[사색-9] He was the greatest sailor ever. They defended the seas of their homeland against Napoleon, Europe’s greatest villain. A shell hit him and he lost an eye, and even though his arm was cut off, he did not leave the deck. After being shot, he exclaims: “God, I have done my duty.” Even to the moment of his death, he was a patriot and a seaman. Admiral Yi Sun-sin is as respected in England as Korea. Horatio Nelson‘s story.
There’s another man here. He too was a soldier. I visited the boss’s house, saw his wife and fell in love at first sight. The spirit of a soldier who “does not give up” shines (?). He fell into an affair and commits an atrocity to even have a baby. The act of love took place even in the house where the boss openly opened his eyes. The name of the person who committed this legendary (?) act Horatio Nelson. An English hero, and the adulterous protagonist of the centuryno see.
Horatio Nelson and Emma’s Fateful Meeting
Let’s go to the starting point of the adultery of the century. September 12, 1793 Naples, Italy is in the background. Admiral Horatio Nelson sets foot on this land. He was there to ask for reinforcements to join the Royal Navy. It was a time when the security of the Mediterranean was threatened by the French Revolutionary Wars. Britain desperately needed reinforcements to avoid losing the Mediterranean to the French Revolutionary Army.
British Ambassador to Naples and former sergeant William Hamilton was Nelson’s assistant. It explains the necessity of supporting England to the royal family of Naples. Coincidentally, Ferdinand of Naples and his wife, Maria Carolina, had a clear cause to prevent the French Revolution. This is because Marie Antoinette, wife of King Louis XVI and beheaded by the guillotine in the Revolution, was the youngest sister of Queen Maria Carolina.
Nelson and Emma Hamilton have a fateful meeting. Emma was already a ‘star’ of the upper class, including the royal family of Naples, with her outstanding beauty and artistic talent. Is she a star, how to recognize her star? I felt a deep affinity for Nelson, who distinguished himself by participating in the American Revolutionary War. However, each of these two people had a barrier called a spouse. Nelson’s short stay of five days was too short a time to kindle the flame of love.
Nelson obtains 2000 reinforcements and several ships from the Neapolitan Crown. Five days later, he goes to the battlefield and delivers the news of victory at the naval battle of Cape St. Vincent (1797), the strike of Cadiz, and the naval battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Naples in particular rejoiced at the news that Nelson had defeated the French at the Nile in Egypt. Rumors spread that the French would soon invade Naples. The British naval victory was no different from that of Naples. It was news that would make William Hamilton and Emma very happy. The thrilled Emma’s letter to Nelson is still passed down 200 years later.
In a letter from Emma to Nelson
Return of the hero… But the look was miserable.
It was in 1798 that Nelson returned to Naples. Having won successive naval battles, he became a hero throughout Europe. However, his face was miserable. He lost his right eye in 1794 in a battle on the island of Corsica, and three years later, in 1797, he lost one of his arms while fighting in Tenerife, Spain.
Despite his sloppy body, Naples treated him as a hero. Ferdinand IV personally courted him at the port, and Sir William Hamilton made him stay at home. Emma also helped to take great care of him. It must have thrilled Emma to see the hero she admired right in front of her eyes.
A blatant affair that began under the husband’s connivance
“I don’t care if you date my wife.”
Unconventional behavior begins to develop from this point on. Emma falls in love with Nelson, and her husband, William Hamilton, tolerates it. Even though he might vomit the lion’s roar of passion, “You dare to take my wife,” William Hamilton did not let go of his respect and affection for Nelson.
The three of them even went for walks and went on dates. The three of them called themselves “Tria jucto in uno” in Latin. It means ‘three united as one’ in Korean. And less than two years later, in January 1801. Emma gives birth to her daughter. Her name is ‘Ho Ray Shah’. You guessed whose daughter she is. Perhaps because she wanted to emphasize that she was the son of Horatio Nelson, even though it was a name rarely used for women. William Hamilton, of course, blessed it. (Is there such a thing in the world?)
Their love triangle has garnered media attention. For us, it was a rare scandal in which the wife of a high-ranking diplomatic ambassador gave birth to a child of a dispatched army officer. It was only natural that ridiculed reports would come out.
A man called Hogu…Why did William Hamilton tolerate adultery?
Let’s take a moment to analyze the mental structure of William Hamilton. Why did he tolerate Nelson and Emma’s affair? Because William Hamilton and Emma’s marriage itself did not begin normally.
Hints can also be found in Emma’s life. She was the daughter of a poor blacksmith. She grew up without her father in Neston, Cheshire, England. She moved to London alone and worked as a maid, actress, nude dancer and even prostitution. Combining her natural good looks with artistic talent made him stand out among the upper classes. She became the mistress of many celebrities. One of them was Charles Francis Greville.
Greville fell in love with Emma’s looks, but did not consider her a serious romantic interest. I couldn’t take a woman who was of low status and didn’t have much money as my wife. The problem was that her Emma thought differently. He regarded Greville as a rather serious lover. The temperature difference of love always gives birth to tragedy. When Greville decides to marry a woman from a wealthy family, she devises her own plan to dispose of Emma.
Kicked this way, kicked that way, Emma Hamilton’s empty fate
“Emma, would you like to get some fresh air in Naples?”
Greville decides to turn Emma over to his maternal uncle, a wealthy aristocrat. His name is William Hamilton, British Ambassador to Naples. It was a tempting proposal for him, who had just passed away from his wife and was living a secluded life in Naples. At first, Emma thought it was just a short breezy trip. Six months later, he realizes. That Greville had betrayed himself to her maternal uncle.
Christmas 1786. Emma decides to become William Hamilton’s mistress. At that time she was Emma’s age 21 years old. She was William Hamilton’s 56 year old. After five years of living together, William Hamilton decided to officially marry Emma. Life in Naples was satisfying, and Hamilton was “his best husband and friend.” Emma is now officially called ‘Lady Hamilton’.
Again, back to Emma and Nelson’s romance. William Hamilton is said to have shown no signs of discomfort with Emma making her love affair with Nelson. When her royal heir, the Prince of Wales (later King George IV) set his sights on Emma, Lord Hamilton sent a letter to Nelson (who was also having an affair?) who was overcome with anger and jealousy. “Emma has a good sense of integrity to you, Nelson.”
It’s almost as if the father-in-law is comforting his son-in-law. Is it because he felt Emma like a daughter due to the age difference of 35 years old, or was it because of his sexually tolerant attitude? This attitude of marrying a nephew’s lover, condoning his wife’s affair, and appeasing the cheating man. Shall we say that it is the origin of Hollywood love law?
Even the moment he died, the hero took care of the cheating woman
“Even if I die, please take care of Emma and Horatio.”
The rare love triangle has come to an end. It was 1803, while the three were living together in London. Her husband, William Hamilton, passed away in April of that year. With the outbreak of the Napoleonic Wars, it was a time when the clouds of war hung over Europe again. Nelson was also forced to go out to sea.
As history records, two years later, in 1805, at the Battle of Trafalgar, He meets a tragic end. The defeat in this battle forced Napoleon to turn to Russia. History says, “Thank you, God. I have done my duty”, but Nelson continued until his death. “Give the estate to Emma, and allow Horeisha to use the surname Nelson.”I left a request called.
The will was not followed properly. Thousands of Londoners gather at Nelson’s funeral. Emma was not invited to the occasion. She even received very little money as an inheritance. She was too small to maintain the Merton estate where Emma and Nelson lived.
Inheritance from her husband, the Hamilton family, was also far away. After William Hamilton’s death, a trustee of the estate was appointed, for that man was Greville. He was Emma’s ex-lover and Hamilton’s nephew. He did not help her Emma properly inherit her legacy.
The glamorous life of Emma… the end was nothing but futility
With the spiritual ‘pillar’ gone, Emma led a dissolute life. She became the mistress of many men and never missed a party. Spending to maintain appearance only increased. In the end, he is unable to pay his debt and is sentenced to prison. It leads to the auction of Nelson’s artifacts. After his release, he had to flee to Calais, France, to escape his creditors. The place he was with Nelson he could never go again.
and in January 1815. He goes to Nelson and Hamilton’s side. he was 49 years old. Nelson’s name is always followed by the story of Emma. They were together, both in life and in death. Behind Nelson’s heroic story, this is the background with the provocative title of Adultery of the Century.
It is an abnormal love even in the eyes of modern people, but it feels paradoxical that it has inspired all the storytellers in the world thanks to that love. And contemplate once again. Even heroes and saints have sloppy dirt. (Admiral Yi Sun-sin is an exception.)
<네줄 요약>
ㅇ Horatio Nelson of England is a national hero who stopped Napoleon’s ambition. He is the British version of Yi Sun-sin.
ㅇHe was famous for his affair with Emma, wife of William Hamilton, who was his superior in naval battles.
ㅇWilliam Hamilton was a supporter who tolerated and supported Emma even though she had Nelson’s child.
ㅇEvery hero has flaws. The only exception is Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
<참고 문헌>
ㅇPark Ji-hyang, Classic British History, Kim Yeong-sa, 2012
ㅇAndrew Lambert, Nelson – The Sea God Who Saved the British Empire, Tree of Thought, 2005
ㅇKate Williams, England’s Mistress: The Infamous Life of Emma Hamilton, Ballantine Books, 2009
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