After more victories won in the name of the Republic, Napoleon found himself mingling with some of the most influential
people of the new government. He found romance with the Directory’s leader, Barras’ former mistress, Josephine.
She had been married before but was widowed due to the extreme chaos and bloodshed of the Revolution. Although amused by him,
she was 6 years his elder and not sure of his future as an uprising young army official. However, Napoleon was smitten with
Josephine and they were married on March 9, 1796. She was not actually called Josephine until he asked her to change it to
better suit his liking.
Even though she was not the most loyal wife, she seemed to have been born to play her later role of empress, as she influenced
fashion and interior design trends throughout Europe. Her favoring of the Greek and Roman style of dress to better flatter
her figure (seen here) relaxed the overly large and poofy gowns of Marie Antoinette’s time.
Josephine also symbolizes Napoleon’s vulnerability and confirms that he did in fact have weaknesses. He could work
miracles in battle, but clearly not elsewhere J
Very shortly after his wedding, Napoleon left for an invasion of Italy ordered by the Republican government of France to
defeat the First Coalition forces there. Napoleon’s forces successfully pushed Austria out of Lombardy and annexed some
Italian territories. He did not follow the direct orders given to him to seize the Pope and refused to march on Rome. While
still in Italy, he gained immense popularity by winning major battles and publishing various newspapers. Some Directory members
back in France began to chastise him for overstepping his boundaries, probably because they feared his growing reputation,
power and charisma .
