Albine de Montholon

Who was Albine de Montholon?

Albine de Montholon was a French noblewoman, and the wife of Charles Tristan, marquis de Montholon. She was reputed to be the mistress of Napoleon during his exile on Saint Helena.

Born Albine Hélène de Vassal in Paris, her cousin was Régis de Cambacérès. On February 19, 1797, at age 17, she married Jean-Pierre Bignon; they divorced in 1799. On August 18, 1800, at age 20, she married Daniel Roger. In December 1809, she gave birth to a son, Tristan Charles François Napoléon de Montholon-Sémonville. A second son, Napoléon Charles Tristan de Montholon-Sémonville, was born on October 3, 1810. Both sons being named "Charles", "Tristan", and "de Montholon-Sémonville" suggests they were fathered by Montholon before Albine married him on July 2, 1812, two months after divorcing Roger. She gave birth to her third son, Charles-François-Frédéric, in 1814.

She gave birth to her fourth child, Hélène in 1816 on Saint Helena. As she was involved at the time with both Montholon and Napoleon, it is unknown which man fathered Hélène.

Shortly after Albine died in Montpellier, Montholon married his mistress, Catherine O'Hara, mother of his son, Charles Jean Tristan.