Letitzia Bonaparte

Queen of Naples
1750-1836

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Known as Madame Mere, Letizia Bonaparte bore 13 children to her husband Carlo, but five died when young children.

After the Bonapartes were expelled from Corsica for their pro-French views, Letizia settled her family near Toulon.

An eminently sensible and practical woman, Letizia regularly counselled her royal children to prepare for a downturn in their fortunes.

When that day arrived after the fall of Napoleon, she retired to Rome.