Queen of Naples and Spain. Julie Clary was born in Marseille, France, the daughter of François Clary, a wealthy silk manufacturer and merchant, and his wife Françoise Rose Somis. The Clary sisters had ties to the Bonaparte family before their ascent to power, sister Desiree was engaged to Joseph Bonaparte before moving on to his brother Napoleon. Joseph married her sister Marie-Julie Clary instead on August 1, 1794 at Cuges. They had three daughters Julie Josephine Bonaparte who died as an infant in 1796, Zenaide Laetitia Julie Bonaparte (1801-1854), and Charlotte Napoleone Bonaparte (1802-1839). Within a decade her brother-in-law Napoleon made himself emperor of France and proceeded to put his siblings on thrones throughout Europe. Joseph was first made King of Naples for two years (1806-1808) and then moved to the throne of Spain (1808-1813), thus Julie was Queen of two different countries. Joseph was never popularly accepted as their ruler by Spaniards and the French were famously kicked out of Spain by losing the Peninsular War. With the Bonapartes off the throne, Joseph went into exile in America where he spent many years living at his estate in Bordentown, New Jersey as well as in upstate New York and Philadelphia. Julie remained in Europe with her daughters, though Zenaide did join her father in Bordentown for some years.
Queen of Naples and Spain. Julie Clary was born in Marseille, France, the daughter of François Clary, a wealthy silk manufacturer and merchant, and his wife Françoise Rose Somis. The Clary sisters had ties to the Bonaparte family before their ascent to power, sister Desiree was engaged to Joseph Bonaparte before moving on to his brother Napoleon. Joseph married her sister Marie-Julie Clary instead on August 1, 1794 at Cuges. They had three daughters Julie Josephine Bonaparte who died as an infant in 1796, Zenaide Laetitia Julie Bonaparte (1801-1854), and Charlotte Napoleone Bonaparte (1802-1839). Within a decade her brother-in-law Napoleon made himself emperor of France and proceeded to put his siblings on thrones throughout Europe. Joseph was first made King of Naples for two years (1806-1808) and then moved to the throne of Spain (1808-1813), thus Julie was Queen of two different countries. Joseph was never popularly accepted as their ruler by Spaniards and the French were famously kicked out of Spain by losing the Peninsular War. With the Bonapartes off the throne, Joseph went into exile in America where he spent many years living at his estate in Bordentown, New Jersey as well as in upstate New York and Philadelphia. Julie remained in Europe with her daughters, though Zenaide did join her father in Bordentown for some years.
Bio by: Paul S.
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