The Jewelry Museum Pforzheim’s “A Newly Ordered World – Treasures from the Napoleonic Era” spotlighted Napoleon’s influence, as well as the jewelry and fashion of his era, which were undergoing major changes. On the occasion of the exhibition, Melting Pot is featuring some of Napoleon’s love letters written to his wife Joséphine.

When Napoleon first met Joséphine Beauharnais, it was love at first sight. The two married in 1796, when Napoleon was 26 and Joséphine was 32, newly widowed and a mama to two children. From 1796 to 1804, Napoleon’s epistolary musings were sent to Joséphine and skewed from the passionate to a tad, erm, crazy.

One thing was certain, he was a love sick chap and completely smitten with Joséphine. His letters were a cross between 18th century-style sexting and the grandest affirmations of his unflinching love for Joséphine.

During Napoleon’s military duties, they were both known to have extramarital lovers. Lieutenant Hippolyte Charles was one of Joséphine’s flings during Napoleon’s leadership in the Italian campaigns of the French Revolutionary Wars. Napoleon caught wind of the affair and a letter he penned back to Joséphine was intercepted by the British and widely published, which was a poignant stab at his ego.

Napoleon and Joséphine divorced in 1810 when it became clear that it just wasn’t in the cards for her to give birth to an heir to the Napoleon dynasty. Although Napoleon soon married Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma, Joséphine never exited his mind and her name was the last on his breath when his days soon became outnumbered on his deathbed. “France, l’armée, tête d’armée…Joséphine”, which translates to “France, the army, head of the army…Joséphine,” were Bonaparte’s last words.

The complete collection of letters can be read in the book aptly titled Napoleon’s Letters to Joséphine written by Henry Foljambe Hall.