Elisa Bonaparte
Élisa Bonaparte ( born January 3, 1777 Ajaccio, Corsica; † August 7, 1820 in Villa Vice Tina, actually Maria Anna Elisa Bonaparte ) was the eldest sister of Napoleon Bonaparte, who reached adulthood. She was in the Napoleonic era, Princess of Lucca and Piombino and Grand Duchess of Tuscany.
Early years
Elisa enjoyed a good education at the Maison Royale de Saint -Louis in Saint- Cyr- l'École. Although there were many candidates for her hand, she married on May 1, 1797 Félix Baciocchi, an impoverished Corsican nobility. This was a little talented officer in the service of Napoleon. The dowry consisted of Elisha 35,000 francs and modest possessions in Corsica.
Contrary to Napoleon's attempt to deport the couple on the Mediterranean island, Elisha reached the transfer of her husband to Paris. They even tried to establish themselves there as Salonnière. Only after the political rise of her brother, she was hostess of important personalities in particular from the literature and art as Jacques -Louis David.
Princess in Italy
After the establishment of the Empire various female members of the Bonaparte family were given the rank of princesses. Elisa Bonaparte and Caroline were not among them, and made her brother then a scene. This gave the sense that he told the sisters to Imperial Highnesses. The husband of Caroline, Joachim Murat, was appointed Grand Duke of Berg and Felix Baciocchi senator. Like her husband also received Elisa 240,000 francs. These reserves were not sufficient and at her insistence she made Napoleon to Hereditary Princess of Piombino. After various intrigues she sat through that her husband was appointed Prince of Lucca.
She herself, however, was the real ruler. They had built a new palace, a theater, a bathroom and a casino in Lucca. The latter achieved high revenue before Napoleon ordered its closure. Elisa Bonaparte took a number of measures to increase the economic power of their territory. This included the construction of roads, the draining of swamps and the fight against the brigands. She introduced the breeding of silkworms and let justice and police reform. Furthermore, they increased their own income through various measures such as buying a Alaungrube or the monopolization of the tuna fishery. She let build steel mills and exploit mines. The marble quarries in Carrara she used profitably by letting make busts of Napoleon. The portraits were widely used in the offices of the Empire. She also founded a school of sculpture in Carrara. She promoted Nicolo Paganini, by hired him in the chapel of her court and made him an honorary captain.
As a result of the professional survey, the couple separated. Elisa resided in the Palazzo Pitti, while her husband at the Palazzo della Crocetta lived. Both had several extramarital affairs.
They did everything possible to be ruler of Tuscany. She succeeded in 1809, however, only partially; Napoleon appointed to the governor of the Tuscany with the personal title of a Grand Duchess. Her husband was general of the troops.
As the end of Napoleonic rule looming, Elisa tried in vain to keep her throne. After being expelled from Florence and had fled to Lucca, she finally broke even all ties to the Empire. This, however, she kept not before the British occupation of Lucca and its deposition.
After the deposition
At times, interned, Elisa Bonaparte was released after the end of the reign of a hundred days. She lived with her husband by the Austrians monitored in Trieste. She assumed the title of Countess of Compiagano. She earned a townhouse and in the countryside, the villa Vincentina. The Austrian Government gave her their 1819 private Italian possessions back. These she sold and could live comfortably from the proceeds. Later they acquired new possessions in Italy. She died unexpectedly in 1820 from malaria. Your possessions she left behind most of their children.
With her husband she had four children, three of whom reached adulthood. Among them was the daughter Elisa Napoleone, which later became the Count Carmrata - Passionei di Mazzolini married.