So from her standpoint, Napoléon was her father's first cousin's widow's second cousin -- four degrees of separation -- and hence, no real relation to her. For if it came to that, neither was the empress, since Joséphine was not even an aunt by marriage -- only a cousin (a convenient umbrella term) by marriage. Stéphanie, after all, was Alexandre's first cousin, once removed.
Yet, she evidently called the empress "aunt" and the emperor "uncle." What was the exact legal status of Stéphanie, with respect to the imperial couple?
986
Message Thread
« Back to index