She was a merchant's daughter who nearly married one of the most famous men in history but who ended up as the wife of a civil servant's son who became a king. Subject of a popular 1950's novel and of a film based on it, she was the direct ancestress of a man who today occupies the throne that her husband unexpectedly assumed. Who was she, who played her in the film, and who is her royal descendant? Oh, and who was her first "intended"?

JaneofGaunt

She was Desiree Clary, daughter of a silk merchant in Marseilles. Engaged briefly to Napoleon Bonaparte before he became 'famous' then married Marshal Bernadotte, one of Napoleon's highest ranked soldiers, who just happened to get elected as King of Sweden, thus Desiree became Queen of Sweden. Jean Simmons played her in the film, and the present King of Sweden is her direct descendant. http://www.histofig.com/history/empire/personnes/france_clary_en.html May 26 06, 7:01 PM

lanfranco

A full yay to you, Jane! The Marseilles silk merchant's daughter is, indeed, the subject of the question. I happened to pick up a first edition of Annemarie Selinko's bestselling (German-language) novel, "Desiree," recently, and I looked up the film. Marlon Brando played Napoleon, Merle Oberon Josephine, and Michael Rennie Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, the future King of Sweden. Crown Princess Victoria, the daughter and heir of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, carries "Desiree" as one of her middle names: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria,_Crown_Princess_of_Sweden May 26 06, 7:23 PM

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In the film version she played the part of Louisa von Trapp. Who was her real-life husband? This woman went blind due to an illness in her infancy. She married a fellow blind teacher, but kept her maiden name. She began her best known career in 1863, and became one of the best known in her field, even today, often using pseudonyms to get most of her work published. Who was she? This Tony and Oscar-award winning American actress has had a great career, marked by several personal tragedies. Her son was once hit by a cab in his baby carriage, and her daughter died at the age of seven. She herself suffered a series of strokes when she was pregnant with another daughter, who was born healthy. She credits her famous author husband and her own innate stubbornness with her recovery, after which she went back to acting in numerous films and guest-starring in several television series. Who is she? A famous actress was married on 5 July. She was buried 30 years later on 5July.Ten years later her husband died on 5 July.Who were they?

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