Reign On Me | A Pop-History Podcast by Jennifer Gulbrandsen

The Season One Finale of Reign On Me is upon us! In this episode, Jennifer reviews the lives of some of the supporting characters of the First Empire of France. We'll cover both of Napoleon's illegitimate sons, Jerome Bonaparte's first wife American Betsy Bonaparte, and the young woman reported to be Napoleon's 'Last Love' during his final exile in St. Helena, Betsy Balcombe.

Reign On Me will return for Season 2 - The Haphazard Hapsburgs in 2023.

Be sure to check out Jennifer's other projects in the meantime!

This week we talk about Napoleon's 100 days after he reaches France after escaping Elba, the battle of Waterloo, and his second exile to St. Helena. We also discuss what happens to the Bourbons after the second restoration of the monarchy.

In this episode, we follow Napoleon's abdication, first exile in Elba, and his return to France during the Vienna Convention and a very unpopular Bourbon Restoration.

The year is 1812, and we are beginning to see the what could be the end of the First Empire and how a young empress chooses to look out for herself rather than protect her adopted country.

This week we meet France's second Empress of the First Empire, Austrian Archduchess Marie Louise. At only 18 years old, she marries her father's enemy, the now 40 year old Napoleon Bonaparte, in hopes of securing an heir to his throne and legitimizing himself as a monarch of Europe. While things start out well for the new couple, an old problem reemerges changing everything.

In this bonus episode, Jennifer reviews the recent decisions of the United States Supreme Court, and how history has showed us how religion and oppression protects a failing and afraid ruling class.

In this episode, Jennifer takes a a quick detour to talk about the lives of Napoleon's stepchildren, Eugene & Hortense Beauharnais, and what life was like for them after the Emperor divorced their mother, Josephine, in 1809.

This episode centers around the events that culminated in the dissolution of Napoleon and Josephine's marriage in 1809.

There's a huge turning point for Napoleon, Josephine, and the First Empire with the birth of his first illegitimate son in 1806, and then his second illegitimate son in 1810.

This episode covers the drama and intrigue of the coronation of both Napoleon and Josephine.

An assassination attempt on Christmas Eve 1800 has First Consul Napoleon concerned about an heir more than ever, which causes Josephine to make her biggest gamble yet.

This episode examines the events preceding the events of the Coup of the 18 Brumaire that establishes Napoleon as the ruler of France and Josephine as his first lady. We also see how messy things get with the Bonapartes, while Josephine's initial gambles pay off.

This episode takes us on the ride that is the early days of Napoleon and Josephine's marriage and the power struggle that would ensue between them throughout their tumultuous time together.

Now that Rose is married to Alexandre de Beauharnais, drama ensues as his behavior forces Rose to make some serious decisions for herself. Soon both find themselves in the middle of the French Revolution which will change both of them forever.

Our story begins on the island of Martinique with a wealthy plantation owner, Joseph Tascher de la Pagerie, his sister Desiree, and the Governor turned Marquis de Beauharnais. Find out how the middle daughter Rose had fortune and fate change her life as she is sent to France for an advantageous marriage. Everyone thinks the Creoles are the messy ones, until this fated marriage happens.

In season one of 'Reign On Me' we delve into the three Royal houses of Beauharnais, Bernadotte, and Bonaparte. On this podcast, host Jennifer Gulbrandsen takes a look at how these families changed royal history and politics forever.