Pauline Foures

An intelligent woman with a keen eye for the main chance, Pauline Foures accompanied her husband to Egypt where she divorced him after beginning an affair with Napoleon Bonaparte.

Slim, blonde and very attractive, Foures became known by the French troops as Cleopatra and for two years she was Bonaparte's mistress.

Officers' journals from the time reveal that all believed the pair were very much in love, however, when Bonaparte decided to return to France he also decided she would be a political liability. Needless to say Foures was very surprised to be left behind.

Trying to follow him on an American ship she was turned back by the Royal Navy and on her return to Egypt began a short affair with General Kleber, finally getting home in 1800.

Foures divorced her second husband in 1816 and began a wood-exporting business in Brazil.

She returned to Paris in 1837.