Talk:Eugène de Beauharnais

Son

Their son was a grand duchess? RickK 01:04, 19 Oct 2003 (UTC)

Alleged miracle involving General Eugene de Beauharnais

I came across a story regarding General Eugene de Beauharnais who apparently witnessed an apparition by St. Savva of Storozhev during the French invasion of Russia. As near as I can figure, the incident is best outlined here [1].

I couldn't find much more information about the story (or better sources to use). However, the source seems to include a legitimate painting from a village in Smolensk that (at least at first glance) seems to be not fake. As a result, there should be at least some documentation of this that would be worthy of inclusion (or it's own separate page), but I can't seem to find any. (I can't read/speak Russian). If anyone has thoughts on it's inclusion or can track down better sources on the topic, I think it needs to be discussed. Just10A (talk) 23:50, 22 October 2024 (UTC)

Question: Is there any indication that this legend existed before Eugène's son Maximilian married into the Russian Imperial family? If not (which I assume to be the case, at least I am unaware of any such mention during Eugène's lifetime), the legend imo rather belongs to an article on Maximilian von Leuchtenberg. 217.233.109.208 (talk) 17:45, 29 October 2024 (UTC)

I'll have to check. Like I said, the primary source for this seems to be the painting in the monastery, which doesn't reference to Maximilian von Leuchtenberg to my knowledge. Just10A (talk) 15:43, 31 October 2024 (UTC)

I have checked as well. The day when 4th corps camped at Zvenigorod was 12 October ("Mémoires et correspondance politique et militaire du Prince Eugène" VIII; "Through fire, frost and failure" by Césare Laugier/Jonas de Neef and Labaume, "Relation circonstanciée..."). Labaume confirms that the viceroy did stay the night at the "abbaye". However, not a single one of these sources mentions any nightly apparitions or any saints. To the contrary, Césare Laugier and Labaume both describe the monastery as completely run down and "almost in ruins". According to Labaume, the remaining monks were old and very poor and begged the French/Italians already on arrival, before the viceroy was even there, to keep the abbey safe, which was promised to them. Eugène merely confirmed this and made sure the monastery would be respected by spending the night there with his staff, which was the best protection against plundering. As the protection was already granted when Eugène went to bed, why would Saint Savva even feel the need to ask for it during Eugène's sleep?

The legend linked to above also mentions that Eugène made a note in his diary about the dream he'd had. If so - how do we know? We do not have any diary from Eugène, in particular not from the Russian campaign. We also do not have any letter from Eugène mentioning such an incident. No contemporary document at all, as far as I am aware of. In my opinion, it's a pious local legend, most lately from a much later date. 217.233.109.208 (talk) 14:43, 3 November 2024 (UTC)

I agree. It's odd that there seems to be such confident allusions to contemporary sources while, simultaneously, none can be found. I think the conclusion that it's just a local legend is all we can come to at the moment. Thanks for your good source work. Just10A (talk) 16:36, 4 November 2024 (UTC)