Charles Léon

Charles Léon Denuelle, later Count Léon (* December 1806, † April 15, 1881 ) was the first son of Napoleon and his mistress Eleonore Denuelle.

Life

As Léon was born in December 1806 Father Napoléon was anything but convinced of his paternity, he knew very well that some men came over producers into consideration. Leon's mother, Eleanor was Denuelle, Napoleon fed by his own sister. She was aware of the consequences that would have led to a rejection of Napoleon Advertise by itself, and endured the time with the Emperor, by presenting the clock by an hour or two.

Eleanor remained all her life the statement true that Napoleon was the father of Léon. However, the great general could be characterized not soften: when Eleanor suggested to name the son after him, he did not allow it, that the boy was given the name Napoleon, but only that he named after the second half of his name, Léon been. However, he raised the supposed son of a Count and secured him off financially, without, however, recognizing him as a son. To Eleanor, however, he broke off all contact.

However, the boy was often a guest at his grandmother Letizia Bonaparte, who at times even his guardian in 1815, and his father left Léon bequeathed 72,000 francs. Whether he ever received, is questionable.

Léon Denuelle was the son of Napoleon, it was later resemblance to today no doubt. However, the differences between the two could not be greater: Léon was his life work lazy and wasteful. In Heidelberg he began to study what he, however, soon gave up. Several daring enterprises ( for example, the construction of submarines ) increased its debt mountain just yet. Subsequently he rose to the military battalion chief, however, was soon dismissed for disobedience. His attempt to become a priest also failed. His gambling addiction and his penchant for expensive women drove him soon on the brink of ruin, although it did have a great legacy and financial benefit from his half-brother Alexandre Colonna Walewski, and his grandmother. When he wanted to sue his own mother to get money, he had for two years in a debtors' prison. After his release, he lived temporarily in homeless asylum.

The revolution of 1848 brought Léon a new field: politics. He joined the Socialists, declared enemies of his own cousin, Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, the future Napoleon III. , The Léon after a brawl in London, which was based on a blackmail attempt Léon, financially supported.

Later, Léon lived for a time in England, Germany and Italy, before retiring with his wife Françoise Fanny Jonet, with whom he had four children, to Pontoise. He died there on 15 April 1881. His grandson Charles de Léon ( 1911-1994 ), the only left a daughter, was the last male descendant of this line of Bonaparte.