely vignette, BTW
Aw my past life. Funny. Me n Johan are together now still. He goes by John . My name is Regina I go by Gina though.
Very good. Thank you.
😮I read the book eons ago. It s nice to see the proof.
That can be fascinating story to have been hear or known of her life in France and Sweden... 😀👍As Thanks ❤🙏🙏🙏🙏
What a spoiled brat. He should have divorced her and married someone else.
But Desiree had quite difficult position at the beginnings in Sweden. There were some royal women living there in the palace and they disliked her.
They loved her husband and son. This two were important to them. Not Desiree.
Napoleon should've had Bernadotte shot, what an ungrateful buffoon
I saw the movie 🎥 with Jean Simmons
Desiree, Une marseillaise en suede.
Indeed. Thank you for watching.
A very strong willed women in a day where a strong willed women was not a good quality
Strong willed. Mistreating her son and husband for decades. What a Queen.
Amazing ❤️
I think she sounds selfish and self centred
Man wtf was in Paris
Everything! When you go, you will understand why people get obsessed with Paris.
It's not that great anymore
Interesting to hear this lady’s history, and a ‘thumbs up’ for a very good commentary. Regards from England.
Thank you kindly.
Excelente documentário!❤
Meus PARABÉNS ao Canal !
Inscrita no teu Canal!
Abraco do Brazil 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷
Thank you, Lucy.
She was flat out selfish.
I can't argue with that. Thank you very much for watching.
Strong!
Another great video!
Thanks Kimberly.
Will do on maud of wales
I'll put her on my list. Thank you for watching.
Really Interesting!
Glad you think so! Thank you for watching.
I love your voice both accent and inflection.
So kind of you to say that. Thank you so much.
🕊🕊💞💞
Meus sentimentos...Deus os tenha....
💚🙏😇🙏💚
Моя Клари!!!
What a selfish, self indulgent woman. She had no respect or love for her husband.
She was the third niece of Harold, King-Regent of Norway and Fifth Baron of Warsterleistershropshire-on-Avon… her son was Louie ‘The Bastard’, inbred son of Lord Rupert Dingle-Smythe, future great-great-grandfather of Lady Diana Dodi-Spencer, late of Paris❤
Traitor.
"Clueless Desiree"? She was a totally selfish bimbo. Suddenly, I feel shame for my name. No, I'm Danish. We got it over the French and the Swedes! Good video. At least I didn't end up with Marlon Brando. wew
You have a very beautiful name. And I'm really glad you are here watching my video :) Thank you.
I’ve always liked being named Desiree.. I so rarely had to share my name.
@@desireebrunton4033 It wasn't the name my parents gave me. I changed it in my teens. Couldn't stand having name so many other girls had. Must say, we're special!
Wow ! Loved this story thank you so much !
Glad you enjoyed it!
I was named after the movie.