It is said that beauty is a natural passport. Have you heard of a lady of Nordic beauty born at Tranquebar and who later became the wife of the most brilliant diplomat of the era, Talleyrand (1754 1838) the minister of foreign affairs of Napoleon Bonaparte? Do you know that the portrait of this lady who was one of the rarest beauties of Europe had been painted by world famous French artists' like Elisabeth Louise Vegee Le Brun (1755 - 1842) and Baron Francois Pascal Simon Gerard (1770 - 1837) and the paintings are preserved today at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, after changing hands in International art auctions? Let us turn the pages of history to know about the life of this lady of bewithching beauty who was compared to the Greek Goddess Venus. By the end of 1760 due to the Anglo - French war after 40 days of siege Pondicherry was captured by the British troops and Karaikal too I fell to the enemy. Ramparts, Fort, houses and Churches were razed. The inhabitants were given three months to evacuate the town. Some of the residents teak refuge with the Arcot Nawab.

But the majority of the French officers and merchants teak the read towards Tranquebar, a small Danish town which was neutral. There was incessant arrival of refugees to Tranquebar for days together in beats, heavy vehicles, horses, palanquins carried by slaves. Tranquebar had never seen such a thing since the beginning of its history. One among the families that came to Tranquebar under these tragic circumstance was that of Jean Pierre Verlee, a lieutenant in the port of Pondicherry with his wife. Lauvence Alleigne and a one year old girl baby. Life was difficult and trying for the erstwhile rich merchants and influential officers. Under these circumstances on 21 November 1761, our heroine Catherine Noele Verlee (Worlee) was born at Tranquebar as the second daughter of Jean Verlee and Alleigne. She was angel like with rosy cheeks, golden hair and pink lips and as a child used to play on the beach of Tranquebar with her alder sister:

After a few years the refugees at Tranquebar heard about the treaty of Paris and wanted to go back to Pondicherry and settle there again. But the family of Verlee disliked the idea of going to Pondicherry instead went to Chandernagore (Bengal), another French Port and Jean Verlee was appointed the captain of the port. The family very often used to go to Calcutta to meet their friends. In the process love developed between 15 year old Captivating Catherine Noele Verlee and an Englishman of French origin by name George Francis Grand, a burly functionary of the British civil service who was later promoted as first lieutenant. The love culminated in marriage. The 16 year old Catherine being a catholic and Grand being a protestant, the marriage was blessed in the church at Chandernagore and the same day at St. John's church, Calcutta. The young couple settled in Calcutta.

In more days Calcutta was notorious for its immorality. It was unfortunate that early in her married life the innocent wife of Mr. Grand was involved in a love affair with Sir. Philip Francis, a handsome rich English officer. Mr. Grand sent his wife back to Chanderagore to live with her parents. Both were separated. But several months later Sir. Philip Francis, her paramour put her on board a ship bound for England. After many amorous adventures in England she came to Paris just before the French revolution. When the revolution broke out she narrowly escaped massacre in the streets of Paris and fled to England and after sometime she returned to France. Later she was imprisoned on charges of espionage. She sought the intervention and help of the foreign affairs minister, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand. The beauty and grace of the young woman had an effect on the minister. He came to her rescue. Thereafter Madame Grand became the mistress of Talleyrand.

Napoleon Bonaparte did not cherish the idea of his minister for foreign affairs moving with his mistress in the international arena since it would lower the image and prestige of France. Hence Napolean Bonaparte ordered Talleyrand either to marry her or give her up. A divorce had to be obtained from Mr. George Francis Grand. Talleyrand being a catholic and ex-Bishop and Madame Grand now being a divorcee with great difficulty Talleyrand gat the permission of the Pope for marrying Mrs. Grand. On September 9, 1802 the marriage was blessed by the priest of Epinay in the presence of Napoleon Bonaparte and Madame Bonaparte. In 1806 Talleyrand was made prince of Benevent. Thus Mrs. Talleyrand became the Princess de Talleyrand.

Cracks slowly began to develop in their married life as' Talleyrand's passion had cooled down considerably. Frustrated Mrs. Talleyrand went to live in London. The ambassador of London mediated between them and Mrs. Talleyrand came back to Paris. Mr. Talleyrand prescribed a code of conduct for Mrs. Talleyrand and imposed certain conditions and restrictions on her. Vexed over these control and curtailment of freedom Mrs. Talleyrand became a free bird in 1817 and rented a hotel on the Rue de Lille and spent her last 18 years.

With the .passage of time she became devoutly religious. This lady who had received so much attention and admiration did not have any body near her when she was in the death bed. She died on 10th Dec.1835. The Archbishop of Paris administered the last rites.

Thus the glittering life of the princess de Talleyrand came to a pathetic end. The princess de Talleyrand who started her life as a refugee in Tranquebar and by the twist of fate rose like a meteor in the diplomatic circle in the French Empire died like an orphan in a hotel on the Rue de Lille uncared for and unmourned. May her soul rest in peace.

SOURCES :

1. "Des Plages du coromandel aux salens du Consulat et de L' Empire" by YVONNE Robert GAEBELE
2. www.batguano.com/Vigeeart6.html
3. www.batguano.com/catno12.html  
4. Catholic Encyclopedia :- Charles Maurice de Talleyrand Perigord. 
5. www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/god/  

Webmaster: 
(See the original picture of Catherine Noelle Worlee at www.batguano.com/catno12.html)
(www.metmuseum.org/toah/ is an interesting site)