Napoleon marries Marie Louise of Austria by proxy in Vienna

Background. Following the defeat of Austria in the War of the Fifth Coalition, Napoleon sought an heir to secure his empire. After escaping an assassination attempt in Vienna during the Treaty of Schönbrunn negotiations, he decided to marry Marie Louise, the eldest child of Emperor Francis II. Prince Metternich persuaded the Austrian Emperor to suggest this union, though initial official overtures were delayed.

Negotiations. Marie Louise was initially kept uninformed of the marriage developments. Frustrated by Russian delays, Napoleon rescinded his proposal in late January 1810 and began negotiations with the Austrian ambassador, the Prince of Schwarzenberg. Officials in Paris and Austria began to accept the possibility of the union, leading to the proxy ceremony in Vienna.

Ceremony. The proxy marriage was celebrated at the Augustinian Church in Vienna on 11 March 1810. Marie Louise departed Vienna shortly after, passing through transitional rooms to adopt French attire. The in-person wedding occurred in Paris, where the Salon Carré at the Louvre Palace was converted into a chapel for the ceremony.