Bonaparte: Caroline Bonaparte

Another sister, Caroline, 1782–1839, went to France with the family in 1793 and married (1800) General Murat. Her ambition, joined with that of her husband, made her grand duchess of Cleves and Berg and later (1808–15) queen of Naples. There she did much to stimulate arts and letters and encouraged the recovery of the classical treasures of Pompeii and Naples. Her restless ambition was still unsatisfied; the birth of Napoleon's son destroyed her hope of succession for her own son. She and Murat entered upon intrigues with Napoleon's enemies, but with no positive result. After the fall of Napoleon, Clemens von Metternich tried to save Murat's throne. Murat's rashness, however, led to his execution, and Caroline fled to Austria.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Later Generations
• Jérôme Bonaparte
• Caroline Bonaparte
• Pauline Bonaparte
• Louis Bonaparte
• Elisa Bonaparte
• Lucien Bonaparte
• Joseph Bonaparte
• Parentage
• Bibliography

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