Henriette Caillaux
Encyclopedia
Henriette Caillaux was a Parisian socialite
and second wife of the former Prime Minister of France
. She is remembered as an assassin.
while he was still married; but eventually he divorced and the two married. While serving as Minister of Finance
in the government of France, Caillaux came under bitter attack from his political foes. At a time when newspapers took political sides, the editor of the Le Figaro
newspaper, Gaston Calmette
, had been a severe critic. Calmette received a letter belonging to Caillaux that journalistic etiquette at the time dictated should not be published. The letter seemed to suggest that improprieties had been committed by Caillaux; in it he appeared to admit having orchestrated the rejection of a tax bill while publicly pretending to support its passage. Calmette proceeded to publish the letter at a time when Joseph Caillaux, in his capacity as Minister of Finance, was trying to get a progressive taxation law passed by the French Senate
. The publication of his letter severely tarnished Caillaux's reputation and caused a great political upheaval.
Madame Caillaux believed that the only way for her husband to defend his reputation would be to challenge Calmette to a duel
, which, one way or another, would destroy her and her husband's life. Madame Caillaux made the decision to protect her beloved husband by sacrificing herself. On 16 March 1914, the elegant and sophisticated woman walked to the newspaper's offices where she confronted the editor. After a few words, she pulled out a pistol and fired several shots point-blank into the man's chest, killing him instantly.
Henriette Caillaux's trial dominated French public life. It featured a deposition from the president of the Republic, an unheard-of occurrence at a criminal proceeding almost anywhere, along with the fact that many of the participants were among the most powerful members of French society. At a time when feminism
was still beginning to impact French society, most republican and socialist men paid no more than lip service to the feminist cause. However, it was this male chauvinism
that actually proved Henriette Caillaux's best friend during the proceedings. She was defended by the prominent attorney Fernand Labori who convinced the jury that her crime, which she did not deny, was not a premeditated act but that her uncontrollable female emotions resulted in a crime of passion
. With male beliefs that women were not as strong emotionally as men, on 28 July 1914, Madame Caillaux was acquitted.
In 1968 a German television film Madame Caillaux was made.
A 1985 made for French television film called L'Affaire Caillaux and a 1992 book titled Trial of Madame Caillaux by American history professor Edward Berenson recounts the event. In addition, Robert Delaunay
used an illustration of the assassination as the basis for his 1914 painting Political Drama.
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
and second wife of the former Prime Minister of France
Prime Minister of France
The Prime Minister of France in the Fifth Republic is the head of government and of the Council of Ministers of France. The head of state is the President of the French Republic...
. She is remembered as an assassin.
Biography
Born Henriette Raynouard, she was having an affair with Joseph CaillauxJoseph Caillaux
Joseph-Marie–Auguste Caillaux was a major French politician of the Third Republic. The leader of the Radicals, he favored a policy of conciliation with Germany during his premiership from 1911 to 1912, which led to the maintenance of the peace during the Second Moroccan Crisis of 1911...
while he was still married; but eventually he divorced and the two married. While serving as Minister of Finance
Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry (France)
The Minister for the Economy, Industry and Employment , or Minister of Finance for short, is one of the most prominent positions in the cabinet of France after the Prime Minister....
in the government of France, Caillaux came under bitter attack from his political foes. At a time when newspapers took political sides, the editor of the Le Figaro
Le Figaro
Le Figaro is a French daily newspaper founded in 1826 and published in Paris. It is one of three French newspapers of record, with Le Monde and Libération, and is the oldest newspaper in France. It is also the second-largest national newspaper in France after Le Parisien and before Le Monde, but...
newspaper, Gaston Calmette
Gaston Calmette
Gaston Calmette was a French journalist.In January 1914 Calmette, who had been editor of the newspaper Le Figaro since 1902, launched a campaign against Minister of Finance Joseph Caillaux, who had introduced progressive taxation and was known for his pacifist stance towards Germany during the...
, had been a severe critic. Calmette received a letter belonging to Caillaux that journalistic etiquette at the time dictated should not be published. The letter seemed to suggest that improprieties had been committed by Caillaux; in it he appeared to admit having orchestrated the rejection of a tax bill while publicly pretending to support its passage. Calmette proceeded to publish the letter at a time when Joseph Caillaux, in his capacity as Minister of Finance, was trying to get a progressive taxation law passed by the French Senate
French Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of France, presided over by a president.The Senate enjoys less prominence than the lower house, the directly elected National Assembly; debates in the Senate tend to be less tense and generally enjoy less media coverage.-History:France's first...
. The publication of his letter severely tarnished Caillaux's reputation and caused a great political upheaval.
Madame Caillaux believed that the only way for her husband to defend his reputation would be to challenge Calmette to a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
, which, one way or another, would destroy her and her husband's life. Madame Caillaux made the decision to protect her beloved husband by sacrificing herself. On 16 March 1914, the elegant and sophisticated woman walked to the newspaper's offices where she confronted the editor. After a few words, she pulled out a pistol and fired several shots point-blank into the man's chest, killing him instantly.
Henriette Caillaux's trial dominated French public life. It featured a deposition from the president of the Republic, an unheard-of occurrence at a criminal proceeding almost anywhere, along with the fact that many of the participants were among the most powerful members of French society. At a time when feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
was still beginning to impact French society, most republican and socialist men paid no more than lip service to the feminist cause. However, it was this male chauvinism
Chauvinism
Chauvinism, in its original and primary meaning, is an exaggerated, bellicose patriotism and a belief in national superiority and glory. It is an eponym of a possibly fictional French soldier Nicolas Chauvin who was credited with many superhuman feats in the Napoleonic wars.By extension it has come...
that actually proved Henriette Caillaux's best friend during the proceedings. She was defended by the prominent attorney Fernand Labori who convinced the jury that her crime, which she did not deny, was not a premeditated act but that her uncontrollable female emotions resulted in a crime of passion
Crime of passion
A crime of passion, or crime passionnel, in popular usage, refers to a crime in which the perpetrator commits a crime, especially assault or murder, against someone because of sudden strong impulse such as sudden rage or heartbreak rather than as a premeditated crime...
. With male beliefs that women were not as strong emotionally as men, on 28 July 1914, Madame Caillaux was acquitted.
In 1968 a German television film Madame Caillaux was made.
A 1985 made for French television film called L'Affaire Caillaux and a 1992 book titled Trial of Madame Caillaux by American history professor Edward Berenson recounts the event. In addition, Robert Delaunay
Robert Delaunay
Robert Delaunay was a French artist who, with his wife Sonia Delaunay and others, cofounded the Orphism art movement, noted for its use of strong colours and geometric shapes. His later works were more abstract, reminiscent of Paul Klee...
used an illustration of the assassination as the basis for his 1914 painting Political Drama.
Further reading
- Kershaw, Alister. Murder in France. (London: Constable, 1955), 90-117.
- Berenson, Edward. The Trial of Madame Caillaux (Univ of California Press: Oxford, 1992). ISBN 0-520-08428-4