[Beauharnais, Eugène de]

[Beauharnais, Eugène de]

Copies of the birth and baptismal certificates of Auguste and Amélie de Leuchtenberg, children of Eugène de Beauharnais, Viceroy of Italy, and Augusta-Amélie of Bavaria.

Very precious calligraphic manuscripts on vellum in sumptuous embroidered binding with coat of arms created for Eugène de Beauharnais, probably in Milan.

[1]. Atti di nascita e di battesimo del principe Augusto Napoleone figlio delle Loro Altezze Imperiali il principe vicere e la principessa viceregina d'Italia [Birth and baptismal certificates of Prince Auguste Napoléon, son of their Imperial Highnesses the Prince Viceroy and the Princess Vicereine of Italy].

[Milan, 1811].

4to (295 x 215 mm). Sides in silk embroidered with gold, silver and polychrome cannetille threads, large frieze interlacing border with crowns at the corners, arms of Eugène de Beauharnais, King of Italy and of Bavaria and his wife, Augusta-Amélie of Bavaria, embroidered in the center of the first side, their cipher "EA" embroidered on the second side, smooth spine ornamented with embroidered motifs, doublure and endpapers in ivory silk, gilt edges (Contemporary binding).

Manuscript of 15 leaves very elegantly calligraphed in brown ink with gold highlights on vellum, the last 5 leaves blank. Signed five times as an exact copy by A. Strigeli in his capacity as Minister Secretary of State of the Kingdom of Italy. It is decorated with six compositions of interlacing decor including three with the Imperial Eagle.

It contains copies of the birth certificate of the young prince dated December 9, 1810, the announcement made the same day to the ministers and dignitaries of the kingdom, the wishes pronounced on December 10, 1810 by the ministers and dignitaries of the kingdom, the baptismal certificate dated the same day, as well as the declaration of the name Auguste Napoléon on January 17, 1811. The originals had been signed by Eugène de Beauharnais, Melzo d’Eril, Duc de Lodi, chancellor and keeper of the seal of the kingdom of Italy, Antonio Codronchi, archbishop of Ravenne, various ministers and dignitaries, as well as by Antonio Strigelli.

Auguste Napoléon de Beauharnais (1810-1835), the first male child of Eugène de Beauharnais, was destined to succeed his father on the Italian throne. He spent his childhood first in Italy and then in Bavaria with his maternal grandfather. He went to Brazil after his sister Amelie’s marriage to Pierre I, Emperor of Brazil. In December 1835, he married Marie II of Portugal in the Lisbon cathedral.

[2]. Atti di nascita e di battesimo della principessa Amalia Napoleona figlia delle Loro Altezze Imperiali il principe vicere e la principessa viceregina d'Italia. [Birth and Baptismal certificates of Princess Amélie Napoleone, daughter of Their Imperial Highnesses the Prince Viceroy and the Princess Vicereine of Italy].

[Milan,1812].

4to (298 x 218 mm). Sides in silk embroidered with gold, silver and polychrome cannetille threads, large frieze border interlacing with imperial eagles in silver gilt at the corners, coat of arms of Eugène de Beauharnais, King of Italy and of Bavaria and his wife, Augusta-Amélie of Bavaria, embroidered in the center of the first side, their cipher "EA" embroidered on the second side, smooth spine ornamented with embroidered motifs, doublure and endpapers in ivory silk, gilt edges (Contemporary binding).

Manuscript of 11 leaves very elegantly calligraphed in brown ink with highlights in gold on vellum followed by 7 blank leaves. Signed four times as an exact copy by A. Strigeli in his capacity as Minister Secretary of State of the Kingdom of Italy. It is ornamented with 6 interlacing compositions including four with the Imperial eagle.

It includes a copy of the birth certificate of Princess Amélie of Bavaria dated July 31, 1812 at the villa Bonaparte, the baptismal certificate, the announcement made to the ministers and dignitaries of the kingdom and the letter of Prince Eugène (dated in Smolensk on August 20, 1812) in response to the ministers’ and dignitaries’ wishes.

The original documents had been signed by the chancellor and Keeper of the Seal of the Kingdom of Italy, Francesco Melzi d'Eril, Duc de Lodi, Antonio Codronchi, archbishop of Ravenne, various ministers and dignitaries, as well as by Antonio Strigelli.

Eugène de Beauharnais learned of the birth of his daughter while he was in Russia, in charge of the 4^th Corps of the Grande Armée en route for Moscow.

The third daughter of Prince Eugène, Amélie (1812-1873), spent her childhood between Italy and Bavaria. In 1829, she married the Emperor of Brazil, Pierre I, widower of Marie-Léopoldine of Austria, sister of Empress Marie-Louise.

She returned to France after her husband’s abdication in 1831. Pierre I, who had become Duc de Bragance, embarked on a dynastic war against his brother Michel I of Portugal. He succeeded however in restoring his eldest daughter (from his first marriage) to the throne of Portugal in 1834.