Regula Engel: a woman in Napoleon’s entourage
Portrait of Regula Engel. In 1778 she married Florian Engel from Langwies, who was an officer in French services. Unlike most other wives of mercenary officers, Regula accompanied her husband for over 20 years during his military duties in Europe and Egypt. She was the mother of 21 children, only the youngest of whom she could take with her on her travels.Image: «The Swiss Amazon», 1825. Cantonal library, Graubünden
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Regula Engel in uniform. In her memoirs published in 1825 she describes how she sometimes fought alongside the troops. After Napoleon’s abdication in 1814 she and her husband followed the emperor into exile to Elba. Regula lost her husband and two sons in the battle of Waterloo, and was herself wounded.Image: «The Swiss Amazon», 1825. Raetian Museum
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Regula Engel returned to Switzerland as an elderly, penniless woman. Only five of her children survived. In order to earn her living, she published her memoirs in 1825 (in German).Image: «The Swiss Amazon», 1825. Cantonal library, Graubünden
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Excerpts from Regula Engel’s memoirs «The Swiss Amazon» from 1825 (in German).
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