You know of Mozart and of course Bach and Beethoven. But do you know Thomas? Calberg Empress Josephine Leave a comment. At the wedding of Jerome Bonaparte and Catherine of Wiirtemberg in August, she had even a new honour, since she was given an armchair as a right, while Madame Mere was allowed one only as a favour, and the Queen of Naples Julie, wife of Joseph, sent to Naples in the spring had none at all.
The religious marriage took place on the evening of August 23 in the Gallery of Diana at the Tuileries, the scene being remarkably gorgeous. The number of distinguished strangers present was very large, and all are said to have been struck by the hitherto unexampled display of jewellery. The picture of the wedding in the Versailles Museum is well known, representing Jerome and his wife approaching the throne of the Emperor and Empress.
He saluted both pre- viously to making his reverence to Madame Mere to ask her consent to the marriage. During the service a heavy thunderstorm took place, ruining the illuminations prepared in the Tuileries gardens. It is recorded that Josephine said that if Catherine were a believer in omens she might expect an unhappy fate. But little attention was paid to such super- stitions while the festivities in honour of the new King and Queen occupied the attention of all.
It had been arranged that Jerome and Catherine should not leave for Westphalia until November and should spend the intervening time with Napoleon and Josephine. Early in September the Imperial party, including in all forty-four persons, went for ten days to Ram- A Dull House-party bouillet, which was Uttle more than a hunting- box, as has been said, and sadly lacked accom- modation for so many guests.
Since we read that the weather was wet and all had colds, it is not surprising that visit was not en- joyed by any one except the Emperor. From Rambouillet a move was rnade to Fontaine- bleau, where Hortense, who had come to Paris from Cauterets at the end of August, joined the party, now swelled to vast proportions by arrivals from Paris and from the German principalities.
