Auguste-Charles-Joseph de Flahaut de La Billarderie, comte de Flahaut was a French general and statesman.
Background
son of Alexandre Sebastien de Flahaut de la Billarderie, comte de Flahaut, beheaded at Arras in February 1793, and his wife Adelaide Filleul, afterwards Mme de Souza (q. v. ), was born in Paris on the 21st of April 1785. Charles de Flahaut was generally recognized to be the offspring of his mother's liaison with Talleyrand, with whom he was closely connected throughout his life. His mother took him with her into exile in 1792, and they remained abroad until 1798.
Career
At the age of 15, he joined the volunteer battalion that accompanied Napoleon in the Italian campaign of 1800. Since 1801 he was adjutant of Louis Bonaparte, then since 1803 - Murat, and since 1808 - Berthier. He fought in Portugal, Germany, Spain and Russia. In 1813, Flahaut received the rank of brigadier general, in the same year he became adjutant of Napoleon. February 22, 1814 Flahaut met with plenipotentiaries of Russia, Austria and Prussia to resolve the issue of armistice, but his proposals were rejected. After the first abdication of Napoleon, during the Restoration of the Bourbons, he moved to their side. During the "hundred days" he again joined the emperor. In 1815, after the second abdication of the emperor, had the intention to accompany Napoleon to St. Helena, but, under the influence of his mother, refused it. Later, he unsuccessfully tried to pass the throne to the son of Napoleon. The intercession of Talleyrand saved Flahaut from prison, but he left France. In France, Flahaut returned in 1827. During the July monarchy he began a diplomatic career. In 1830, Flahau became Lieutenant-General and Peer of France. He was French ambassador in Berlin and in Vienna. He retired in September 1848, after the fall of the July monarchy, and left for England. After the coup d'etat of 1851 he was again actively employed, and from 1860 to 1862 was ambassador at the court of St James's. He died on the 16t of September 1870.
Achievements
Politics
He was intimately associated with Talleyrand's policy, and was, for a short. time in 1831, ambassador at Berlin.
Personality
He was described as a tall blond with blue eyes. According to Hortensia Bogarne, he sang well. The comte de Flahaut is perhaps better remembered for his exploits in gallantry, and the elegant manners in which he had been carefully trained by his mother.
Quotes from others about the person
Napoleon, at first coolly treating Floy, believing that he has no merit, except appearance, later changed his mind, calling him "capable of anything".
Connections
Flahaut has the reputation of "one of the greatest seducers in the French army". At Warsaw he met Anne Ponia- towski, Countess Potocka, with whom he rapidly became intimate. When his beloved the Countess Potocka had established herself in Paris, Charles de Flahaut had by this time entered on his liaison with Hortense de Beauharnais, queen of Holland. The birth of their son was registered in Paris on the 21 st of October 1811 as Charles Auguste Louis Joseph Demorny, known later as the due de Morny. Then he married Margaret, daughter of Admiral George Keith Elphinstone, Lord Keith. The couple had five daughters.
Father:
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord
Mother:
Adelaide Filleul, Marquise de Souza-Botelho
Wife:
Hortense de Beauharnais, Duchesse de Saint-Leu, Reine de Hollande
Wife:
Margaret, Baroness Keith and Nairne, Comtesse Consort de Flahaut