"Josephine purchased the castle in April 1799 for 325,000 Francs, money she borrowed whilst her husband was fighting in Egypt. Napoleon reimbursed her loan and they spent much of their time at Malmaison, expanding the gardens."
"Josephine's inability to produce an heir led to their divorce in 1809, three months later Napoleon married Marie Louise. He still regularly visited Malmaison and supported Josephine financially, spending more than 30 million francs over a decade."
"In one year alone, it was claimed she bought 985 pairs of gloves, 520 pairs of shoes, and some 900 gowns. The house was bursting at the seams with her extravagant fashion collection."
"Josephine died of pneumonia in Malmaison just 26 days before her 51st birthday. Upon returning to France after his exile, one of Napoleon's first visits was to Malmaison, showing his enduring connection to the place."
Collection
[
|
...
]