Napoleon to Josephine

 

 

Napoleon Bonaparte, the French Emperor and a strong military leader, was a very prolific writer of letters. Some estimate he wrote over 75,000 letters during his lifetime. The following letter was written to his wife Josephine during his campaign against the British. It is impossible to believe that someone able to show such leadership in a battle could also write such a tender and emotional letter. Heart wrenching love letters of battle hardened and ideologically awakened men has always fascinated readers. Here’s one for Saint Valentine’s Day.

April 24th 1796, Paris

To Citizeness Josephine Bonaparte

My brother will bring you this letter. I have the greatest love for him and I hope he will gain yours; he deserves it. Nature has given him a sweet and utterly good character; he is full of good qualities.

I am writing to Barras to get him appointed consul in some Italian port. He wants to live with his little wife far away from the hurly-burly and political affairs; I commend him to you. I have your letters of the 16th and the 21st. There are many days when you don’t write. What do you do, then? No, my darling, I am not jealous, but sometimes worried. Come soon; I warn you, if you delay, you will find me ill. Fatigue and your absence are too much.

Your letters are the joy of my days, and my days are happiness are not many. Junot is bringing twenty-two flags to Paris.

You must come back with him, do you understand? Hopeless sorrow, inconsolable misery, sadness without end, if I am so unhappy as to see him return alone. Adorable friend, he will see you, he will breathe in your temple; perhaps you will give him the unique and perfect flavour of kissing your cheek, and I shall be alone and far, far away. But you are coming, aren’t you? You are going to be here beside me, in my arms, on my breast, on my mouth. Take wing and come, come! But travel gently. The road is long, bad, tiring. Suppose you had an accident, or fell ill; suppose fatigue- come gently, my adorable love, but I think of you often.

Sweet, incomparable Josephine, with a strange effect you have on my heart! Are you angry? Do I see you looking sad? Are you worried?…My soul aches with sorrow, and there can be no rest for your lover; but is there still more in store for me when, yielding to the profound feelings which overwhelm me, I draw from your lips, from your heart a love which consumes me with fire?

I have received a letter from Hortense. I will write to her. She is altogether charming. I love her and will soon send her the perfumes she wants.

Read Ossian’s poem “Carthon” carefully, and sleep well and happily far from your good friend, but thinking of him.

A kiss on the heart and one lower down, much lower!

PS: I don’t know if you need money; you have never talked about your affairs. If so, you can ask my brother, who has 200 Louis of mine.

Yours only,

Napoleon Bonaparte