Joseph Bonaparte

(King of Naples, King of Spain)

1768–1844

JOSEPH BONAPARTE

Joseph Bonaparte was the older brother of Napoleon and one of his closest confidants. Although Joseph nobly upheld the ideals of his brother and did him what service was possible, he was far more idealist, mild mannered, and lacking in vigor. Joseph did his brother great service in the early years of his administration and was an important advisor, but as Napoleon embarked on more military campaigns, and aggressively expanded the size of his realm, the difference in temperment between the brothers became more notable. Napoleon placed his brother first on the throne of Naples and later named him king of Spain. Both positions Joseph accepted reluctantly, and ministered ineffectively. Joseph remains important to historians primarily because the correspondence between himself and Napoleon give great insights into Napoleon's frame of mind at almost every point in his career.

After the death of Napoleon, Joseph remained active among expatriot intellectuals. He remained in exile in the United States until late in life and his home in New Jersey was a center of activity for 'Bonapartist' patriots.

Key events during the life of Joseph Bonaparte:

Year	Event
1768	Older brother of Napoleon, born to a middle class family on Corsica.
1784	Returned to Corsica from study in France, after the death of his father.
1788	Received a law degree after study at the University of Pisa.
1789	Beginning of the French Revolution.
1794	Married the daughter of a wealthy French merchant.
1795	Served in the council of the 500 during the French Revolution.
1799	Appointed ambassador to Parma/Rome by the French directory.
1801	Became involved in diplomatic negotiations resulting in the elevation of his brother Napoleon.
	Minister of Napoleon; governed France while Napoleon campaigned in Germany.
1806	Presented with the crown of Sicily and Naples by Napoleon.
1808	Reluctantly assumes the crown of Spain, in the midst of the Peninsular War.
1813	Retired from Spain in disgrace.
1815	Exiled from France. Took up residence in the United States.

Book Links
Joseph Bonaparte  by  John S. C. Abbott

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Exile and Return of the Spanish Court in	The Romance of Spanish History  by  John S.C. Abbott
King Joseph  in	A Child's History of Spain  by  John Bonner
Joseph Bonaparte—King of Spain  in	South America  by  Hezekiah Butterworth
Spain Under the Bourbons  in	Story of the Greatest Nations: Spain  by  Charles F. Horne

Image Links
Joseph Bonaparte  in Joseph Bonaparte	Joseph and Napoleon; Tour in Corsica.  in Joseph Bonaparte	Joseph giving his cloak to his brother Louis  in Joseph Bonaparte
Cornwallis and Joseph  in Joseph Bonaparte	Joseph at Malmaison  in Joseph Bonaparte	Joseph on his Neopolitan Tour  in Joseph Bonaparte
Joseph receiving the addresses of the Spanish Senate  in Joseph Bonaparte	Joseph entering Malaga  in Joseph Bonaparte	Sack of Ciudad Rodrigo  in Joseph Bonaparte

Contemporary	Short Biography
Napoleon	Victorious general who rose to power during the French Revolution. Crowned himself Emperor and restored France to greatness.
Josephine de Beauharnais	Aristocratic wife of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Ferdinand VII	Bourbon king, restored to the throne of France after the Napoleonic Wars, refused to work with liberal constitution.
Julie Clary	Daughter of a wealthy French merchant and wife of Joseph Bonaparte.