# Désirée Clary

> Queen of Sweden and Norway as the consort of Charles XIV John

**Wikidata**: [Q211749](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q211749)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Désirée_Clary)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/desiree-clary

## Summary
Désirée Clary was a French-born royal who became Queen of Sweden and Norway as the consort of King Charles XIV John. She is notable for her role as royal consort during the early 19th century and has been honored with multiple designations including an asteroid (344 Desiderata) and a Marseille Métro station named in her honor.

## Biography
- **Born:** Not specified in source material
- **Nationality:** French (by birth), Swedish and Norwegian (by marriage)
- **Education:** Not specified in source material
- **Known for:** Serving as Queen consort of Sweden and Norway; being the spouse of Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte (Charles XIV John)
- **Employer(s):** Swedish monarchy, Norwegian monarchy
- **Field(s):** Royalty / Monarchy

## Contributions
- **Royal Consort Role:** Served as Queen of Sweden and Norway through her marriage to Charles XIV John (Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte), who became Crown Prince of Sweden in 1810 and was elected as heir to the childless King Charles XIII, subsequently becoming king
- **Asteroid 344 Desiderata:** A main-belt asteroid discovered and named in her honor, recognizing her royal status
- **Marseille Métro Station:** The Désirée Clary station in Marseille, France was inaugurated on February 14, 1987, providing a lasting metropolitan tribute to her legacy in her native France
- **Order of Saint Catherine:** Received recognition through the Russian Order of Saint Catherine, an order of knighthood for women established in 1714

## FAQs
**What was Désirée Clary's primary role?**
Désirée Clary served as Queen of Sweden and Norway as the consort of King Charles XIV John, holding this royal position during the early 19th century.

**What countries is Désirée Clary associated with?**
She was born in France and became queen consort of Sweden and Norway through her marriage, giving her connections to three nations.

**What honors or tributes were given to Désirée Clary?**
She received the Order of Saint Catherine from Russia, and multiple tributes bear her name including the asteroid 344 Desiderata and a Marseille Métro station inaugurated in 1987.

**What is the origin of her name variations?**
Désirée Clary is known by multiple aliases including Desideria, Queen Desideria, Desideria of Sweden and Norway, Bernhardine Eugénie Désirée Clary, and Eugenia Bernhardina Desideria.

## Why They Matter
Désirée Clary represents an important link between France and the Scandinavian monarchies during a transformative period in European history. Her marriage to Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, a French marshal under Napoleon who was adopted by the childless King Charles XIII of Sweden, helped establish the current Swedish royal dynasty that continues to rule today. Her legacy persists not only in the historical record but also in astronomical and urban nomenclature, with asteroid 344 Desiderata and the Marseille Métro station keeping her memory alive in contemporary culture. The Order of Saint Catherine recognition from Russia further demonstrates her international stature among European royalty.

## Notable For
- Queen consort of Sweden and Norway (1818-1844)
- First wife of Charles XIV John (Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte)
- Namesake of main-belt asteroid 344 Desiderata
- Namesake of Désirée Clary Marseille Métro station (opened 1987)
- Recipient of the Order of Saint Catherine (Russian imperial honor)
- Known by multiple royal titles including Desideria and Queen Desideria

## Body

### Early Life and Origins
Désirée Clary was born in France and emerged from French society during a period of significant political upheaval. Her exact birth date and place are not specified in the available source material, but she became connected to French political circles through her relationship with Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, a French marshal who would later become King of Sweden.

### Royal Marriage and Ascension
As the spouse of Charles XIV John (born Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte), Désirée Clary became Queen of Sweden and Norway. Bernadotte was elected Crown Prince of Sweden in 1810 after being chosen as heir by the childless King Charles XIII. He ascended to the throne in 1818, and Désirée Clary assumed the title of queen consort, ruling alongside him throughout his reign. She was known by various names in her royal capacity, including Desideria and Queen Desideria, reflecting the Scandinavian adaptation of her French name.

### International Recognition and Honors
Désirée Clary received the Order of Saint Catherine, a prestigious Russian order of knighthood established in 1714 specifically for women. This recognition signified her standing among European royalty and demonstrated the diplomatic connections between the Scandinavian monarchy and the Russian Empire during her era.

### Posthumous Legacy
The legacy of Désirée Clary extends well beyond her lifetime through multiple commemorative designations. The main-belt asteroid 344 Desiderata was named in her honor, recognizing her royal status and contributing to astronomical nomenclature. Perhaps most notably, the Désirée Clary station on the Marseille Métro system was inaugurated on February 14, 1987, providing a permanent urban tribute in her native France. This metro station serves as a daily reminder of her connection to Marseille and her remarkable journey from French citizen to Scandinavian queen.

### Historical Significance
Désirée Clary's marriage represents a significant moment in Swedish history, as it established the Bernadotte dynasty that continues to rule Sweden to this day. Her role as queen consort helped cement the French connection to the Swedish monarchy, and her various aliases (including Bernhardine Eugénie Désirée Clary and Eugenia Bernhardina Desideria) reflect the cultural translation of her identity across different linguistic and national contexts. With a wikidata sitelink count of 48, she remains a documented figure of historical interest, particularly in the study of European royal families and the interconnections between French and Scandinavian nobility during the Napoleonic era and beyond.

## References

1. Desideria. Dictionary of Swedish National Biography
2. LIBRIS. 2015
3. Riddarholmskyrkan - inventories and graves
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. BnF authorities
6. FemBio database
7. The Peerage
8. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
9. GeneaStar
10. Genealogics
11. Find a Grave
12. Norsk biografisk leksikon
13. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
14. Virtual International Authority File
15. Sejm-Wielki.pl