#lorel metternich

[ic-napology]

I... didn't know that. I just knew he was increasingly descending into mental illness but that absolutely won't excuse this.

Everyone knows about Laure's memoirs' unaccoutability but I don't see how it could serve her to invent such a thing years later, and as you said there's also Lorel Metternich's letters.

My God.

The Metternichs about Junot

Metternich to Mme Metternich, 14 February 1810 It is with true sorrow that I take up my quill today. Your letter of 26 January contains one of the scenes that show us the people of 1792 and 1793 exposed and naked. Place a being like J[unot] in a very high position, he will drink blood without letting any misgivings stop him.

That’s Metternich reacting to the news of the scandal Junot had caused after having discovered the correspondence between his wife Laure and Metternich, proving they had had an affair. Metternich himself was not in Paris at the time but had left some time after the war of 1809 between France and Austria had begun, and in the meantime had taken over the ministry of foreign affairs in Austria. However, Lorel Metternich with the kids had stayed in Paris, and Junot had dragged her right in the middle of a scene of severe domestic violence that she immediately informed her husband of, with the help of a secret agent Metternich had in Paris, Benoit des Androuins.

Interestingly, Lorel Metternich at first does not mention any involvement of Caroline Murat in this event, she only lists her as one of the people gossipping about it.

Other than that, Lorel apparently behaved as prudently as she could once she had entered Junot’s house. According to the letter by Androuins, Junot had forced Laure to write a message to Lorel, urgently inviting her over. On entering, Lorel found Laure Junot crying on the sofa, hiding her face in both hands. - According to Laure’s own journal intime, the last hours had been a nightmare for her, including rape and attempted murder. - Once Lorel Metternich was in the room, Junot locked the door behind both women and started to rage against Metternich, demanding Lorel take revenge upon him etc. The only thing Lorel answered was: "But you are mistaken, Monsieur le Duc. This is not my husband’s handwriting." - Despite the fact she had obviously recognized it. Again, according to Laure’s journal intime, she at some point managed to silently ask Laure if she could do something for her.

Despite Lorel’s calm reaction, the scene must have scared her a lot. At least she seems rather relieved to learn that the Junots were to leave the capital, when she writes to her husband:

Bluebeard has finally left with his amazon and, as I am assured, probably never to return.

"Bluebeard" obviously referring to Junot.

Edit: Forgot to add the source for the two letters: Conti, "Metternich und die Frauen", Vol. 1 - The description of what may (or not) have happened during the night when Laure was alone with Junot are a brief summary of the excerpts from Laure's "journal intime" quoted in Toussaint du Wast, "Laure Junot". It is to be noted that this "journal intime" may have been written years after the event for Balzac, and that it is per se unverifiable.

However, Lorel Metternich calling Junot "Bluebeard" at least strongly hints at her, too, being convinced that Junot had physically abused and possibly tried to murder Laure.

[josefavomjaaga]

Paris, January 3, 1810

This is a letter by Madame Eleonore Metternich (nicknamed Lorel) to her husband Clemens, giving some insight into how negotiations about the Austrian-French marriage started. It’s translated from Metternich’s papers, Volume 2, the original is in French, and the spouses adress each other as “vous”.

The Metternichs were a rather odd couple. He a notorious skirt-chaser, falling in love (and passionately!) with every other pretty lady, and she a rather homely, small and unattractive woman, perfectly informed about her husband's many affairs, yet still staunchly supportive and full of admiration for hubby dearest. When during the wedding ceremonies at Compiègne the two of them happened to meet on the road one night, he coming from Vienna and she from Paris, there was the bonmot that "all these extra-ordinary circumstances had been necessary to make Monsieur and Madame Metternich meet at night for once." In truth, the two of them seem to have gotten along pretty well; they had seven children, Metternich entrusted his wife with many important tasks, and she dutifully closed her eyes over his exmarital escapades. The two of them seem to have led an "old-fashioned" marriage, which was much more about business than about romance.

Paris, January 3 , 1810

Today I have some very extraordinary things to tell you, and I almost believe that my letter will be an essential part of the expedition.

First of all I must tell you that I was presented to the Emperor last Sunday. I had only asked Champagny for it verbally, when I received a letter from M. de Ségur which told me that the Emperor had fixed it for Sunday, and that I had to choose a lady from the palace who would present me. I chose in my wisdom the Duchess of Bassano, and after waiting, together with a score of other women among whom were the Princess of Isenbourg, Madame de Tyszkiewitz and others, from two o'clock until half-past six in the evening, I was introduced first, and the Emperor received me in a way that I could not have believed. He showed real joy at seeing me again and at the fact that I had stayed here during the war; [...]

When war broke out in 1809, it seems the Austrian government kinda forgot about its ambassador in Paris and did not recall him in time. Metternich was first detained, then exchanged for a general as prisoner of war. As soon as peace had been concluded, he became Minister of Foreign Affairs in Austria and had since then remained in Vienna. Lorel, as to her, had contemplated following her husband to Austria several times. But she clearly was more useful in Paris, so she stayed and informed Metternich of what was going on in the French capital.

[...] he spoke to me about you and said: "M. de Metternich has the first place in the Monarchy; he knows this country well, he will be able to be useful to it." This sentence impresses me above all by what will follow.

The next morning Madame d'Audenarde came to me, and told me that the Empress [...]

The empress - that would be Josephine. Already chucked out of the Tuileries and with her marriage to Napoleon declared invalid. But obviously still very much in the midst of things.

[...] would like to see me very much; I went to Malmaison the next day, which was yesterday. When I arrived, there was only the Viceroy in the salon, who is the best of humans; he is the Queen of Holland as a man. 

No! No, he's not! You take that back! He may be in some ways similar to her but he really isn't quite as bad ... - (For the record, I am aware that Lorel meant this as a compliment.)

He spoke to me a great deal about you, and in the midst of our conversation came the Queen, who was very glad that we had so soon renewed our acquaintance; then, taking me aside, she said to me: "You know that we are all Austrians at heart; but you would never guess that my brother had the courage to advise the Emperor to ask for your Archduchess!" 

I bet Lorel never would have guessed. Neither would have Eugène, most likely. In truth, he was probably there on explicit orders from his stepfather to sound out Madame Metternich if her husband might be ready to hand over some archduchess to be married by a French emperor.

Napoleon: But be subtle! They must not take it for an actual request! You have to ask without actually asking the question, got it?

Eugène: [stares at Napoleon blankly]

Napoleon: You know what, let your mother and sister do the talking.

I had not yet recovered from my astonishment, when the Empress entered, and after telling me of all the events which had just happened, and of all that she had suffered, [...]

... and after Eugène and Hortense had interrupted her lengthy sermon on that topic and had reminded her that there was something else Josephine really, really wanted to talk to Madame Metternich about, ...

[...] she said to me: "I have a project which occupies me exclusively, and the success of which alone gives me hope that the sacrifice I have just made will not be in vain; it is that the Emperor should marry your Archduchess; I spoke to him about it yesterday, and he told me that his choice is not yet fixed; but," she added, "I believe that it would be, if he were sure of being accepted by you." I told her all I could to prove to her that, for me individually, I would regard this marriage as a great happiness; but I could not refrain from adding that, for an Archduchess of Austria, it might be painful to come and settle in France. She always said: "We must try to arrange this", and then she was sorry that you were not here. "Your Emperor must be made to consider that his ruin and that of his country is certain if he does not consent, [...]

Ah, the napoleonic approach to negotiations. Always start with a threat.

[...] and this is perhaps also the only way of preventing the Emperor from making a schism with the Holy See."

Religion, that'd be good, right? Your're all quite catholic in Austria, right? Imagine if you could save the Pope!

She told me that the Emperor was to lunch at her house today, and that she would then let me know something more positive. - At this moment I receive a note from Cochelet, [...]

Louise Cochelet, one of Hortense's ladies and chief intriguer in her household.

[...] who tells me that the Queen is expecting me tomorrow morning; we shall have to see what she has to say to me.

Probably added some time later:

I have not seen the Queen of Holland again, because she is ill. I therefore have nothing positive to tell you about the affair in question; but if I wanted to tell you about all the honours with which I was showered, I would not come to an end soon. At the last circle, I played with the Emperor; [...]

Cards, I presume.

[...] you can well believe that it was no small affair for me, yet I came through it with glory. He began by praising me for my diamond headband and the timeless golden dress, and then he asked me a lot of questions about my family and all my relatives; he absolutely wanted, in spite of everything I could tell him, that Louis Kaunitz was my brother.

Look, if Napoleon says that this young man is your brother, you better inform your parents to adopt the guy. Easier than trying to convince Napoleon of the opposite. (In truth, Kaunitz was a cousin.)

You cannot believe the effect of this game; when it was over, I was surrounded and courted by all the great dignitaries, Marshals, Ministers, etc. I had enough to make me happy. I had plenty of opportunity to make philosophical reflections on the vicissitudes of human affairs.

Court life really must be something special.

[josefavomjaaga]

Napoleon is in love

On the evening of March 1, 1810, Countess Eleonore »Lorel« von Metternich, wife of the Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Schwarzenberg are invited to a very intimate cercle in the Tuileries. Berthier is still on his way to Vienna to officially ask for Marie Louise’s hand. Lorel later writes to her husband about this occasion:

"[…] the Emperor almost did not leave my side, and spoke unceasingly of his happiness; upon my honour, I believe him to be head over heels in love. I would like the little Archduchess to already be as far as I am. I am no longer afraid of him at all and feel completely comfortable around him. I laugh and chat with him. He said the nicest things to me, by the way: 'You are lovely, Madame de Metternich. It is you who wished this marriage, who brought it about. Consequently, you form my greatest happiness and after you, your spouse. I see that without him, without the knowledge he has of my character, this union would never have taken place. Write this to him. You may say that I am satisfied with him, with the Emperor, with the Empress, simply with all the world. I have no more desire on earth than to please the Archduchess and to shower her with happiness. I love her, I adore her. All the world already loves her here and must love her.' Thus he spoke to me for two hours."

The only thing Napoleon asked for was for somebody to make sure that »her teeth are brushed«. Obviously, one spouse with rotten teeth (Josephine’s were horrible by all accounts) was enough.

It is this ability of Napoleon to talk himself into fake emotions as he saw fit why I find his love letters to Josephine creepy rather than »passionate«.

[josefavomjaaga]

Random notice from another book (Conti, »Metternich und die Frauen«): While Metternich in Vienna tries to arrange everything for the marriage between Napoleon and Marie Louise, his wife, perfectly aware of and apparently okay with her husband’s numerous affairs, has remained in Paris and repeatedly meets with - the Queen of Naples, Caroline Murat, one of Metternich's former mistresses, who keeps Eleonore Metternich informed of Napoleon's wishes and hopes and treats her with marked favour. The author muses:

The good Countess, however, cannot help but laugh secretly on hearing that Queen Caroline is charged with establishing the household of the Emperor's future wife, and that the latter has particularly urged her to select only pious ladies for the new mistress's entourage. Apart from the fact that few such ladies can be found in high society, choosing Caroline for this task is like setting the fox to keep the geese.

Ouch.

But apart from this, the correspondence of the Metternich couple from these weeks might offer an additional source of information on Caroline.

[josefavomjaaga]

The Metternichs about Junot

Metternich to Mme Metternich, 14 February 1810 It is with true sorrow that I take up my quill today. Your letter of 26 January contains one of the scenes that show us the people of 1792 and 1793 exposed and naked. Place a being like J[unot] in a very high position, he will drink blood without letting any misgivings stop him.

That’s Metternich reacting to the news of the scandal Junot had caused after having discovered the correspondence between his wife Laure and Metternich, proving they had had an affair. Metternich himself was not in Paris at the time but had left some time after the war of 1809 between France and Austria had begun, and in the meantime had taken over the ministry of foreign affairs in Austria. However, Lorel Metternich with the kids had stayed in Paris, and Junot had dragged her right in the middle of a scene of severe domestic violence that she immediately informed her husband of, with the help of a secret agent Metternich had in Paris, Benoit des Androuins.

Interestingly, Lorel Metternich at first does not mention any involvement of Caroline Murat in this event, she only lists her as one of the people gossipping about it.

Other than that, Lorel apparently behaved as prudently as she could once she had entered Junot’s house. According to the letter by Androuins, Junot had forced Laure to write a message to Lorel, urgently inviting her over. On entering, Lorel found Laure Junot crying on the sofa, hiding her face in both hands. - According to Laure’s own journal intime, the last hours had been a nightmare for her, including attempted rape and attempted murder. - Once Lorel Metternich was in the room, Junot locked the door behind both women and started to rage against Metternich, demanding Lorel take revenge upon him etc. The only thing Lorel answered was: "But you are mistaken, Monsieur le Duc. This is not my husband’s handwriting." - Despite the fact she had obviously recognized it. Again, according to Laure’s journal intime, she at some point managed to silently ask Laure if she could do something for her.

Despite Lorel’s calm reaction, the scene must have scared her a lot. At least she seems rather relieved to learn that the Junots were to leave the capital, when she writes to her husband:

Bluebeard has finally left with his amazon and, as I am assured, probably never to return.

"Bluebeard" obviously referring to Junot.

Edit: Forgot to add the source for the two letters: Conti, "Metternich und die Frauen", Vol. 1 - The description of what may (or not) have happened during the night when Laure was alone with Junot are a brief summary of the excerpts from Laure's "journal intime" quoted in Toussaint du Wast, "Laure Junot". It is to be noted that this "journal intime" may have been written years after the event for Balzac, and that it is per se unverifiable.

However, Lorel Metternich calling Junot "Bluebeard" at least strongly hints at her, too, being convinced that Junot had physically abused and possibly tried to murder Laure.

Edit II: On second reading, I added an "attempted" to the accusation of rape. Of course, by the reasoning of the law at the time, rape in the judicial sense would not even have been possible between spouses. Obeying to the husband's needs was the wife's job. - As to Laure's "journal intime", she describes that Junot tried to force himself on her, but claims that she managed to make him stop. (I am not sure I fully believe her.) Junot then at some point attacked her with a pair of scissors, wounding her, before trying to strangle her. He only stopped when Laure was close to loosing consciousness and when he literally saw her blood on his hands. That's how Madame Metternich found Laure on entering.

[josefavomjaaga]

I understand the publication of these papers only happened after Metternich's death and likely by his family, so I would assume there was some level of editing going on.

As to the book about Laure, it's gotten somewhat more interesting since Metternich showed up 😊. Mostly because the author cites long passages from those two original sources that I had not seen before, Metternich's "Adèle" portrait mentioned above, and, most importantly, the long narrative by Laure about her love affair with Metternich and the huge scandal caused by Junot learning about it. And that part was enthralling enough for me to miss my station yesterday while reading on the train 😁. Unfortunately, it also brought me back to my utter dislike of Junot. I'm sorry.

I understand this narrative was baptised "Laure's intimate journal" by Turquan in his biography of Laure (because that probably sounds catchier) but according to this author, it was a report written mch later, put together by Laure for her lover Balzac (who would use parts of it in a novel). If that is correct, then I am pretty convinced sweet Laure embellished and exaggerated a lot in her story for Balzac (trying to do Junot justice here). But unfortunately the general event and Junot's brutality can at least in part be verified through the letter Lorel Metternich sent to her husband about it.

But these two original sources, for what they are worth, at least make the book interesting to me for the first time.

Has anybody already read this book perchance? Would you recommend it? I'm not even sure if this is a biography or a novel...