http://joydarrenengland.blogspot.com.au
Chateau de Malmaison
Chateau de Malmaison was once the home of Josephine and Napoleon Bonaparte. Josephine purchased the property in 1799 while her husband was off fighting in Egypt. Josephine was given the estate after the couple divorced in 1809 and lived there until her death 5 years later in 1814.
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| Bust of Napoleon |
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| Bust of Napoleon |
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| Josephine married Napoleon 1796 |
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Napoleon Bonaparte and Empress Josephine were crowned
on 2 December 1804 at Notre Dame, Paris |
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| Empress Josephine at her Coronation on 2 December 1804 |
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| Napoleon "Crossing the Alps" by Jacques-Louis David |
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| Napoleon Bonaparte |
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| Napoleon's Table |
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| Napoleon's tabletop of leaders |
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| Josephine, wife of Napoleon |
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| Josephine, wife of Napoleon |
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| Josephine, wife of Napoleon |
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| Garden at Chateau de Malmaison |
In 1838 Isaac Moss took a 14 year lease (1838-1852) on "Longwood House", the house Napoleon lived in while in exile on St Helena from 10 December 1815 until his death on 5 May 1821.
On 29 July 1852 Isaac Moss took out a 21 year lease of "Longwood House" but that was cut short.
We were keen to see the lease agreement between Queen Victoria and Isaac Moss. Isaac was paid 3500 Pounds by Queen Victoria on 20 July 1857 to release 2 acres which included "Longwood House". Unfortunately the Napoleonic section was closed. Isaac Moss and his wife Sarah Caroline Merchant Britton lived at "Longwood House" and some of the Moss children were born there.
Today Napoleon's grave, "Longwood House" (now a Museum), and "The Briars" fly the French flag. The first 5 weeks Napoleon was on St Helena, he stayed with the Balcombe family because "Longwood House" was not ready for occupation. The Balcombe family returned to England after Napoleon died. In 1846 their son Alexander B.Balcombe came to Australia and the family established a property called "The Briars" on the Mornington Peninsula near Melbourne and it is now owned by the National Trust and has a Napoleonic collection of items.
I was honoured to attend a function on 18 October 2015 at The Briars -
"Napoleon's Picnic". We celebrated 200 years since Napoleon was exiled on St Helena.
For further information go to http://solomonmossfamilyarchives.blogspot.com.au and look at the Post "Napoleon's Picnic at The Briars - 200 years later".
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| "The Briars" on Mornington Peninsula 18 October 2015 |
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| Joy and Peter Olney "Cheers to Napoleon" - 200 years later |
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Napoleon's Picnic 18 October 2015
The french colours were flying |
If you wish to contact the author of this blog, please email Joy Olney on joyolney@gmail.com
