Madame de (Claire Elisabeth Jeanne Gravier de Vergennes) Rémusat

Born in Paris on January 5, 1780, Claire Élisabeth Jeanne Gravier de Vergennes became comtesse de Rémusat through marriage and was attached to Empress Joséphine as a dame du palais in 1802. That position placed her at the heart of the First Empire, where she watched court life at very close range.

She is remembered chiefly as a French woman of letters, memoirist, and letter writer. Her memoirs and correspondence offer a vivid account of Napoleon’s court, blending personal insight with thoughtful social and political observation, which is why they have remained widely read by historians and general readers alike.

Although some sources list her death year differently, reliable library and French reference records identify her as having died in Paris on December 16, 1821. Her reputation today rests on the clarity and intelligence of her writing, which preserves an intimate view of one of Europe’s most dramatic eras.