When the allies entered Paris, she was treated with the most distinguished consideration. The King of Prussia and the Emperor of Russia visited her at Malmaison, and showed her flattering attentions. On the 19th. of May, the Emperor Alexander and the King of Prussia dined with her. She was extremely indisposed, and, in opposition to her physician's wishes, did the honours to her royal guests. The next day she became much worse; her disease, a species of quinsy, increasing rapidly. On the 29th. of May, 1814, she expired, in the full possession of her faculties. Her children were with her, and, by their affectionate attentions, soothed her last moments. Her body was interred in the church of Ruel, where, seven years after, her children were permitted to erect a monument to her.
JUDITH,
Daughter of Welff, a count, by some writers called the Duke of Bavaria, was selected, for her beauty, to be the second wife of Louis de Debonnaire, son of Charlemagne, Emperor of France. She was well educated, and succeeded in obtaining such control over the king's affections, that she governed not only in the palace, but also exercised the greatest influence in the government. Her eldest son, who afterwards reigned under the name of Charles the Bold, was born in 823; but as the king had already divided his estates between the sons of his former marriage, there was nothing left for him. Judith immediately exerted herself to obtain a kingdom for her child; and having made her god-son, Bernard, Duke of Aquitaine, prime minister, a national assembly was convoked at Worms, and by the consent of Lothaire, the eldest son of Louis, the country between the Jura, Alps, Rhine, and Maine, was given to Charles, who was placed under the care of Bernard.
Pepin, the second son of Louis, having convinced Lothaire of his folly in yielding up his possessions at the request of Judith, induced him to unite with him in a rebellion against Judith and Louis. In 829 they surrounded Aix, took Judith and her husband prisoners, and accusing the former of too great intimacy with Bernard, forced her to take the veil, in the convent of St. Radagonde, at Poitiers. They, however, permitted her to have a private interview with her husband, on condition that she would urge on him the necessity of an immediate abdication. Judith promised to do so; but instead, advised Louis to yield to circumstances, and go to the monastery of St. Médard, at Soissons, but not to abdicate the crown. The king followed her advice; and, in 830, Lothaire, having quarrelled with his brother, restored the crown to Louis, who immediately recalled Judith. The pope released her from her conventual vows, and she cleared herself by an oath from the accusation of adultery that was brought against her. Bernard, who had fled to Aquitaine, also returned, and offered to prove his innocence of the crime by single combat, with any of his accusers. No one accepted the challenge, but the public feeling was so strong against him, that the empress was obliged to send him away.
In 833, the emperor was again betrayed and deposed by his children, although Judith had exerted herself in every way, even by cruelty, to retain for her weak husband the power he could not keep for himself. After a year of confinement, Louis was again placed on the throne; and by the new division of the empire
