Page 75 - All About History - Issue 52-17

Hero or Villain?
JOSÉPHINE DE BEAUHARNAIS

“Alexandre went to the guillotine and

for the first time in her life, Joséphine

knew how it felt to be in the spotlight
as an enemy of the people”

Defining
moment
Catherine-Désirée Tascher
de La Pagerie dies
When tuberculosis claimed the life of
Joséphine’s younger sister, Catherine, before
she could depart for France and her planned
marriage, it changed Joséphine’s life forever. A
teenage Joséphine assumed her late sister’s
place. She left Martinique behind and
embarked on the adventure that would
take her to the most dazzling pinnacle
of French society.
16 October
1777

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