Hubbry Logo
Alexandre Colonna-WalewskiAlexandre Colonna-WalewskiMain
Open search
Alexandre Colonna-Walewski
Community hub
Alexandre Colonna-Walewski
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Alexandre Colonna-Walewski
Alexandre Colonna-Walewski
Alexandre Colonna-Walewski
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Alexandre Florian Joseph, Count Colonna-Walewski (French pronunciation: [alɛksɑ̃dʁ kɔlɔna valɛvski]; Polish: Aleksander Florian Józef Colonna-Walewski; 4 May 1810 – 27 September 1868), also Count of the Empire, was a Polish and French politician and diplomat, the unacknowledged son of French emperor Napoleon I.

Key Information

He is best known for his position as foreign minister of France under his cousin Napoleon III and for his diplomatic efforts presiding over the Congress of Paris, which ended the Crimean War and laid the base for modern international law of the sea with the Paris Declaration Respecting Maritime Law.

Early years

[edit]
Alexandre Walewski in 1832, portrait by school of George Hayter

Alexandre Florian Joseph Colonna Walewski was born on May 4, 1810, at Walewice, near Warsaw, to Countess Maria Walewska, the Polish noblewoman and mistress of Napoleon Bonaparte. His mother conceived him while residing near Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, where Napoleon was temporarily staying. When Marie requested to give birth in Paris, Napoleon insisted she return to her husband's estate in Poland. Count Athanasius Walewski, nearly eighty years old at the time, legally recognized the child as his own. Later in life, Alexandre would write: "My birth was accompanied by lightning and thunder, and it was predicted that my life would be stormy and even life-changing. To satisfy an old family prejudice, I was held at the font by two beggars, which was supposed to bring me luck..."[1]

In 2013, published scholarship comparing DNA haplotype evidence taken from Emperor Napoleon, from his brother King Jérôme Bonaparte's descendant Charles, Prince Napoléon and from Colonna-Walewski's descendant indicated Alexandre's membership in the genetic male-line of the imperial House of Bonaparte.[2]

Upon hearing of Alexandre's birth while in Belgium with his new bride, Empress Marie Louise, Napoleon sent an affectionate message and a gift of Brussels laces to Marie Walewska congratulating the birth of the child. Despite the ending of their affair when he married Marie Louise Napoleon ensured Marie and their son were well provided for, granting them a residence in Rue de Montmorency in Paris along with a significant pension of 120,000 francs.

According to Napoleon's valet, Constant, Napoleon was deeply moved by the boy's resemblance to him. Constant recorded:

"She was delivered of a son who bore a striking resemblance to His Majesty. This was a great joy for the Emperor. Hastening to her as soon as it was possible for him to get away from the chateau, he took the child in his arms, and embracing it as he had just embraced the mother, he said to him: I will make thee a count."[3]

On May 5, 1812, Napoleon officially decreed Alexandre a “Count of the French Empire” and bestowed upon him lands in the Kingdom of Naples. The young Alexandre's endowment included sixty-nine farms generating an annual income of 169,516 francs. On June 15, while in Königsberg Napoleon signed letters patent confirming Alexandre's title, and his new coat of arms combined the insignias of the Walewski and Laczynski families. While in Paris, his mother Marie Walewska became close friends with the former Empress Joséphine frequently visiting her at Malmaison. Joséphine, who had no children with Napoleon, lavished Marie and young Alexandre with kindness and gifts.[4]

Following Napoleon's abdication in 1814, Marie took four-year-old Alexandre to the island of Elba. Many islanders mistook Marie Walewska for Empress Marie Louise and Alexandre for the King of Rome. During their stay, Napoleon played games with the boy and shared affectionate moments.

Napoleon reportedly asked Alexandre:

“ I hear you don't mention my name in your prayers." Alexandre admitted he did not, but he did remember to say "Papa Empereur." Amused, Napoleon remarked, "He'll be a great social success, this boy: he's got wit."[5]

Napoleon's physician, Foureau de Beauregard, later wrote to Alexandre, recalling:"You are that pretty little Alexandre that I saw, almost twenty-nine years ago, on the Emperor's lap near the Madonna delle Grazie on the island of Elba."[6]

However, with Empress Marie Louise expected to visit, Napoleon discreetly arranged for Marie and Alexandre to leave the island to avoid scandal. In early 1815, they returned to Paris before Napoleon departed for the Hundred Days campaign. After his defeat at Waterloo, Marie Walewska and Alexandre were present at Malmaison to bid farewell to Napoleon before his exile to Saint Helena. Years later, Alexandre reminisced:

I can still see the Emperor... every single feature of his face.... He took me in his arms and I remember a tear ran down his face..But I cannot recall what exactly he said to me on that occasion.[7][8]

In his final will, Napoleon mentioned both Alexandre and his half-brother, Charles Léon, stating:

"Would not be displeased if little Léon were to enter the judiciary, if that appeals to him. I would like Alexandre Walewski to enter the service of France as a soldier.”[9]

On September 7, 1816, Marie Walewska married Napoleon's cousin, Philippe Antoine d'Ornano, who had been exiled in Brussels for supporting Napoleon during the Hundred Days. Alexandre and his younger half-brother, Antoine, remained in Paris under the care of Marie's trusted friend, M. Carite. The family later moved to Liège, where Marie gave birth to another son, Rodolphe, in 1817. Marie died on December 11, 1817. In her will, she entrusted the care of Alexandre and Antoine to her brother Theodore Łaczyński while their half brother Rodolphe stayed with his father.

Łaczyński took the boys to Kiernozia in Poland. Alexandre’s uncle would teach them of the French Revolution, the Napoleonic campaigns and of Emperor Napoleon and his court. Expressing his dream to take them to Saint Helena when they were older.[10] To give them an education, Łaczyński would send them to Warsaw, where they studied under a tutor with strong republican and anti-Napoleon views. Łaczyński concerned about this influence, placed them instead in a Jesuit college, where Alexandre made his first communion. In 1820, at the age of ten, Alexandre left Poland for Geneva, where he attended boarding school for four years.

At age fourteen, Walewski refused to join the Imperial Russian army and fled to London, thence to Paris, where the French government refused Tsar Alexander I's demands for his extradition to Russia.[11]

Upon the accession of Louis-Philippe d'Orléans to the French throne in 1830, Walewski was dispatched to Poland, later the same year being entrusted by the leaders of the Polish November Uprising of 1830 as a diplomatic envoy to the Court of St James's. After the Fall of Warsaw, he took out letters of French naturalization and joined the French Army, being in action in Algeria as a Captain in the Chasseurs d'Afrique of the French Foreign Legion.

In 1837 he resigned his commission to begin writing plays and working as a journalist for the press. He is said to have collaborated with the elder Dumas on Mademoiselle de Belle-Isle and a comedy of his, L'Ecole du monde, was produced at the Theâtre Français in 1840.[11]

Diplomatic career

[edit]
Walewski and other participants at Crimean War peace negotiations, 1856 – The Congress of Paris by Edouard Dubufe

Later that year the prime minister of France Thiers, also a man of letters, became patron to one of Walewski's papers, Le Messager des Chambres, before sending him on a mission to Egypt. Under Guizot's government Walewski was posted to Buenos Aires to liaise with the British Ambassador, John Cradock, 1st Baron Howden. Prince Louis Napoleon's accession to power in France as Napoleon III furthered his career with postings as envoy extraordinary to Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany, and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies before London (1851–55), where he was charged with announcing the coup d'état to the prime minister, Lord Palmerston.[12]

Count Walewski as president of Congress of Paris (1856)

In 1855, Walewski succeeded Drouyn de Lhuys as Minister of Foreign Affairs and he acted as President of, and French plenipotentiary at, the Congress of Paris the following year, leading to peace in the Crimean War and to the Paris Declaration Respecting Maritime Law. The latter treaty did contain an important novelty in international law, creating the possibility for nations that were not involved in the establishment of the agreement, to become a party by acceding to the Declaration afterwards.[13][14]

As foreign minister, Walewski advocated a de-escalating strategy towards Russia, known as entente, opposing his emperor's strategy in Italy which led to war with Austria in 1859. After leaving the Foreign Ministry in 1860 he became France's Minister of State, an office which he held until 1863. He served as Senator from 1855 to 1865, before being appointed to the Corps Législatif in 1865 and as President of the Chamber of Deputies by the Emperor, who returned him to the Senate after a revolt against his authority two years later.[11]

Walewski was made a Duke of the Empire ad personam in 1866,[15] was elected a member of the Académie des beaux-arts, appointed Grand-Cross of the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour and made a Knight of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, also receiving the Gold Cross of Virtuti Militari.

Alexandre Colonna-Walewski died of a stroke at Strasbourg on 27 September 1868 and is buried at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

Descendants

[edit]
Portrait of Lady Caroline Montagu in Byronic Costume by George Hayter, 1831.
Marie-Anne Walewska, born Ricci, by Edouard Louis Dubufe, 1859.

He married firstly in London on 1 December 1831 Lady Catherine Montagu (London, 7 October 1808 – Paris, 30 April 1834), daughter of George Montagu, 6th Earl of Sandwich, by his wife Lady Louisa Lowry-Corry. Following her death in childbirth, he married secondly, on 4 June 1846 in Florence, Maria Anna di Ricci (Florence, 18 July 1823 - Paris, 18 November 1912), daughter of the Papal Count Zanobi di Ricci by his wife Princess Isabella Poniatowski. He also fathered a son, Alexandre-Antoine Colonne-Walewski (1844–1898), by the actress Rachel Felix in 1844.[16]

He had seven children, two from his first marriage, four from his second marriage, and one with a woman he was not married to.

  • By Lady Catherine Montagu,[17] daughter of 6th Earl of Sandwich (both died young):
    • Louise-Marie Colonna-Walewska (14 December 1832 - 1833).
    • Count Georges-Édouard-Auguste Colonna-Walewski (Paris, 30 April 1834 - Paris, 9 May 1835).
  • By Maria Anna di Ricci (1823–1912):
  • By Rachel Felix (1821–1858):
    • Count Alexandre-Antoine-Jean Colonna-Walewski (Marly-le-Roi, 3 November 1844 – Turin, 20 August 1898), recognized in 1844 and adopted by Walewski in 1860; Consul General of France; married in Paris on 17 November 1868 Jeanne-Claire-Marie Sala (Paris, 26 May 1845 - Palermo, 22 January 1881); has numerous surviving descendants.[19]

Ancestry

[edit]

Honours

[edit]
Arms of Colonna-Walewski

Works

[edit]
  • Un mot sur la question d'Afrique, Paris 1837
  • L'Alliance Anglaise, Paris 1838
  • L'École du Monde, ou la Coquette sans le savoir (comedy), Paris 1840

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Alexandre Colonna-Walewski

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Alexandre Florian Joseph Colonna, Count Walewski (4 May 1810 – 27 September 1868), was a French diplomat and statesman of Polish origin, widely recognized as the illegitimate son of I and the Polish noblewoman Countess Maria Walewska. Born at Walewice Castle near , Walewski's early life reflected his mixed heritage and the turbulent politics of post-Napoleonic ; he participated in the Polish of 1830 against Russian rule before fleeing to France, where he was naturalized in 1833 and began a career in military service in , , and . Under his cousin during the Second French Empire, he rose to prominence as ambassador to courts in , , , and , leveraging his connections to advance French interests. Walewski's most notable achievements came as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1855 to 1860, during which he navigated the Crimean War's conclusion by presiding over the Congress of Paris in , securing territorial adjustments, the neutralization of the , and a rebalancing of European power dynamics in France's favor. Subsequently serving as Minister of the Interior briefly in 1860 and then until 1863, he influenced amid growing liberal pressures, though his tenure ended amid health issues and political shifts; he died suddenly in while possibly on a diplomatic errand. His career embodied the Bonapartist blend of authoritarian governance, strategic diplomacy, and familial legacy, bridging Napoleonic imperialism with mid-19th-century .

Origins and Early Life

Birth, Paternity, and Polish Heritage

Alexandre Florian Joseph Colonna-Walewski was born on 4 May 1810 at Walewice Castle, near Warsaw in the Duchy of Warsaw, a Polish state established under Napoleonic influence. His mother, Maria Łączyńska, known as Countess Marie Walewska, was a Polish noblewoman from a landed gentry family in the Łowicz region, who had married Count Anastazy Colonna-Walewski in 1806. Walewski's paternity has long been attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, with whom his mother had a liaison during the French emperor's 1807 campaign in ; historical accounts describe Napoleon visiting Walewice shortly before the birth, and contemporary rumors as well as later family traditions supported this parentage. However, Napoleon never publicly acknowledged him as his son, and Anastazy Walewski legally recognized the child as his own, granting him the full name and inheritance rights within the family. Physical resemblances to Napoleon and private correspondences, including Marie Walewska's letters expressing hope for recognition, bolstered the claim, though no definitive contemporary proof like DNA evidence from that era exists to confirm it beyond historical consensus. The Walewski family traced its origins to medieval Polish nobility in the Łęczyca Land, with roots in Walewice village first documented in 1382, and held the Gołza coat of arms, signifying their status among the szlachta (Polish gentry). The "Colonna" prefix derived from Italian ancestry in Anastazy Walewski's lineage, linking to the prominent Roman Colonna family through noble intermarriages, but Alexandre's upbringing and identity were steeped in Polish heritage, reinforced by his birth in Polish territory and his mother's efforts to instill national pride amid partitions of Poland by Russia, Prussia, and Austria. This background positioned him as a figure bridging Polish aspirations for independence—fueled by Napoleon's earlier creation of the Duchy—and French imperial circles.

Flight from Russian Conscription and Arrival in France

In 1824, at the age of fourteen, Alexandre Colonna-Walewski returned to from his earlier education abroad and settled at the family estate of Walewice, where he was emancipated by his guardian. Despite pressure from Constantine, the Russian viceroy of , to join the , Walewski refused , prompting close surveillance by the Russian police. Facing imminent forced enlistment, Walewski fled Poland around 1827, employing numerous stratagems to evade capture and reach , from where he boarded an English vessel bound for . After spending several months in , he proceeded to , arriving that same year. The French government under the Bourbon Restoration rebuffed demands from Tsar Alexander I for his extradition, allowing Walewski to remain. Upon arrival, Walewski adopted a low profile in Parisian society to avoid drawing attention to his Polish origins and rumored paternity, integrating gradually amid the political tensions of the Restoration era. This discretion facilitated his eventual as a French citizen on December 3, 1833.

Education and Initial Integration into French Society

In 1820, at the age of ten, Walewski was sent from to , , where he resided and received education at a for four years, demonstrating notable during this period. He returned to Poland in 1824, continuing his studies in amid his family's noble circles. Following the suppression of the in 1831, particularly after the fall of in September, Walewski, then 21, fled Russian by departing for before arriving in , seeking to escape imperial control and align with his paternal heritage. In , his descent from Napoleon I—privately acknowledged and evident in his physical resemblance—facilitated initial social connections within Bonapartist and elite networks, though public legitimacy remained informal. Walewski obtained French naturalization through a issued by King Louis-Philippe in 1833, granting him and enabling fuller participation in French institutions. He pursued further studies in , focusing on and comparative legislation, preferring diplomatic and legal paths over immediate , which marked his transition from Polish to integrated member of French society. This period solidified his identity as a Franco-Polish figure, leveraging his education and lineage for eventual public roles.

Military and Formative Service

Campaign in Algeria

Colonna-Walewski obtained French naturalization on January 30, 1833, following the suppression of the in Poland, and promptly enlisted in the for service in the ongoing conquest of . He served approximately five years in , rising to the rank of in a unit, where he participated in operations against local resistance forces during the early phases of French colonial expansion under the . During his deployment, which aligned with intensified French efforts to subdue Abd 's following the 1830 of , Colonna-Walewski engaged in combat actions as part of the Foreign Legion's contributions to pacification campaigns in the Mitidja plain and surrounding regions. In one notable incident, he undertook a diplomatic initiative to dissuade Abd al-Qadir from ambushing a French supply , leveraging his linguistic skills and personal negotiation to avert potential losses amid the characteristic of the conflict. His service earned him the Légion d'honneur, recognizing valor in these expeditions that involved skirmishes, raids, and efforts to secure coastal and inland territories against Ottoman-backed and tribal opposition. At age 27, Colonna-Walewski resigned his commission in 1837, transitioning from duties to civilian pursuits in , including , amid the stabilization of French control in Algeria's core provinces but persistent guerrilla threats further afield. His Algerian experience provided formative exposure to imperial administration and intercultural negotiation, foreshadowing his later diplomatic roles, though it occurred within a broader context of French overextension and reliance on expeditionary forces numbering around 100,000 troops by the mid-1830s to counter Abd al-Qadir's mobile tactics.

Transition to Diplomacy

Following his participation in the French campaign in , where he served as a in the Foreign Legion, Colonna-Walewski resigned his military commission in 1837 at age 27. This decision marked a pivot away from active soldiering, influenced by his growing interest in intellectual pursuits amid the political stability of the . In , he immersed himself in and dramatic writing, leveraging connections in literary circles to establish a civilian identity distinct from his military past and Polish exile origins. These endeavors provided a bridge to public life, honing skills in and analysis that later proved valuable in negotiations, though they yielded modest acclaim compared to his subsequent diplomatic achievements. Colonna-Walewski's formal entry into came in 1840, when Prime Minister dispatched him on his first mission to . This assignment, focused on assessing Anglo-French interests in the region amid tensions with Pasha, demonstrated his aptitude for discreet international engagement and paved the way for further consular and envoy roles under subsequent ministries.

Diplomatic Career Prior to Ministry

Ambassadorships in Italy

In 1849, shortly after Louis-Napoléon's election to the presidency of the French Second Republic, Colonna-Walewski was appointed ministre plénipotentiaire (minister plenipotentiary and envoy extraordinary) to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, with residence in Florence. This posting came in the wake of the 1848–1849 Tuscan revolution, during which Grand Duke Leopold II had fled amid republican uprisings, only to be restored to power with Austrian military support by April 1849; Walewski's role involved advancing French diplomatic interests in the stabilized but fragile monarchical regime amid broader European post-revolutionary realignments. By 1850, Walewski was transferred and elevated to full ambassador (ambassadeur) at the court of Ferdinand II in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, based in Naples, where he served until 1851. His tenure there focused on bilateral relations between France and the Bourbon monarchy, navigating the kingdom's internal repression following the Sicilian revolts of 1848 and external pressures from revolutionary remnants, while aligning with Louis-Napoléon's policy of conservative stabilization in Italy to counterbalance Austrian influence without provoking outright conflict. These Italian assignments marked Walewski's entry into high-level diplomacy, leveraging his linguistic skills in Italian—stemming from personal ties, including his marriage to an Italian noblewoman—and his familiarity with Mediterranean affairs from earlier military service.

Service in London and European Engagements

In June 1851, Colonna-Walewski was appointed French ambassador to the in , a posting that positioned him at the center of Anglo-French relations during a period of European tension. His tenure began amid Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte's consolidation of power, and on 2 December 1851, following the , he promptly informed British Foreign Secretary Lord Palmerston of the events, eliciting an unsolicited expression of approval from the latter that later contributed to Palmerston's dismissal by . This episode underscored Walewski's role in navigating British skepticism toward French internal affairs while fostering pragmatic diplomatic ties. Throughout his ambassadorship, which lasted until May 1855, Walewski focused on aligning French and British interests amid the escalating , particularly Russia's encroachments in the . In December 1854, as war loomed, he transmitted a draft to Foreign Secretary Lord Clarendon proposing joint Anglo-French action against , including military coordination and guarantees for Ottoman integrity, which laid groundwork for the formal alliance signed in April 1855. His dispatches emphasized France's commitment to containing Russian expansion without alienating British public opinion wary of continental entanglements, reflecting a balance of Napoleon III's ambitions and London's constitutional priorities. Walewski's London service extended to broader European engagements, including coordination on Italian affairs where he advocated for restrained French intervention to avoid provoking or Britain. He also facilitated high-level exchanges, such as Emperor III's to in April 1855, where discussions reinforced the wartime partnership and addressed post-Crimean security arrangements. These efforts, conducted through personal audiences and cabinet-level correspondence, positioned Walewski as a key architect of Franco-British convergence, though constrained by his ambassadorial remit ahead of his elevation to foreign minister.

Tenure as Foreign Minister

Appointment under Napoleon III and Crimean War Diplomacy

Colonna-Walewski received his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs from on 8 May 1855, succeeding Édouard Drouyn de Lhuys, whose resignation stemmed from frustrations over the slow progress of peace negotiations amid stalled allied offensives in the . The timing positioned him at the helm of French diplomacy during a critical phase of the (1853–1856), following French military commitments alongside Britain and the against Russian expansionism in the Black Sea region and the . As foreign minister, Walewski shifted French policy toward moderated demands on Russia, favoring de-escalation over maximalist territorial concessions to preserve European balance and avoid excessive British influence in postwar settlements. His approach contrasted with Drouyn de Lhuys's harder line, reflecting III's strategic interest in leveraging the war's outcome for French prestige without alienating potential continental allies like , which issued an ultimatum to Russia on 27 December 1855 demanding withdrawal from the Danubian territories. Walewski coordinated closely with Austrian Foreign Minister Count Karl Ferdinand von Buol to align the Vienna Note revisions and the "Four Points" framework—encompassing Ottoman sovereignty, Russian renunciation of protectorate claims over Orthodox Christians, exclusion of Russian warships from the (initially proposed), and collective European guarantee of Turkish integrity—into viable negotiation bases. Walewski's efforts emphasized pragmatic concessions, such as tempering allied insistence on full Russian demilitarization of the early in talks, to expedite discussions after Russia's overtures post the inconclusive Battle of the Inguri (February 1856) and allied naval blockades. This , informed by Walewski's prior ambassadorships and familiarity with Central European courts, facilitated preliminary accords in late February 1856, including Austria's mediation and Russian acceptance of neutral conference terms, thereby transitioning the conflict from battlefield stalemate to multilateral bargaining while safeguarding French gains in influence over the . Despite his Polish heritage and personal antipathy toward Russian —rooted in the —Walewski prioritized realist alignment with Napoleon III's objectives, avoiding ideological crusades that might prolong hostilities or provoke Prussian intervention.

Presiding over the Congress of Paris

The Congress of Paris opened on 25 1856, with Count Alexandre Colonna-Walewski, serving as French Minister of Foreign Affairs, elected as its president due to France's pivotal role in the allied victory during the . Plenipotentiaries included representatives from (Lord Clarendon and Lord Cowley), (Count Buol and Baron Hübner), (Prince Orlov), (General Manteuffel and Baron Budberg), the (Mehmed Ali Pasha and Rifaat Pasha), and (Camillo Cavour). Walewski opened the proceedings with a brief address outlining the congress's objectives, centered on implementing the preliminary Vienna Protocol of 1 1856, which set the framework for peace negotiations without initial debate on that day. Under Walewski's chairmanship, the congress addressed territorial restorations, including the return of and other Ottoman lands occupied by to , while affirming pre-war borders with adjustments favorable to the allies. A key provision, Article XI of the resulting Treaty of Paris signed on 30 March 1856, neutralized the by prohibiting warships of and the —limited to small coastal vessels—and opening it to international commerce, aimed at curbing Russian naval threats. The treaty also reinforced the 's territorial integrity and European participation in its affairs, reflecting allied commitments to balance power in the region. Walewski further influenced proceedings by introducing discussions on broader European issues, including calls for reforms in , which unsettled Austrian representatives despite occurring within the congress's extended scope. He proposed advancements in international maritime law, leading to the separate Declaration of Paris on 16 April 1856, which abolished privateering, protected neutral flags and goods (except ), and established rules—principles adopted by most signatories and forming a cornerstone of modern naval conduct. These outcomes underscored Walewski's diplomatic acumen in leveraging France's position to shape lasting agreements, though British preferences often guided final terms.

Management of the Italian Question and Orsini Affair

As Foreign Minister, Walewski navigated the "Italian Question" by prioritizing diplomatic pressure for administrative and constitutional reforms in the Italian states under Austrian influence, rather than endorsing full unification under Piedmont-Sardinia, which he viewed as risking broader European conflict and papal authority. In the aftermath of the 1856 Congress of Paris, where he had raised Italian grievances against Austrian dominance, Walewski issued instructions to French diplomats emphasizing the need for decentralization, reduced taxation, and expanded in Lombardy-Venetia and the to avert revolutionary unrest. He proposed a federal Italian confederation, including a revised of 16 articles submitted to Sardinian Foreign Minister Claudio Gabriele de La Margherita in August 1857, envisioning a loose union under papal presidency with reformed monarchies and exclusion of direct Austrian rule from Italian affairs, though these talks collapsed amid Austrian intransigence. This cautious approach aligned with Walewski's pro-Austrian leanings and efforts to balance French interests with Catholic , contrasting III's growing sympathy for Piedmontese ambitions; nonetheless, Walewski executed imperial directives, including a December 1858 circular to ambassadors warning European powers of the instability posed by Italian discontent and urging reforms to preserve the status quo. Tensions escalated when issued an ultimatum to on April 23, 1859, prompting Walewski to draft the French manifesto's justification for , framing intervention as defensive against Austrian aggression while vaguely promising Italian "nationalities" reorganization short of radical upheaval. The resulting Franco-Sardinian victories at (June 4) and (June 24) advanced limited French aims, but Walewski's policy reflected restraint, culminating in his replacement by Édouard Thouvenel in January 1860 amid frustrations over the Villafranca armistice's failure to secure French gains like and without full unification. The Orsini Affair intersected critically with Italian policy, amplifying domestic pressures for action against perceived Italian radicalism while straining Anglo-French relations. On January 14, 1858, Italian revolutionary Felice Orsini and two accomplices hurled three bombs at Napoleon III's carriage outside the Paris Opera, killing eight bystanders and injuring over 150, with Orsini arrested days later and guillotined on March 13 after authoring letters imploring the emperor to liberate Italy from foreign domination to prevent further violence. Walewski responded by dispatching a January 20 note to British Foreign Secretary Lord Clarendon, condemning Britain as a haven for assassins—since Orsini had procured materials in London—and demanding legislative curbs on foreign conspiracies, which fueled a parliamentary crisis leading to Lord Palmerston's temporary downfall when his Conspiracy to Murder Bill failed. Though the affair exposed vulnerabilities to , it paradoxically reinforced III's commitment to selective intervention, as Orsini's appeals echoed broader Risorgimento pleas; Walewski managed the fallout by tightening French security laws and using the incident to justify heightened vigilance against émigré plots, while privately counseling moderation to avoid alienating Britain long-term. This episode accelerated secret Franco-Piedmontese accords at Plombières in July 1858, where pledged military aid against in exchange for territorial concessions, shifting Walewski's diplomacy toward war preparations despite his reservations about unchecked unification's destabilizing potential.

Later Political Roles

Ministries of Interior and State

Colonna-Walewski was appointed on 23 November 1860, succeeding in a role that positioned him as a key coordinator within III's government. He held the position until 23 June 1863, during which time he focused primarily on cultural and administrative oversight rather than direct interior security or policing, functions typically managed by the separate Ministry of the Interior under figures like Victor de Persigny. ) As , his portfolio included supervision of the fine arts, where he advocated for artistic patronage and institutional support, reflecting III's emphasis on imperial grandeur through cultural projects. In this capacity, Colonna-Walewski played a direct role in advancing major artistic endeavors, such as the development of the Paris Opéra, for which he ceremonially laid the first stone on 21 July 1862, symbolizing the regime's commitment to monumental architecture under architect Charles Garnier. This event underscored his influence in allocating state resources to amid broader efforts to elevate French cultural prestige post-Crimean War. Contemporaneous accounts praised his efforts to foster artistic communities, including protections and funding that benefited painters, sculptors, and performers, though these initiatives were critiqued by some liberals as extensions of authoritarian control over cultural expression. Beyond arts administration, Colonna-Walewski's ministerial duties involved advisory functions within the Council of Ministers, where he bridged diplomatic legacies from his foreign affairs tenure with domestic policy coordination, including legislative preparations as a deputy elected for the Landes department in 1860. His tenure ended amid shifting imperial priorities toward liberalization, with no recorded involvement in core interior affairs like provincial governance or censorship enforcement, which remained under specialized ministers. This phase marked a transition from high-stakes international diplomacy to more insular, prestige-oriented responsibilities, aligning with his personal inclinations toward intellectual and cultural pursuits.

Senatorial Position and Retirement

Colonna-Walewski was elevated to the dignity of senator on 26 April 1855 by Emperor , a position he held concurrently with his tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs beginning 7 May 1855. As a senator under the Second Empire, he participated in the upper chamber's deliberations on legislative matters, though his primary influence during this period stemmed from his diplomatic and ministerial roles rather than distinct senatorial contributions documented in primary records. In 1863, following his resignation as , Colonna-Walewski retained his senatorial seat until 1865, when he resigned to seek election as a deputy to the , the lower house of the . Elected deputy for the department, he was appointed president of the on 1 September 1865, succeeding his half-brother the Duke of Morny upon the latter's death; he served in this capacity until forced to resign on 29 March 1867 amid internal opposition and procedural challenges. Upon relinquishing the presidency, he was reinstated in the in 1867, resuming his role as a member of the upper chamber and the privy council. By early 1868, Colonna-Walewski had withdrawn from active political engagement, residing primarily at his Villa d'Amphion on and engaging only in occasional confidential missions, such as a reported diplomatic errand to shortly before his death. This retirement from frontline duties marked the end of his formal political career, though he retained his senatorial title until his sudden death from a cerebral hemorrhage on 27 September 1868 in , at age 58.

Personal Life and Family

Marriages and Immediate Descendants

Colonna-Walewski married Lady Catherine Caroline Montagu, daughter of George Montagu, 6th Earl of Sandwich, on December 1, 1831. She died on April 30, 1834. Their two children both died in infancy: Louise-Marie (born December 14, 1832; died 1833) and Georges-Édouard-Auguste (born April 30, 1834, in Paris; died May 9, 1835, in Paris). He had an illegitimate son, Alexandre Antoine Jean Colonna-Walewski (1844–1898), with the actress Élisa Rachel Félix, though they did not marry. On June 4, 1846, Colonna-Walewski married Maria Anna di Ricci (1823–1912), daughter of Count Angelo di Ricci. They had four children: Isabelle (born May 12, 1847; died in infancy), Charles Joseph (born June 4, 1848; died 1916), Élise (born December 1850; died 1927), and Marie (born 1852). Charles married Félice Douay but had no children; Élise married Félix, Comte de Bourqueney.

Broader Ancestry and Living Lineage

Colonna-Walewski's mother, Marie Łączyńska (1786–1817), hailed from the Polish , specifically the Łączyński family, which had received noble status in 1574. Her father, Mathieu (Mateusz) Łączyński (1754–1794), served as a landowner and of Gostyń, dying shortly before her birth on December 7, 1786, in Kiernozia. Her mother was Ewa Zaborowska. Marie's marriage to Anastazy Colonna-Walewski in 1804 connected the family to the Walewski noble line, though Anastazy was not Alexandre's biological father. Paternally, Colonna-Walewski was the unacknowledged illegitimate son of Napoleon I Bonaparte (1769–1821), whose ancestry derived from minor Tuscan nobility transplanted to ; Napoleon's father, (1713–1785), was a lawyer from , descending from Genoese and Italian stock. This connection, while historically accepted based on contemporary accounts and physical resemblance, lacked official recognition during Napoleon's lifetime. The lineage persists through Colonna-Walewski's son with actress , Alexandre Antoine Colonna-Walewski (1844–1898), who continued the male line. Alexandre Antoine's son, André Colonna-Walewski (1871–1954), fathered descendants who shifted from to industry; later generations include Antoine Colonna-Walewski and his son, the current family representative Alexandre Colonna-Walewski. Living members encompass Alexandre and his sons, Raphaël and Fabrice Colonna-Walewski, who lead Touax SCA, a Paris-based firm founded in the Second Empire era. This branch maintains the family's French operations, distinct from an unrelated ancient Polish Walewski line preserved in a at Tubazin. The Colonna-Walewski descendants number in the dozens today, primarily through this industrial path.

Death and Immediate Aftermath

Final Diplomatic Mission

In September 1868, Count Alexandre Colonna-Walewski, then a senator and retired , embarked on a confidential mission to in to address the escalating Prussian influence in German affairs. The objective was to negotiate assurances of neutrality from and potentially in any future conflict with , possibly involving French offers of territorial concessions to incentivize alignment against Prussian expansionism, building on Walewski's earlier concerns following 's 1866 victory at Sadowa. This initiative reflected Napoleon III's strategy to divide southern German states from Prussian dominance amid rising tensions that would culminate in the two years later. Walewski departed his Villa d'Amphion on with his wife, Laura Curtis, and eldest daughter, Élise, intending to proceed to afterward to brief Emperor on the mission's outcomes. En route from , he stopped in on 27 September 1868, arriving at the Hôtel de la Ville de around 5:15 p.m. local time. Despite appearing in robust health earlier—though he had experienced recent weight gain and minor nosebleeds—Walewski suffered a sudden brain hemorrhage shortly after reviewing diplomatic dispatches in his hotel room, succumbing at approximately 5:30 p.m. at age 58. No immediate successor pursued the mission's goals, and contemporary press accounts noted the absence of follow-up efforts to secure Bavarian neutrality, leaving a strategic void in French toward . Walewski's abrupt death thus marked the truncation of what may have been a pivotal late-career endeavor to avert broader conflict, though its potential success remains speculative given Prussia's consolidating power under .

Circumstances and Autopsy Findings

Colonna-Walewski died suddenly on 27 September 1868 in , , at the age of 58, while en route from a diplomatic engagement. He collapsed without prior evident illness, with contemporary reports noting the abrupt nature of the event during his travel or stay in the city. An , conducted by Dr. Stahl, pharmacist Mr. Baer, and physicians from the civil hospital, determined the cause as a cerebral haemorrhage, confirming instantaneous without preceding symptoms. The examination ruled out external factors or prolonged deterioration, aligning with accounts of a vascular rupture in the . Some secondary descriptions have variably attributed it to a , potentially encompassing the haemorrhagic event, though primary medical findings emphasize the cerebral origin over cardiac involvement.

Honours and Intellectual Contributions

Awards and Titles Received

Walewski participated in the Polish November Uprising of 1830–1831 as a young officer and was awarded the Gold Cross of the on 3 March 1831 for his service. In recognition of his diplomatic achievements, particularly as president of the Congress of , Walewski was promoted to of the Légion d'honneur on 3 March 1856, the highest class of France's premier order of merit. This elevation was symbolized by the red he wore in contemporary portraits of the congress. Walewski held the noble title of Count Colonna-Walewski, originally conferred by I in acknowledgment of his paternity. In 1866, granted him the hereditary title of ad personam within the French Empire, a personal elevation without entail to heirs.

Published Works and Writings

Colonna-Walewski produced a limited body of published writings, primarily in the form of political pamphlets during his early adulthood, reflecting his interests in and colonial policy amid his military service in . In 1834, he authored L'Alliance anglaise, a advocating for strengthened Franco-British ties, which demonstrated his leanings at a time of European diplomatic tensions following the July Monarchy's foreign policy shifts. Three years later, in , he released Un mot sur la question d'Afrique, a concise addressing French expansion in , likely informed by his firsthand experience as a officer in and director of Arab affairs there; the work critiqued prevailing approaches to colonial administration and tribal relations under the conquest of . Beyond these, no major books or extended literary works are attributed to him, though his and senatorial speeches occasionally appeared in official gazettes or periodicals; he also contributed to Polish émigré cultural efforts in , co-founding the Historical and Literary Society in 1832, which focused on preserving Polish heritage through publications and advocacy rather than original authorship by Walewski himself.

Historical Assessment

Key Achievements in Diplomacy and Policy

As Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1855 to 1860, Alexandre Colonna-Walewski played a pivotal role in concluding the Crimean War through the Congress of Paris. Appointed to replace Édouard Drouyn de Lhuys in May 1855, he oversaw France's diplomatic strategy amid ongoing hostilities between Russia and the allied powers of France, Britain, the Ottoman Empire, and Sardinia. Walewski's leadership facilitated negotiations that prioritized French interests, including limiting Russian naval power in the Black Sea and enhancing European influence over Ottoman territories. Walewski presided over the Congress of Paris, convened from 25 February to 30 March 1856, where he opened proceedings and guided discussions among plenipotentiaries from major European powers. The resulting Treaty of Paris, signed on 30 March 1856, demilitarized the for for 25 years, affirmed the Ottoman Empire's under European guarantee, and established the for the to ensure free navigation. These provisions weakened Russian expansionism while bolstering France's position as a key arbiter in European affairs, reflecting Walewski's emphasis on mechanisms over unilateral gains. A significant policy innovation under Walewski's tenure was the , proposed by him to the on 8 April 1856 and formally adopted on 16 April. This declaration abolished privateering, stipulated that neutral flags protect enemy goods (except ), allowed neutral goods under enemy flags (except ), and required blockades to be effective to be legal. Signed by representatives of Britain, , , , , , and the , it codified modern principles of maritime warfare, reducing the role of non-state actors in naval conflict and promoting predictability in during wartime.

Criticisms, Controversies, and Strategic Shortcomings

Walewski's , particularly regarding , drew criticism for its perceived and alignment with Austrian interests. As Foreign Minister from 1855 to 1860, he favored a federal reorganization of Italian states over outright unification under Piedmont-Sardinia, a stance that clashed with III's secret commitments to Camillo Cavour at Plombières in 1858, which Napoleon deliberately withheld from him. This pro-Austrian orientation, evident in his diplomatic maneuvers to avoid escalation before the 1859 war, positioned him as an obstacle to France's aggressive support for , culminating in his replacement by Édouard Thouvenel in January 1860 to facilitate post-Villafranca adjustments. The Orsini affair in January 1858 highlighted diplomatic tensions under Walewski's leadership. Following Felice Orsini's bomb attempt on Napoleon III, Walewski issued strongly worded despatches to Britain, demanding curbs on political refugees hosting conspirators, which British observers deemed insolent and overly coercive. This pressure contributed to the UK's Conspiracy to Murder Act of 1858, restricting asylum and sparking domestic backlash for eroding liberal traditions, with critics arguing Walewski's approach prioritized French security over international norms of hospitality. In France, the affair prompted Walewski to endorse stricter press controls, including decrees limiting publications critical of the government, which opponents decried as authoritarian overreach stifling dissent. Strategic shortcomings in Walewski's tenure included inadequate anticipation of shifting European power dynamics. Despite successes like the Congress of Paris (1856), his cautious multilateralism failed to forge lasting alliances countering Prussian ascendancy, as France's Italian gains isolated it without offsetting German unification risks—a lapse later evident in the 1870-71 war. Polish nationalists also faulted him for minimal advocacy on behalf of partitioned Poland, viewing his French loyalty—despite his heritage—as a betrayal, with little diplomatic pressure on Russia during the 1863 uprising. These critiques, often from liberal and nationalist circles, portrayed Walewski as a relic of aristocratic diplomacy, prioritizing stability over bold realism in an era of national awakenings.

References

  1. https://www.napoleon-empire.org/en/personalities/walewski.php
  2. https://www.napoleon.org/en/history-of-the-two-empires/articles/27-september-1868-the-death-of-the-great-diplomat-count-alexandre-walewski-as-reported-by-the-press-of-the-period/
  3. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7863/alexandre-colonna-walewski
  4. https://shannonselin.com/2015/03/napoleons-children-part-2/
  5. https://www.thecollector.com/maria-waleska-woman-who-changed-napoleon/
  6. https://www.napoleon.org/histoire-des-2-empires/biographies/walewski-alexandre-comte-1810-1868/
  7. https://www2.assemblee-nationale.fr/sycomore/fiche/%28num_dept%29/12289
  8. http://www.digi-archives.org/fonds/facw/static/tdm_acwpol.html
  9. https://napoleonbonaparte.wordpress.com/2008/07/10/alexandre-florian-joseph-colonna-walewski-1810-1868-comte-dempire/
  10. https://www.geni.com/people/Alexandre-Colonna-Walewski/6000000002376187259
  11. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexandre-Florian-Joseph-Colonna-Comte-Walewski
  12. https://polishhistory.pl/marie-walewska-napoleons-only-love/
  13. https://www.senat.fr/senateur-2nd-empire/walewski_florian_alexandre_joseph_colonna0081e2.html
  14. https://www.digi-archives.org/fonds/facw/static/tdm_aw2.html
  15. https://www.warhistoryonline.com/history/10-nobleman-fought-french-foreign-legion-m.html
  16. https://www.umdjanus.com/single-post/napol%25C3%25A9on-s-forgotten-sons
  17. http://paulfrecker.com/?page=LibraryDetails&itemid=8024
  18. https://archivesdiplomatiques.diplomatie.gouv.fr/ark:/14366/bfjmk0grc1ws
  19. https://www.napoleon-empire.org/personnages/walewski.php
  20. https://shs.cairn.info/revue-napoleonica-la-revue-2017-3-page-59
  21. https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1852/feb/03/address-in-answer-to-the-speech
  22. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:Dictionary_of_National_Biography._Sup._Vol_III_%281901%29.djvu/445
  23. https://www.revuedesdeuxmondes.fr/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/b5f0e3d077e4be3bb87e821eb4fdd671.pdf
  24. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3020795
  25. https://ctevans.net/Nvcc/HIS241/Documents/Rempelcrimea.pdf
  26. https://warhistory.org/%40msw/article/end-of-the-crimean-war-1855
  27. https://opil.ouplaw.com/display/10.1093/law:epil/9780199231690/law-9780199231690-e731
  28. https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2013/feb/28/crimean-war-paris-congress-1856-archive
  29. https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1856-05-05/debates/7f87c555-21bf-4d29-9447-e7cc689bd184/TheTreatyOfPeace
  30. https://www.napoleon.org/en/young-historians/napodoc/timeline-2nd-french-republique-2nd-empire/
  31. https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/1856-05-22/debates/8715fd87-5342-4cf1-8bdb-3ae8797ff646/InternationalMaritimeLaw%25E2%2580%2594TheTreatyOfParis
  32. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24436410
  33. https://www.amazon.com/French-Manifesto-Outbreak-Italian-1859-ebook/dp/B011SDR08W
  34. https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/felice-orsini-striking-blow-freedom
  35. https://repository.law.umich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=2138&context=articles
  36. https://www.meisterdrucke.uk/fine-art-prints/French-School/443193/The-state-minister-Walewski-laying-the-first-stone-of-the-new-Opera-of-Paris%2C-21st-July-1862.html
  37. https://shs.cairn.info/revue-napoleonica-la-revue-2017-3-page-109?lang=fr
  38. https://ernestreyer.com/personnes/alexandre-florian-joseph-comte-walewski/
  39. https://www.tumblr.com/napoleondidthat/176541583836/napoleons-descendants-walewski-family
  40. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Walewski-1
  41. https://www.napoleon.org/en/history-of-the-two-empires/biographies/marie-walewska/
  42. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/GZ96-N8T/marie-walewska-1786-1817
  43. https://gw.geneanet.org/samlap?lang=en&n=laczynska&p=marie
  44. https://shannonselin.com/2018/04/living-descendants-napoleon-bonapartes/
  45. http://www.walewski.eu/
  46. http://www.walewski.eu/historique_du_groupe_toax_une_societe_nee_au_second_empire.htm
  47. https://one.bid/en/fotografie-colonna-walewski-aleksander-ok-1860/1448636
  48. https://www.vads.ac.uk/digital/collection/NIRP/id/27531/
  49. https://www.napoleon.org/histoire-des-2-empires/articles/27-septembre-1868-la-mort-de-walewski-lhomme-des-plus-hautes-missions-diplomatiques-a-travers-la-presse/
  50. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/29154027.pdf
  51. https://archive.org/stream/declarationofpar00piggiala/declarationofpar00piggiala_djvu.txt
  52. https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/solferino-birth-of-a-nation/
  53. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24441142
  54. https://minorvictorianwriters.org.uk/adams/c_autobiog08.htm
  55. https://www.napoleon.org/en/history-of-the-two-empires/paintings/orsinis-attack-on-napoleon-iii-outside-the-opera-14-january-1858/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
Contribute something
User Avatar
No comments yet.