On this day in 1810, the Tuileries Palace in Paris witnessed a heartbreaking scene. After 14 years of marriage, Emperor Napoleon I and Empress Josephine signed the papers to annul their marriage. It was not a lack of love, but the desperate need for an heir to the French Empire that drove this separation.
Here are the words they exchanged during that somber official ceremony:
[Napoleon’s Declaration]
"My cousins, ministers, and nobles: The decision to part from my beloved wife, who has graced my life for the past fifteen years, is made solely for the welfare of France. Since the hope of having an heir between us has vanished, I am forced to sacrifice my personal feelings for the interests of the State. Josephine shall forever retain the rank and title of Empress, and above all, she will remain my most intimate friend. I shall never forget the sacrifice she has made for me."
— Napoléon, January 10, 1810
[Josephine’s Declaration]
"With the permission of my beloved husband and Emperor, I declare: I deeply realize that for the peace and policy of France, and for the future of the Empire, an heir is indispensable. Thus, I am now willing to offer the greatest sacrifice of my life. I step down from the throne of Empress. However, the honor and love of the years I spent by the Emperor's side will remain in my heart forever. I leave, leaving all my loyalty and love to my husband, Napoleon Bonaparte."
— Joséphine de Beauharnais, January 10, 1810
The Signature of Sorrow Josephine’s signature on the document was famously shaky, betraying her deep emotional distress. In 2014, a rare copy of this divorce agreement was auctioned for €435,000 (over $470,000). While Napoleon's signed copy is preserved by the French authorities, these trembling ink marks remain a testament to one of history's most tragic partings.
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