Eugène Rose de Beauharnais

Stepson of Napoleon who served as the Viceroy of Italy

Born: September 3, 1781

Place of Birth: Paris, Paris, France

Died: February 21, 1824

Cause of Death: Apoplexy

Place of Death: Munich, Germany

Arc de Triomphe: E. BEAUHARNAIS on the south pillar

Pronunciation:

Born into a noble family, Eugène Rose de Beuharnais' father was guillotined during the French Revolution in July of 1794. At the time Eugène was apprenticed as a carpenter and his mother Josephine was only spared a similar fate by the overthrow of Robespierre at the Thermidorian Reaction a few days later. Eugène's mother then used her connections with General Hoche to get him to take Eugène under his wing and make him an orderly. Eugène served in this role for Hoche and went on campaign against the rebels in 1794 and 1795. After Eugène returned to Paris later in 1795, he first met his future stepfather when he went to Napoleon Bonaparte, then commander of the Army of the Interior, to request his deceased father's sword. When Napoleon fell in love with and married Eugène's mother Josephine, Eugène initially resented it but later grew to love his stepfather.

In June of 1797 Eugène's stepfather General Bonaparte commissioned him as a sous-lieutenant in the 1st Hussars and then made him an aide-de-camp. The next year Eugène followed Napoleon as an aide-de-camp in the Army of the Orient on the expedition to Egypt. Napoleon promoted him to lieutenant in January of 1799 and Eugène served at the Siege of Jaffa where he entered the city and promised safety to the defenders if they would surrender. Eugène continued on that campaign and served at the Siege of Acre where he was wounded in the head by an explosion. When Napoleon decided to leave Egypt and return to France, he took Eugène with him.

Once back in France, Napoleon seized power in a coup d'état and established the Consulate. He appointed Eugène a capitaine in the Chasseurs à Cheval of the Consular Guard, and Eugène went on to serve in the Army of the Reserve. That June Eugène distinguished himself at the Battle of Marengo. Returning to Paris on July 14th, the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, Eugène was with the Consular Guard when they interrupted the ceremony at the Champ de Mars by riding in in their battle uniforms and carrying captured Austrian flags. The crowd went wild with cheers and Eugène considered it one of the best moments of his life.¹

Two years later Eugène was promoted to chef d'escadrons and then in 1804 when the French Empire was established he became an Arch Chancellor of State. More rewards followed, for in October of 1804 Eugène was promoted to général de brigade and he was named commander of the Chasseurs à Cheval of the Imperial Guard, though in reality the actual duties of command of that unit went to other officers. In 1805 Eugène was declared a French prince, given the Grand Cordon of the Legion of Honor, named Viceroy of Italy, and he received the Grand Cross of the Order of the Iron Crown and the Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Hubert of Bavaria. As Viceroy of Italy, Eugène essentially ruled Italy though he followed Napoleon's orders. In 1806 Eugène was formally adopted by Napoleon and Eugène married Princess Augusta Amelie of Bavaria. While Napoleon had arranged the marriage to strengthen the alliance with Bavaria, Eugène and his wife grew quite fond of each other and fell in love. Napoleon also granted Eugène the title of Prince of Venice.

Eugène continued to rule well in Italy without major problems until 1809 when the Austrians began a new war with France and her allies. As the Austrians invaded Italy, Eugène was named commander-in-chief of the Army of Italy with General Macdonald as his assistant. That April he fought unsuccessfully at Sacile, but in May he won at the Piave and then forced Jellachich to surrender. In June he won at Raab and then he brought his army to join Napoleon's army in Austria. Finally in July he took part in the Battle of Wagram . More rewards followed for Eugène as over the next few years he received the Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary, the Grand Cross of the Order of the Seraphim of Sweden, the Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword of Sweden, the Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Saxony, and he became a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

Eugène returned to running the administration of Italy until 1812. For the campaign against Russia of 1812, Eugène led the Army of Italy to join the Grande Armée. His force was renamed to IV Corps but he led them throughout the campaign, serving at Ostrowno, Witebsk, Smolensk , Borodino, Krasnoe, and the Berezina. When in December Napoleon left the army to return to Paris to stabilize the situation, he placed Marshal Murat in charge. However, Murat was worried about his Kingdom of Naples and he left the army at the earliest opportunity in January. At this time, Eugène stepped up and assumed command of the army, leading it back into Germany and fighting off the enemies of the French.

Once Napoleon resumed command of the army in 1813, Eugène took command of both V and XI Corps of the army. After serving at the Battle of Lützen, he was sent back to Italy to command the troops in Italy and the Illyrian provinces. That November Eugène's father-in-law King Maximilian of Bavaria, who had very recently defected as an ally of France, suggested that if Eugène defected to the Coalition powers they would permanently make him King of Italy. Eugène responded that, "If the Emperor's star was paling then it was all the more reason for those who had shared in his glories to remain faithful."² In 1814 as France was threatened, Eugène continued to hold Italy and delay the Austrian forces, and he won a battle at the Mincio that February. The Coalition powers did offer to make him King of Italy if he abandoned Napoleon, but he refused their offer and remained loyal to his stepfather. Marshal Murat's defection of the Kingdom of Naples made Eugène's defense of Italy more difficult, as he then had to defend against the Austrians in the northeast and Murat and the Neapolitans in the south. After Napoleon abdicated, Eugène signed a treaty with Austrian General Bellegarde to end hostilities in Italy, and he then turned over command of his troops to General Grenier and his viceroy powers to General Pino.

Eugène next retired to Bavaria to live with his wife's family. When Napoleon returned to France from Elba for the Hundred Days in 1815, he named Eugène a Peer of France but Eugène did not leave Bavaria. Instead, he gave his word to his father-in-law King Maximilian of Bavaria that he would not participate, and he therefore took no part in the Hundred Days. He spent his later years trying to assist French soldiers who had served with Napoleon and who had fallen on hard times, but he unfortunately died of a cerebral hemorrhage at age 42. His motto was "Honor and Fidelity".

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Updated January 2025