Carême ‘Blackmail’: Could a bishop marry in Napoleon-era France?

Whilst I had a vague familiarity over the term ‘Talleyrand’ before Carême, I was not at all familiar with the story of the French nobleman from whom it originated. As such, as I watched this episode the first time, I was like, what on earth is going on? Wasn’t Talleyrand a bishop? How could he marry?

So Talleyrand indeed was a Catholic bishop. Because he was born with a clubfoot, he was unable to inherit his father’s title. His parents chose the Church for him as an alternative career. Talleyrand, however, was never devout, and he resigned his bishopric in 1791. In 1802, Pope Pius VII stripped him of his clerical state. So, on Carême’s timeline, Talleyrand was no longer a bishop, no longer a priest, and could indeed marry.

Another question I had from this episode was – Was there a time in France when priests and nuns were forced to marry, as Talleyrand implied in his confrontation with Fouché? Apparently, yes. This happened during the dechristianisation efforts of The Terror. Huh. You learn something new every day. 

Another surprise for me was – Joséphine Bonaparte had affairs? Again, apparently, yes. Prior to her marriage to Napoleon, she had affairs with several leading political figures, including Paul Barras. After their marriage, she had an affair with an officer in the French army named Hippolyte Charles. Huh. I’m learning more about French history just from doing quick reads of messy love affairs of a few historical figures. 

Fourth question – Why did Talleyrand introduce Catherine Grand as a princess during their engagement party? Was Talleyrand a prince? Well, Talleyrand was not a born prince, but he was made Prince of Benevento by Napoleon in 1806. After Napoleon’s defeat, Talleyrand worked for the restoration of Louis XVIII, the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, and negotiated the terms of the Treaty of Paris. For his work, he was made Duke of Talleyrand and was styled Prince Talleyrand. 

Anyway, I wanted to get those historical notes out of the way first in case you are as unfamiliar as me with these historical figures featured in Carême. Now, we can get on with this episode.

Antonin now worked at Talleyrand’s kitchen, where he was not exactly well liked. Antonin’s focus, however, remained on helping his father. He demanded proof of life from Talleyrand, who claimed that Fouché kept Bailly in solitary confinement. Hmm. I’m not sure I believe this, and Antonin agrees with me. He threatened to find help elsewhere, which Talleyrand interpreted as blackmail. These two do not trust each other. 

Soon enough, Antonin found a weakness in Talleyrand’s armour, a daughter with Catherine that he kept secret. Young Charlotte had bruising on her foot, and Henriette begged Antonin for one of his remedies. These people don’t have access to a doctor? Antonin figured out who the child was, and used another child, Etienne (Jawad Outouia), to put his plan in motion. He wrote a letter about Charlotte and had Etienne deliver it to Fouché. Poor Etienne was not able to get away cleanly, however, and was captured by Fouché’s men. 

Fouché went to see Talleyrand. Outside the palatial Hōtel de Galliffet, these two men who disliked each other did their dance, initially about the bombing, then about Charlotte. Fouché told Talleyrand that Napoleon already knew, and that he wanted him and Catherine to get married.

Talleyrand so very clearly did not wish to marry Catherine, especially not now when the problems in the Bonaparte marriage could lead to the dissolution of divorce. Josephine had not been able to give Napoleon a child. She wanted to hold on to her marriage despite this, which was why she was vehemently anti divorce. 

When Talleyrand told Catherine what happened, Catherine’s solution was simple – they should get married. With Talleyrand still hesitant, Catherine blackmailed him. Catherine had helped Talleyrand with his schemes in the past. An unmarried Catherine could go to Fouché and spill Talleyrand’s secrets. With both desire and survival pushing him, Talleyrand had no choice but to proceed with the marriage. 

Talleyrand of course knew that Antonin was behind his latest problem. He threw what he called his first and last salary at Antonin, and vehemently scolded him. With his secret out, he had lost his credibility to defend divorce, which was a loss to him but also to the whole of France. He also told Antonin not to bother looking for another job because he would not find any. 

Antonin quickly said he had a plan to fix it. He asked Talleyrand to organise a party to announce his engagement. Josephine needed to be there. Napoleon hated his wife’s infidelity, and Josephine had a weakness for Antonin. Talleyrand threatened to put Antonin in prison with his father.

Talleyrand’s response to Antonin’s Fouché play was particularly cruel. He had his manservant Courtiade (Dimitro Doré) bring out Bailly’s invoices so he could copy his handwriting. He dictated the purported letter from Bailly to Antonin. Given how desperate Antonin had been to even receive confirmation that his father was still alive, this was very very cruel indeed. But, Antonin did mess with his life by using his young daughter. He played with the powerful, and the powerful bit back.

Antonin asked Agathe to come work with him at the Hōtel de Galliffet. She initially turned him down, but she later showed up ready to work and with clear demands – that they be paid equally, and that they do not sleep together, which is a rather obvious way of telegraphing that they will absolutely sleep together at some point in this series. Half a mark off the screenplay for this one. Agathe as the sous chef had a better handle of the team, they listened to her and liked her more than Antonin. Her appearance happened just in time for the engagement party, where they aimed to have the guests tipsy before they realised it by cooking everything in alcohol.  

The party was nauseatingly decadent. Bear in mind that this was happening whilst the guillotine was still fresh on the people’s minds. Josephine joined the party though her dislike of Catherine in particular was evident; she called the union a bishop marrying a whore. Napoleon’s step daughter Hortense de Beauharnais was also in attendance, along with his brother and her husband Louis Bonaparte. There was a dude eyeing Hortense but, as of this writing, I don’t have an ID yet. 

Antonin with his team created a large exquisite statue as dessert. Food is an experience, and he gave these very wealthy people quite an evening. This is the second episode with plenty of people having sex so fair warning for those who live with their parents. 

Antonin made the seduction cocktail again, and had his ex lover Henriette take it to his future lover Josephine. Antonin and Josephine met inside the ice room and did it against a huge block of ice, as one does. Henriette also signalled Talleyrand to take Hortense and Louis on a tour down the kitchen. Before they reached the ice room, Talleyrand blindfolded them both, so that neither saw Josephine and Antonin as they entered the room. By this time, Antonin had already told Josephine what she needed to do – save her marriage, save divorce, convince Napoleon to keep divorce in the civil code. Josephine and Antonin left the room before Talleyrand had Hortense and Louis remove their blindfolds. Their surprise was a box of exotic fruits that supposedly enhanced fertility. 

Outside, Antonin told Josephine he had no choice. This boy is making some powerful enemies. Josephine told Talleyrand that Napoleon would never divorce her. Hmm. Though the party and the plot to save divorce was successful, Courtiade approached Talleyrand with concerning news. Someone at the party had passed on some anti-Napoleon pamphlets. Down with the tyrant. Talleyrand suspected it was Germaine.

The guy who was not invited to the party, Fouché, realised that the person who drew a map of Napoleon’s route to the opera was the same person who wrote him the letter informing him about Charlotte. The episode ended with Etienne on interrogation, heavily suggesting that this poor child was about to be tortured. 

Strays

👑There was a head of a pig on the first episode, on this second episode, there was a head of a horse (among the bombing debris). 

👑Fouché interrogated Bailly and crushed his left hand. Fouché alleged that Bailly was overheard mouthing off against Bonaparte in a cafe, which Bailly denied. He was also arrested a mere five days before the bombing. What is Bailly’s connection to Talleyrand? 

👑Liliane (Clotilde Mollet) was an old lady who worked in Talleyrand’s kitchen. When several chefs quit and Antonin asked him if she would stay, she confidently told him that he would leave, not her.  

👑 Talleyrand hosted a lunch where Antonin served vegetables because he did not run his kitchen well and did not know there was no more meat. Catherine, Germaine, and Charles were there, along with Benjamin Constant (Martin Loizillon), a Swiss French writer. They spoke of their concerns about Napoleon limiting freedom of speech and association, and potentially abolishing divorce. At one point, they included Antonin in the conversation, and he was very clearly educated and intelligent. He pointed out that the innocent were still being arrested and executed, and that the new France had much in common with the old one. 

👑 Germaine seemed intrigued by Antonin and asked when she could compliment him. Talleyrand told her he would give him Antonin for one day if she threw a party.

👑 Antonin gave street children some food to talk to Etienne.