Josephine Balsamo
Encyclopedia
Joséphine Balsamo a.k.a. Countess Cagliosto, is a fictional character
who is the best known antagonist of Arsène Lupin
, the notorious gentleman burglar created by Maurice Leblanc
.
, from the notorious Joseph Balsamo, a.k.a. Alessandro Cagliostro
, and Joséphine Tascher de la Pagerie, the maiden name of Joséphine de Beauharnais
, the future wife of Napoleon
.
Some, however, believe that she is the same Joséphine, having gained a longer-than-normal lifespan thanks to the alchemical elixir of her sire.
In 1894, a 20-year-old Arsène Lupin
came face-to-face with, and eventually became the lover of, Joséphine Balsamo, who had already heard of him and of his reputation. From her, young Lupin learned the four secrets of Queen Marie Antoinette
and Cagliostro:
1) ALCOR, or the Seven-Armed Candlestick;
2) The Hollow Needle;
3) The God-Stone of the King of Bohemia; and
4) In Robore Fortuna.
In 1899, after the death in childbirth of Clarisse d'Etigues, Lupin's wife, the baby son, Jean, was kidnapped by men working for Joséphine Balsamo.
In 1918, Joséphine Balsamo died in Corsica
, but not without having put in motion a diabolical plan of revenge.
In 1924, Lupin finally stumbled upon his son Jean, now called Felicien Charles, who had been framed for a crime he did not commit, then was pitted against his father by Joséphine's former henchmen. In the end, Lupin saved his son, but did not tell him that he was his father.
scholar Jean-Marc Lofficier
has theorized that the first Joséphine Balsamo had an affair with the norious criminal Henri de Belcamp, a.k.a. John Devil whose story was recorded in the eponymous book by Paul Féval, père
as part of his chronicles Les Habits Noirs
and recently continued by Brian Stableford
.
From that union was born a daughter, Joséphine Balsamo II, who led a criminal career under the alias of Félina de Cambure, whose exploits were recorded in the eponymous work by Frédéric Soulié.
Joséphine II (Félina) in turn had a liaison with Roland Richmond de Valgeneuse, a.k.a. Salvator, whose exploits were recorded by Alexandre Dumas, père
in Les Mohicans de Paris.
Roland and Joséphine II had twins: Joseph, who was adopted as Joseph Fippart and grew up to become the notorious Rocambole
, and Joséphine III. Scholar Rick Lai has theorized that Joséphine III was killed by a gangster working for Théophraste Lupin, Arsène Lupin's father.
As for the identity of the father of Joséphine IV -- the one who fought Arsène Lupin -- some claim it was William Clayton
.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
who is the best known antagonist of Arsène Lupin
Arsène Lupin
Arsène Lupin is a fictional character who appears in a book series of detective fiction / crime fiction novels written by French writer Maurice Leblanc, as well as a number of non-canonical sequels and numerous film, television such as Night Hood, stage play and comic book adaptations.- Overview :A...
, the notorious gentleman burglar created by Maurice Leblanc
Maurice Leblanc
Maurice Marie Émile Leblanc was a French novelist and writer of short stories, known primarily as the creator of the fictional gentleman thief and detective Arsène Lupin, often described as a French counterpart to Arthur Conan Doyle's creation Sherlock Holmes.- Biography :Leblanc was born in...
.
History
Joséphine Balsamo is really Joséphine Pellegrini, the granddaughter of the first Joséphine Balsamo, born on 29 July 1788 in PalermoPalermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
, from the notorious Joseph Balsamo, a.k.a. Alessandro Cagliostro
Alessandro Cagliostro
Count Alessandro di Cagliostro was the alias of the occultist Giuseppe Balsamo , an Italian adventurer.-Origin:The history of Cagliostro is shrouded in rumour, propaganda and mysticism...
, and Joséphine Tascher de la Pagerie, the maiden name of Joséphine de Beauharnais
Joséphine de Beauharnais
Joséphine de Beauharnais was the first wife of Napoléon Bonaparte, and thus the first Empress of the French. Her first husband Alexandre de Beauharnais had been guillotined during the Reign of Terror, and she had been imprisoned in the Carmes prison until her release five days after Alexandre's...
, the future wife of Napoleon
Napoleon 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...
.
Some, however, believe that she is the same Joséphine, having gained a longer-than-normal lifespan thanks to the alchemical elixir of her sire.
In 1894, a 20-year-old Arsène Lupin
Arsène Lupin
Arsène Lupin is a fictional character who appears in a book series of detective fiction / crime fiction novels written by French writer Maurice Leblanc, as well as a number of non-canonical sequels and numerous film, television such as Night Hood, stage play and comic book adaptations.- Overview :A...
came face-to-face with, and eventually became the lover of, Joséphine Balsamo, who had already heard of him and of his reputation. From her, young Lupin learned the four secrets of Queen Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette ; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was an Archduchess of Austria and the Queen of France and of Navarre. She was the fifteenth and penultimate child of Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresa and Holy Roman Emperor Francis I....
and Cagliostro:
1) ALCOR, or the Seven-Armed Candlestick;
2) The Hollow Needle;
3) The God-Stone of the King of Bohemia; and
4) In Robore Fortuna.
In 1899, after the death in childbirth of Clarisse d'Etigues, Lupin's wife, the baby son, Jean, was kidnapped by men working for Joséphine Balsamo.
In 1918, Joséphine Balsamo died in Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
, but not without having put in motion a diabolical plan of revenge.
In 1924, Lupin finally stumbled upon his son Jean, now called Felicien Charles, who had been framed for a crime he did not commit, then was pitted against his father by Joséphine's former henchmen. In the end, Lupin saved his son, but did not tell him that he was his father.
Speculation
Wold Newton familyWold Newton family
The Wold Newton family is a literary concept derived from a form of crossover fiction developed by the science fiction writer Philip José Farmer...
scholar Jean-Marc Lofficier
Jean-Marc Lofficier
Jean-Marc Lofficier is a French author of books about films and television programs, as well as numerous comic books and translations of a number of animation screenplays. He usually collaborates with his wife, Randy Lofficier .-Biography:Jean-Marc Lofficier was born in Toulon, France in 1954...
has theorized that the first Joséphine Balsamo had an affair with the norious criminal Henri de Belcamp, a.k.a. John Devil whose story was recorded in the eponymous book by Paul Féval, père
Paul Féval, père
Paul Henri Corentin Féval, père was a French novelist and dramatist.He was the author of popular swashbuckler novels such as Le Loup Blanc and the perennial best-seller Le Bossu...
as part of his chronicles Les Habits Noirs
Les Habits Noirs
thumb|250px|Cover for a French edition of Les Habits Noirs.Les Habits Noirs is a book series written over a thirty-year period, comprising eleven novels, created by Paul Féval, père, a 19th-century French writer....
and recently continued by Brian Stableford
Brian Stableford
Brian Michael Stableford is a British science fiction writer who has published more than 70 novels. His earlier books were published as by Brian M. Stableford, but more recent ones have dropped the middle initial and appeared under the name Brian Stableford...
.
From that union was born a daughter, Joséphine Balsamo II, who led a criminal career under the alias of Félina de Cambure, whose exploits were recorded in the eponymous work by Frédéric Soulié.
Joséphine II (Félina) in turn had a liaison with Roland Richmond de Valgeneuse, a.k.a. Salvator, whose exploits were recorded by Alexandre Dumas, père
Alexandre Dumas, père
Alexandre Dumas, , born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie was a French writer, best known for his historical novels of high adventure which have made him one of the most widely read French authors in the world...
in Les Mohicans de Paris.
Roland and Joséphine II had twins: Joseph, who was adopted as Joseph Fippart and grew up to become the notorious Rocambole
Rocambole (character)
Rocambole is the creation of Pierre Alexis Ponson du Terrail, a 19th-century French writer. Rocambole is a fictional adventurer. His importance to the genres of adventure novels and crime fiction cannot be overestimated, as he represents the transition from the old-fashioned Gothic novel to modern...
, and Joséphine III. Scholar Rick Lai has theorized that Joséphine III was killed by a gangster working for Théophraste Lupin, Arsène Lupin's father.
As for the identity of the father of Joséphine IV -- the one who fought Arsène Lupin -- some claim it was William Clayton
William Clayton
William Clayton may refer to:* William Clayton , Member of Parliament for Liverpool from 1698 to 1708* Sir William Clayton, 1st Baronet , Member of Parliament for Bletchingley from 1715 to 1744...
.