I am me and I'm proud I do not want anything from the others and for others. I am worth a lot more of them. I recognize that I can not look good given my fiery character, frank and free, which makes me hard and sometimes cruel. So someone hates me, but what I do not care. I do not care to please everyone.
I must confess that, until recently, almost completely ignored the existence of this fascinating and controversial historical figure. But visiting the exhibition in Turin to Vittorio Emanuele II, set up to celebrate the sesquicentennial anniversary of the unification of Italy ( Vittorio Emanuele II. King gentleman) I came across her, or rather, in his fascinating portrait , which looks slyly visitors. At his side, an elegant black velvet dress appartenutole and a marble reproduction of one of his small and slender hands, because it seems that the countess had hands and feet so beautiful that many artists portrayed them separately from the body.
Oldoini But Virginia, in his time, distinguished not only for its unparalleled beauty. It was a woman of incredible intelligence, intelligent, shrewd and unscrupulous, skilled in diplomacy and business, to the point of being 'recruited' by Cavour in the secret diplomacy of the Kingdom of Sardinia, relying on her undeniable charm to influence the politics of the time.
Virginia, called the Grotto, nickname riservatole first by Massimo d'Azeglio, was born in Florence on March 23, 1837, where the traditional seven names were imposed, as was the custom in the aristocracy: Virginia, Elizabeth, Louise, Charles, Antoinette, Teresa, Mary. His parents, first cousins, had established their home in La Spezia, and it is here that Virginia grew up in a beautiful building near the seashore, developing a strong attachment to this place, which would be transformed into a feeling of yearning for what he always considered his native village.
beautiful and intelligent as a child in the house was flattered and spoiled by parents that fulfillment in all his whims, an attitude that led her to develop from childhood that lofty view of itself that will enable it to cope without timidity and shame even the most embarrassing.
Virginia, now a young girl, had enlarged the circle of his famous friends, and building Oldoini began to be besieged by young officers attracted by the beautiful and seductive ladyship.
Only seventeen, May 7, 1853, he lost his virginity to the break Ambrogio Doria, accident, considered the morality of the time, his parents forced him to run for cover as soon as possible giving her in marriage to the Earl of Verasis Francesco Castiglione, Following the courtier of Queen Maria Adelaide, fascinated by the incredible charm from the first moment of niches.
They, however, turned out to be just an unsatisfactory marriage and problematic, especially because of the strong rebellious character and personality of the young Virginia: selfish, moody, arrogant, impulsive and stubborn. But also lively, proud and ambitious, could not agree to Niche 'waste' his life in the gray and sad Turin in mid-nineteenth century was the European capital where they were more religiously observed the rules of etiquette, rigid and austere.
1855 was the year for determining the fate of the Countess. Became the mother, but this too did not prevent her maternal desire to make his entry into history.
That was, in fact, a period of great events, the small but ambitious Piedmont, under the careful guidance of Cavour, followed very closely, looking for the opportunity to enter the game of the great powers to achieve his single project. Italy was in fact at that time, a patchwork of small states with limited sovereignty under the auspices of Austria, and Piedmont aspired to lead to confusion of the independence movement that had spread throughout the peninsula.
Cavour was convinced that he could achieve his ambitions only by a powerful ally, and the only country which, at that particular moment in history, could come to the aid of the Piedmont was the France of Napoleon III.
Ensure the protection of the Emperor was therefore the primary objective of the great Piedmontese, and here comes in the Countess of Castiglione.
Cavour's strategy was simple (albeit low-level): to find a lady, beautiful, seductive and uninhibited, but most intelligent, able to seduce the emperor and political maneuvering to plead the Franco-Piedmontese alliance.
Grotto, his second cousin, was recruited as secret diplomacy in the Piedmont.
'Try to succeed, my dear cousin, with the means that will seem more appropriate, but failed' , were the words with which he dismissed the Cavour, before entrusting the protection of Costantino Nigra, Ambassador Italian in France.
Arriving in Paris with her husband and son, Virginia immediately gave way to talk about himself for the incredible beauty and charm, and the ruthlessness of his set, considered fashion.
meeting with Napoleon III took place January 10, 1856, at a party hosted by Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, niche and not had to struggle much to get into the good graces of the emperor, as only a week later writes in his diary: 'Round at the Tuileries. The Lord Chamberlain has been commissioned by the emperor to put my name on the list of invitations normal and that the invitations reserved. '
From this time the climb Niche at the heart of Napoleon III is unstoppable. The only one to suffer the consequences is the husband Francis, defined by the same Virginia 'poor mouth'.
After two months of life in Paris the Count of Castiglione could not help but notice how his wife escaped. He bled to pay the bills, pandering to his whims expensive, and trying to soothe her by reminding the presence of his son George, but it was useless. Niche continued his reckless life, with or without her consent, to the point that, after several threats of divorce, the count returned to Italy bringing with them the little George, and leaving his wife free field for his operations.
The turning point in the 'patriotic mission' of the countess was a July evening in 1856 in Saint-Cloud, in the summer residence of the emperor.
Virginia, in part because of its disturbing beauty, partly because of the attitude of haughty and aloof, was not at all liking the Empress and the other ladies. So it was that one day, while visiting the Roman ruins of Pierrefond, the Countess of Castiglione slipped from a stone, dislocated wrist, with neither moved a finger to help her.
The incident, however, had the merit of bringing it closer to the emperor, that the evening he went to his room to see her.
'It went to console the sick poor' malicious comments the other ladies.
So, that night was the beginning of their report, which has indisputably proven, although there is no evidence about the political action that would have played Virginia Oldoini attending the alcove of the emperor, as all their correspondence has mysteriously disappeared by intelligence officers who, on the death of the countess, went into action to purge its records of any incriminating documents to the House of Savoy.
However, it is implausible to believe that a woman so smart and intelligent has not caught on the fly, albeit with questionable means, the opportunity that presented itself to influence politically.
That night, to seduce the emperor, the countess wore what became known as 'nightgown Compiègne,' a lightweight garment like a cloud of silk transparent green water.
Virginia he wrote in his will that he wanted 'to be buried with her nightgown of Compiegne,' because he had started with that changed the history of Italy.
Unfortunately for her, her heirs proved reluctant to fulfill his desires, putting all of its assets at auction, including the famous night-gown, which is now Museum of Santena Cavour.
'Every woman has a duty to be beautiful, not for himself but for others. For himself, instead, must be ambitious, smart and tough ' was the motto of Virginia.
And, referring to the nightgown she wore in the first meeting with Napoleon III, he wrote:
'this should be the flag of Italy' .
Just to disprove the theory that to 'make Italy' were only men.
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