Edmond de Talleyrand-Périgord
Encyclopedia
Edmond de Talleyrand-Périgord, 2nd Duke of Talleyrand, 2nd Duke of Dino (1 August 1787, Paris
- 14 May 1872, Florence
), , was a French general of the Napoleonic Wars
. As the son of Archambaud de Talleyrand-Périgord (1762–1838) and Madeleine Olivier de Senozan de Viriville (1764–1794), he was the nephew of the minister Talleyrand. He later married Dorothea von Biron
.
had banned all French heiresses from marrying outside the French nobility and since Talleyrand had fallen from favour in 1807 after his resignation as Foreign Minister. Thus, at the Congress of Erfurt
in 1808 he approached Tsar Alexander I of Russia
for permission for a marriage between Edmond and Dorothea von Biron
, as a reward for Talleyrand's diplomatic services. Talleyrand was certain of gaining permission from the bride's mother, since he was on friendly terms with her and since payment of her annual apanage was dependent on Russia. Edmond married Dorothea on 21 April 1809 in Frankfurt am Main. Though Edmond was indifferent about the match, she was from German-Baltic nobility, as the illegitimate daughter of Alexander Batowski and Dorothea von Medem
(though her mother's husband Peter von Biron
, last duke of Courland, acknowledged her as his own).
Edmond and his wife had three children - Napoléon Louis (1811–1898), Dorothée (1812–1814), Alexandre (1813–1894) - but by 1812 their married life was over, with Dorothea having become Talleyrand's lover and (after his death in 1838) his sole heir. They first separated in March 1816 and their official separation from Edmond came in 1824. In 1812 Edmond also received a regiment in Brescia
(north Italy) from Talleyrand, and on 19 September 1813 was promoted to oberst
. He served in the War of the Sixth Coalition
, commanding three Chasseur regiments under major-general Leopold Wilhelm von Dobschütz
(1763–1836) at the battle of Mühlberg in 1813, where he was captured. By October 1823 he had become lieutenant-general.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
- 14 May 1872, Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
), , was a French general of the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
. As the son of Archambaud de Talleyrand-Périgord (1762–1838) and Madeleine Olivier de Senozan de Viriville (1764–1794), he was the nephew of the minister Talleyrand. He later married Dorothea von Biron
Dorothea von Biron
Dorothea von Biron, Princess of Courland, self-styled Dorothée de Courlande , was a Baltic German noblewoman. Her mother was Dorothea von Medem, Duchess of Courland, and although her mother's husband, Duke Peter von Biron, acknowledged her as his own, her true father was a Polish statesman...
.
Life
His uncle Talleyrand sought a high position for Edmond. He could not rise in France, since NapoleonNapoleon I of France
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
had banned all French heiresses from marrying outside the French nobility and since Talleyrand had fallen from favour in 1807 after his resignation as Foreign Minister. Thus, at the Congress of Erfurt
Congress of Erfurt
The Congress of Erfurt was the meeting between Emperor Napoleon I of France and Tsar Alexander I of Russia from 27 September to 14 October 1808 intended to reaffirm the alliance concluded the previous year with the Treaty of Tilsit which followed the end of the War of the Fourth...
in 1808 he approached Tsar Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia
Alexander I of Russia , served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania....
for permission for a marriage between Edmond and Dorothea von Biron
Dorothea von Biron
Dorothea von Biron, Princess of Courland, self-styled Dorothée de Courlande , was a Baltic German noblewoman. Her mother was Dorothea von Medem, Duchess of Courland, and although her mother's husband, Duke Peter von Biron, acknowledged her as his own, her true father was a Polish statesman...
, as a reward for Talleyrand's diplomatic services. Talleyrand was certain of gaining permission from the bride's mother, since he was on friendly terms with her and since payment of her annual apanage was dependent on Russia. Edmond married Dorothea on 21 April 1809 in Frankfurt am Main. Though Edmond was indifferent about the match, she was from German-Baltic nobility, as the illegitimate daughter of Alexander Batowski and Dorothea von Medem
Dorothea von Medem
Dorothea von Medem was born a Gräfin of the noble German Baltic Medem family and later became Duchess of Courland...
(though her mother's husband Peter von Biron
Peter von Biron
Peter von Biron was the last Duke of Courland from 1769 to 1795.Peter was born in Jelgava as the son of Ernst Johann von Biron, future Duke of Courland, and his wife Benigna von Trotha. When 16 years old, he was forced to follow his family into the Siberian exile. In 1769, Peter was given the...
, last duke of Courland, acknowledged her as his own).
Edmond and his wife had three children - Napoléon Louis (1811–1898), Dorothée (1812–1814), Alexandre (1813–1894) - but by 1812 their married life was over, with Dorothea having become Talleyrand's lover and (after his death in 1838) his sole heir. They first separated in March 1816 and their official separation from Edmond came in 1824. In 1812 Edmond also received a regiment in Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
(north Italy) from Talleyrand, and on 19 September 1813 was promoted to oberst
Oberst
Oberst is a military rank in several German-speaking and Scandinavian countries, equivalent to Colonel. It is currently used by both the ground and air forces of Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. The Swedish rank överste is a direct translation, as are the Finnish rank eversti...
. He served in the War of the Sixth Coalition
War of the Sixth Coalition
In the War of the Sixth Coalition , a coalition of Austria, Prussia, Russia, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Sweden, Spain and a number of German States finally defeated France and drove Napoleon Bonaparte into exile on Elba. After Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Russia, the continental powers...
, commanding three Chasseur regiments under major-general Leopold Wilhelm von Dobschütz
Leopold Wilhelm von Dobschütz
Leopold Wilhelm von Dobschütz was a Prussian "general of cavalry", the "hero of Dennewitz" and "liberator of Wittenberg", military governor of the Rhine province and of Breslau...
(1763–1836) at the battle of Mühlberg in 1813, where he was captured. By October 1823 he had become lieutenant-general.