Joseph was the eldest of Napoleon’s brothers…

… all brothers were born in Corsica around the time it was invaded by France.  The parents swore allegiance to France, and Joseph served in the “Cinq-Cents” and was French Ambassador to Rome.

In 1795, he was on the Council of Ancients which helped his brother Napoleon I to overthrow Le Directoire.

(portrait: left to right: 1815 Napoleon Bonaparte with brothers Joseph, Luciano, and Jerome)