2017-06-09 Fri

We all know who Napoleon Bonaparte is but do we know his love story with Josephine? Bonaparte married Marie Josephe Rose Tascher, later called Josephine, to prove his worth to the ministers of his court elder to him. She was not only elder to him, but also richer. She married Napoleon when she was way past the age of fertility, but she hid it. They had a civil marriage and were later crowned Emperor and Empress of France. However, this marriage was invalid in several aspects.

La Poste Togo (Togo Post) issued this miniature stamp sheet commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the day of the separation of Empress Josephine of Beauharnais with her husband Napoleon Bonaparte. Having a face value of 750 West African CFA francs each, this stamp sheet was issued on 10th February, 2014.

She was neither loyal nor in love with him while he was besotted with her. The situation would later reverse but it would be too late. He would not love her like before after knowing of her affairs. Very soon he also realized that she cannot produce him an heir! The love story was shattered. He thus decided to end this marriage. It was a huge public scandal even though Napoleon made sure she was well provided and respected. On 15 December 1809, the couple announced their decision to end their marriage even though they were still in love.

In January they signed the official documents; it was a heavy blow for Josephine. Before her departure, Napoleon went to say goodbye to his ex-wife. Overcome by distress and crying, she threw herself into his arms, where she fainted. Distraught and embarrassed, he kissed her goodbye before handing her carefully to her secretary and quickly leaving the room. The emperor, however, was unable to separate himself from Josephine completely, and the couple remained friends for the rest of their lives. It is said that when he died, his last word was "Josephine". Hers was "Napoleon".

Mintage World is proud to present stories about the stamp sets of eternal love depicted on stamps like Helen and Paris, Orpheus and Eurydice and Eros and Psyche. Read on!