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CHARLES XIV. (1763-1844), king of Sweden and
Norway, born at Pau on the 26th of January 1763, was the son of Henri
Bernadotte (1711-1780), procurator at Pau, and Jeanne St Jean (1725-1809). The
family name was originally Deu Pouey, but was changed into Bernadotte in the
beginning of the 17th century. Bernadotte's christian names were Jean Baptiste;
he added the name Jules subsequently. He entered the French army on the 3rd of
September 1780, and first saw service in Corsica. On the outbreak of the
Revolution his eminent military qualities brought him speedy promotion. In 1794
we find him as brigadier attached to the army of the Sambre et Meuse, and after
Jourdan's victory at Fleurus he was appointed a general of division. At the
battle of Theiningen, 1796, he contributed, more than any one else, to the
successful retreat of the French army over the Rhine after its defeat by the
archdiike Charles. In 1797 he brought reinforcements from the Rhine to
Bonaparte's army in Italy, distinguishing himself greatly at the passage of the
Tagliamento, and in 1798 was sent as ambassador to Vienna, but was compelled to
quit his post owing to the disturbances caused by his hoisting the tricolor
over the embassy. On the 16th of August 1798 he married Desire'e Clary
(1777-1860), the daughter of a Marseilles banker, and sister of Joseph
Bonaparte's wife. From the 2nd of July to the 14th of September he was war
minister, in which capacity he displayed great ability. About this time he held
aloof from Bonaparte, but though he declined to help Napoleon in the
preparations for the coup d'elae of November 1799, he accepted
employment from the Consulate, and from April 1800 till the 18th of August 1801
commanded the army in La Vendee. On the introduction of the empire he
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