If one traced the lineage of Mary Rose Josephine of the Tascher de la Pagerie Family, her family came from one of the oldest knightly nobilities of the Middle Ages, dating back to the Crusades, with a history of at least eight hundred years.
The only family that could rival it was perhaps one as ancient as the Rohan family; even the princely House of Arenberg was not so old. To old nobles who would scarcely acknowledge anyone unable to produce a genealogy spanning more than four generations, Josephine was acceptable. Whenever elderly ladies begged her to find work for their grandsons, she would always soften and agree. This was known far and wide.
It was simply that the old Duchess of Arenberg had not expected Bonaparte's companion on this trip to be Georgiana rather than Josephine—a "wild girl" from God knew where.
The old duchess had no wish to associate with Georgiana. She felt that Napoleon was Josephine's husband, and since Josephine was so "kind," Napoleon must also be merciful and just. Napoleon had swiftly recognized the legitimacy of the seventh Duke of Arenberg's title, even while the sixth duke was still living in Vienna.
Josephine did not always accept bribes and gifts before pleading someone's case. She truly enjoyed a luxurious life, but she also delighted in handing out presents. Many people in the palace had been "bought over" by her.
Her thoughtless attitude toward spending needed to be curbed, and Bonaparte often quarreled with her over money. Yet her generosity with official posts posed a greater threat than her extravagant shopping, while her attempts to make money were even more destructive. She was always involved with corrupt contractors and even speculated in foreign currency before the Treaty of Amiens was signed, ultimately ruining the man who acted