Louis Napoleon Bonaparte biography. Napoleon III Bonaparte (Third) - biography. Franco-Prussian War, captivity and deposition

NAPOLEON III (Napoleon Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte) - the first president of the French Republic (1848-1852), im-per-tor of the French call (1852-1870).

Son of Louis Bo-na-par-ta, king of the Dutch Co-ro-lion of 1806-1810, and Hor-tensia Bo-gar-ne, before- Che-ri Jo-ze-fi-ny de Bo-gar-not from the first marriage. The nephew of Na-po-le-o-na I, the cousin of Na-po-le-o-na II. After the second re-creation of Na-po-le-o-na I (1815), he lived with his mother in Switzerland, Germany -ma-nii, then in Italy. He received education at the college of the city of Augsburg and the military school of the city of Thun. After completing his studies, he served in the Swiss army, and in 1834 he received the title of ka-pi-ta-na ar-til-le-rii. I was often in Italy, where I became close to the Car-bo-na-rii, and participated in military training with them in 1831. -ho-de to Rome. After his failure, blah-da-rya, ask-bam ma-te-ri and under the pre-logo of pain (for-getting sick in Italy k-ryu ), received permission to come to Paris (for-us in 1816, 1830 about the members of Bo’s family -na-par-tov na-ho-dit-sya in France). After his death in 1832, Na-po-le-o-na II became the main candidate for the imperial throne from the house of Bo-na-par-tov. The new ban on staying in France forced him to go to Switzerland, where he continued to serve in the army and in - began to write political and military-theoretical works. In October 1836, he attempted to raise a military rebellion in the city of Stras-bourg against the regime of the July Monar -hii, but suffered from bad luck. He was sent to North America, where he learned French, and then returned to Switzerland -ryu, in October 1838, he went to Vel-li-ko-bri-ta-nia. The book “Les idées Napoléoniennes” (“Les idées Napoléoniennes”, 1839) was published here, in which he presented Na-po-le about I in the quality of the defense of the ideals of the French revolution of the 18th century and justified the concept of popular mo- nations with a division of power and all-common bi-rational law. In August 1840, he undertook a new unsuccessful military torture in France, was arrested and imprisoned. day for life-long imprisonment in the fortress of Am. In the years 1840-1846, a number of pub-li-ci-stical pro-iz-ve-de-tions were written, where you-saw with criticism of internal and external lit-ki Louis Fi-lip-pa, as well as ra-bo-tu “Uga-sa-nie pau-pe-riz-ma” (“Extinction du paupé-risme”, 1844). Inspired by the ideas of K.A. de Rouv-roy Saint-Si-mo-na and L. Bla-na, formed in it its own social program for the fight against poverty the opportunity to create large agricultural farms supported by the state. The publication of this book brought him sympathies from socialists, he entered into a correspondence with Bla-n, J. Sand , P.Zh. Pru-do-nom. In 1846, he escaped from prison and settled in Veli-ko-bri-ta-nii. After the Revolution of 1848 in France, he returned to his birth and was elected to the Educational Council. From-me for-co-against the family of Bo-na-par-tov (10/11/1848), he was nominated for the post of pre-zi-den-ta res-pub-li-ki. At the elections in December 1848, he won a convincing victory (he won over 74% of the votes). From December 20, 1848 to December 2, 1852, President of the French Republic. On-ras-ta-nie different-gla-siy with par-la-men-tom and the desire to extend the term of their full-power, og-ra-ni-chen -th 4th year, how will it be carried out by the state transfer. On the night of December 1 to 2, 1851, troops were introduced into Paris, op-zi-tsi-on-nye political and military li-de-ry are-hundred -va-ny, par-la-ment is dis-pu-schen, restored-sta-nov-le-but all-general from-bi-rational law for men, og-ra-ni-chen by law on May 31, 1850. So the re-re-vo-ro-ta would have been approved at the ple-bis-tsi of 12/20/21/1851. In January 1852, the ini-tio-ro-val was introduced into the constitution from the main levers of power in the hands of the pre-zi-den-ta, from the bi-rav-she-go-xia for 10 years, on-the-know-she-mi-ni-st -ditch and members of the State Council. In November 1852, you brought up a question about the restoration of the empire in France at the next public meeting. The proposal was approved by 97% of the bi-ra-te-leys who took part in the vote. On December 2, 1852, he was hailed by the French under the name of Napoleon III. In January 1853, he married the Spanish aristocratic Ev-ge-ni-ey de Mont-ti-ho, Countess Te-ba. The European powers immediately recognized the regime of the Second Empire. Russia followed them as an example with some other op-ed, which explained the non-discretion -the same of Emperor Nicholas I to the restoration of the di-na-stia of Bo-na-par-tov in France.

Until 1860, Napoleon III pursued a very strict internal policy with the aim of achieving op-position. The con-serv-va-tiv-no-kle-ri-kal circles had a great influence on him at this time. Having strengthened his positions, he began a gradual li-be-ra-li-za-tion of the re-zhi-ma of the Second Empire. From the prison there were political prisoners, emig-ri-ro-vav-shim for the pre-deeds of France res. -pub-li-kan-tsam are invited to return to their homeland under the condition that they observe political loyalty . In 1861-1862, the rights of Se-na-ta and Za-ko-no-dative corps were expanded, in 1868, from-me-not-to-pre-variable prices -zu-ra for the press and resolution of political issues. Napoleon III was the first of the European rulers who tried to promote a social policy, considering it important nym us-lo-vi-em of national co-gla-sia and pro-tsve-ta-niya of the state-su-dar-st-va. At his initiative, were measures taken to improve the most deprived layers of the village: for-pre-work activities on weekends and holidays (1851), educational institutions at -peaceful councils for the ure-gu-li-ro-va-niya of labor conflicts (1853), a law was adopted, pre-sta- Our workers' right to za-bas-tov-ku (1864), and the law on the equalization of certificates for workers -that-yes-the-leys and on-the-work-bot-ni-kov (1868). Attempts were made to organize a system of social security and ensure the maximum possible work-ability in the field, in particular in public works, as a medium -st-vo-kra-sche-niya without-work-ti-tsy. During the reign of Napoleon III, wages for workers increased by 45%. The system of measures taken under him ensured France's sustainable economic development, turning it into a future fi-nan-co-industrial country on kon-ti-nen-te. A genuine boom is re-living from such industries as metal-lur-gi-che-che-skaya, tech-stylish-naya and mountain-do- I wish I could. In France, the most modern banking system at that time was created, built on one branch -linen network of railway roads, the total length of which increased from 3.5 thousand km in 1851 to 20 thousand km by 1870 . Paris and other large cities of the country underwent significant reconstruction. Recognition of the economic and scientific-technical assets of France in the years of the Second Empire became all-world you were stationed in Paris in 1855 and 1867.

The main goals of the external policy of Napoleon III were the existence of og-ra-no-things imposed on France by the Peace of Paris in 1815, and the establishment of its position in Europe and beyond its territory la-mi. The Crimean War of 1853-1856, which was devastating for Napoleon III, increased the prestige of France, bringing it closer to Vel-li-ko-bri-ta-ni -ey and the Sardinian-ko-ro-lion-st-vom. Napoleon III supported the general tendencies in Italy, but under the condition that secular power was maintained in Rome dad. In the “Italian po-li-ti-ka” he made a bet on the con-serv-va-to-ditch, in essence the tor-mo-ziv-shih processes of volume -di-non-states of the Apennine Peninsula. Italian revolutionaries believe that Napoleon III is active but prevents the development of their country. us, and or-ga-ni-zo-va-li 3 ku-she-niya for his life (28.4.1855, 8.9.1855, 14.1.1858). Having fought victorious in the Aus-st-ro-Ita-lo-French War of 1859, Napoleon III joined France to Nice and Sa -howl. French support for the Polish uprising of 1863-1864 prevented its separation from the Russian Empire. In the 1850-1860s, Napoleon III conducted an active co-lo-ni-al-nu-ly-ti-ku in China (see Ang-lo-fran-ko-ki -Thai war of 1856-1860), Japan (tor-go-th war of 1868), Southern Viet-na-me (in 1858-1862 under soe-di-nyon to the French co-lo-ni-al-nym vla-de-ni-yam), Kam-bod-zhe (in 1863, us-ta-nov-len French pro-tek-to-rat), Syria ( temporary ok-ku-pa-tion in 1860-1861), Egypt (construction of the Su-ets-ko-go ka-na-la), Ji-bu-ti (in 1862 under -about-re-te-on the Obok region), New Ka-le-do-nii (in 1853, declared the ownership of France), became one of the ini- Cia-to-row of Ang-lo-Fran-co-is-pan-in-ter-ven-tion in Mexico 1861-1867. The he-ge-mo-nist-re-re-re-men-tions of Napoleon III gradually led to the diplomatic isolation of France in the EU -pe.

Mistakenly considering the Austrian Empire, Napoleon III during the Aus-st-ro-Pruss as the main competitor of France in the European continent The war of 1866 allowed Prussia to defeat the Austrians and thereby created a more significant threat for the country -ro-zu. In an effort to prevent the influence of Prussia from growing further, in July 1870, without serious preparation, he began to howl -well, against it (see the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871). The crushing defeat of the French army near Se-da-nom on September 1, 1870, when the emperor himself was captured, became pre-lu -di-ey to the revolution in Paris, overthrew the regime of the Second Empire on September 4, 1870 and pro-voz-gla-siv-shey Tre -tew res-pub-li-ku. After the signing of the 26.2.1871 year of preliminary peace with Germany, the lower-married im- The ra-tor was os-in-bo-z-day from captivity and went to Ve-li-ko-bri-ta-nia, where his se-re-re-brother had previously gone mya. There he spent the last months of his life. He died after 3 unsuccessful kidney operations. Po-ho-ro-nen in the ab-bat-st-ve of St. Mi-hai-la in the city of Farn-bo-ro (Ve-li-ko-bri-ta-nia). IN beginning of XXI century, the question of the transfer of Napoleon III's tanks to France has been discussed.

NAPOLEON III (Louis Napoleon Bonaparte) (1808-73), French emperor 1852-70. Nephew of Napoleon I Bonaparte. Taking advantage of the peasants' dissatisfaction with the regime of the Second Republic, he achieved his election as president (December 1848); With the support of the military, he carried out a coup d'etat on December 2, 1851. 12/2/1852 proclaimed emperor. Adhered to the policy of Bonapartism. Under him, France participated in Crimean War 1853-56, in the war against Austria in 1859, in the interventions in Indochina in 1858-62, in Syria in 1860-61, Mexico in 1862-67. During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, he surrendered in 1870 with an army of 100,000 men near Sedan. Deposed by the September Revolution of 1870.

NAPOLEON III (Napoleon III), Louis Bonaparte, full name Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (April 20, 1808, Paris - January 9, 1873, Chislehurst Castle, near London), French emperor (1852-70).

He was the third son in the family of Napoleon I's younger brother Louis Bonaparte and Napoleon I's stepdaughter Hortense, daughter of Josephine Beauharnais from her first marriage to General A. Beauharnais. After the death of his father in 1846, he headed the house of Bonaparte.

The first years of Louis Napoleon's life were spent in Holland, of which his father was king in 1806-1810. He spent his youth in Switzerland (Arenenberg Castle), where he lived with his mother after the collapse of the empire of Napoleon I. He was mainly educated at home. His mentor was Philippe Lebas, the son of one of Maximilian Robespierre's comrades. He also studied at military school city of Thun (Switzerland).

In 1830-1831, Louis Napoleon took part in the revolutionary movement in Italy, directed against Austrian rule. As a result of repression, he was forced to flee to France, where in 1832 he was received by King Louis Philippe I. In 1836, he tried to raise an armed rebellion in Strasbourg, but was arrested and deported to the United States. In 1840 he secretly returned to France and tried to rebel the garrison of Boulogne, but was arrested and sentenced by the House of Peers to life imprisonment. Louis Napoleon served his sentence in the fortress of Am, from where he escaped in 1846. During his imprisonment, he wrote several essays on socio-political topics, in which he argued that France needed a regime that combined best qualities monarchies and republics - order and freedom.

From 1846 Louis Napoleon lived in England. The revolution of 1848 allowed him to return to his homeland. He was elected first as a deputy of the Constituent Assembly (September 1848), and then as president of the republic (December 1848).

On December 2, 1851, Louis Napoleon carried out a coup d'etat, which led to the establishment of the Bonapartist dictatorship. A year later, the hereditary power of the emperor was restored in France, confirmed by a plebiscite on December 10, 1852 (Second Empire). Louis Napoleon Bonaparte took the name Napoleon III, considering his predecessor the never-reigning Napoleon II (son of Napoleon I).

With the establishment of the Second Empire, the institutions of parliamentary democracy (legislative chambers, elections of deputies, the political press, etc.) turned into a screen for the unlimited power of Napoleon III. The core of the state became the executive apparatus subordinate to the emperor, starting with the cabinet of ministers and ending with prefects of departments and mayors of cities and communes. The legislative chambers were powerless, police brutality reigned.

The main support of the Bonapartist dictatorship was the top of the French army. In 1854, Napoleon intervened in the conflict between Turkey and Russia - in alliance with Great Britain, France participated in the Crimean War in 1853-56 on the side of Turkey; in 1859, in alliance with Piedmont, he waged war with Austria; sent in 1863 expeditionary force to Mexico; in 1867 he sent troops to Italy against Garibaldi's troops.

Napoleon III promoted economic progress. The removal of restrictions on the activities of joint stock capital, the conclusion of a free trade agreement with Great Britain (1860), the reconstruction of Paris, the construction of the Suez Canal (1859-69), and the holding of world exhibitions in the capital of France (1855, 1867) led to growth business activity and accelerating industrialization.

On January 29, 1853, Napoleon III married the daughter of a noble Spanish aristocrat, Count de Montijo, Eugenia, Countess of Teba. In 1856, the imperial couple had an heir, Prince Napoleon Eugene Louis Jean Joseph.

In the early 1860s. the growth of the budget deficit forced the emperor to enter into dialogue with the liberal opposition and implement political reforms: restore freedom of the press and assembly, introduce chamber control over the activities of ministers. In 1869, the chambers acquired all the rights of legislative power - the right of legislative initiative, discussion and voting of bills and the state budget. For the first time, the principle of government responsibility to the chambers was proclaimed. A plebiscite on May 8, 1870 showed that the majority of voters supported the government's policies. Nevertheless, part of society, represented by the left-liberal opposition, still condemned the empire as an illegal regime and demanded a return to republican rule.

The collapse of the Second Empire was accelerated by defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. On July 28, 1870, Napoleon III left for active duty, entrusting the regency to Empress Eugenie. Together with a group of troops under the command of Marshal P. McMahon, he was surrounded in the city of Sedan and on September 2 surrendered to the mercy of the winner. Following this, an uprising broke out in Paris, and on September 4, France was proclaimed a republic (Third Republic 1870-1940). Napoleon III was interned at Wilhelmsheche Castle near Kassel. Empress Eugenie and her son fled to Great Britain.

Napoleon III spent the last years of his life with his family at Chislehurst Castle near London, where he died as a result of an unsuccessful surgical operation. Empress Eugenie outlived her husband by almost half a century and died in 1920. Their only son, Prince Napoleon Eugene Louis, served as an officer in the English colonial forces and died in 1879 in the war with the Zulu in Africa.

Napoleon III(Napoleon III), Louis Bonaparte, full name Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (April 20, 1808, Paris - January 9, 1873, Chislehurst Castle, near London), French emperor (1852-1870).

Nephew of Napoleon. He was the third son in the family of his younger brother Napoleon I Louis Bonaparte and the stepdaughter of Napoleon I Hortense, daughter of Josephine Beauharnais from her first marriage to General A. Beauharnais. After the death of his father in 1846, he headed the house of Bonaparte.

The first years of Louis Napoleon's life were spent in Holland, of which his father was king in 1806-1810. He spent his youth in Switzerland (Arenenberg Castle), where he lived with his mother after the collapse of the empire of Napoleon I. He was mainly educated at home. His mentor was Philip Lebas, the son of one of his comrades Maximilian Robespierre. He also studied at the military school in Thun (Switzerland).

Revolutionary Prince. In 1830-1831, Louis Napoleon took part in the revolutionary movement in Italy, directed against Austrian rule. As a result of repression, he was forced to flee to France, where in 1832 he was received by King Louis Philippe I. In 1836, he tried to raise an armed rebellion in Strasbourg, but was arrested and deported to the United States. In 1840, he secretly returned to France and tried to rebel the garrison of the city of Boulogne, but was arrested and sentenced by the House of Peers to life imprisonment. Louis Napoleon served his sentence in the fortress of Am, from where he escaped in 1846. During his imprisonment, he wrote several essays on socio-political topics, in which he argued that France needs a regime that combines the best qualities of a monarchy and a republic - order and freedom.

Path to power. Since 1846, Louis Napoleon lived in England. The revolution of 1848 allowed him to return to his homeland. He was elected first as a deputy of the Constituent Assembly (September 1848), and then as president of the republic (December 1848).

Emperor of the French. With the establishment of the Second Empire, the institutions of parliamentary democracy (legislative chambers, elections of deputies, the political press, etc.) turned into a screen for the unlimited power of Napoleon III. The core of the state became the executive apparatus subordinate to the emperor, starting with the cabinet of ministers and ending with prefects of departments and mayors of cities and communes. The legislative chambers were powerless, police brutality reigned.

The main support of the Bonapartist dictatorship was the top of the French army. In 1854, Napoleon intervened in the conflict between Turkey and Russia - in an alliance with Great Britain, France participated in Crimean War 1853-1856 on the Turkish side; in 1859, in alliance with Piedmont, he waged war with Austria; sent an expeditionary force to Mexico in 1863; in 1867 he sent troops to Italy against Garibaldi's troops.

Napoleon III promoted economic progress. The removal of restrictions on the activities of joint stock capital, the conclusion of a free trade agreement with Great Britain (1860), the reconstruction of Paris, the construction of the Suez Canal (1859-1869), and the holding of world exhibitions in the capital of France (1855, 1867) led to an increase in business activity and accelerated industrialization.

Liberal Empire. In the early 1860s, the growing budget deficit forced the emperor to enter into a dialogue with the liberal opposition and implement political reforms: restore freedom of the press and assembly, and introduce chamber control over the activities of ministers. In 1869, the chambers acquired all the rights of legislative power - the right of legislative initiative, discussion and voting of bills and the state budget. For the first time, the principle of government responsibility to the chambers was proclaimed. A plebiscite on May 8, 1870 showed that the majority of voters supported the government's policies. Nevertheless, part of society, represented by the left-liberal opposition, still condemned the empire as an illegal regime and demanded a return to republican rule.

Collapse of the Second Empire. The collapse of the Second Empire was hastened by defeat in Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871. On July 28, 1870, Napoleon III left for active duty, entrusting the regency to Empress Eugenie. Together with a group of troops under the command of Marshal P. McMahon, he was surrounded in the city of Sedan and on September 2 surrendered to the mercy of the winner. Following this, an uprising broke out in Paris, and on September 4, France was proclaimed a republic (Third Republic 1870-1940). Napoleon III was interned at Wilhelmsheche Castle near Kassel. Empress Eugenie and her son fled to Great Britain.

Napoleon III spent the last years of his life with his family at Chislehurst Castle near London, where he died as a result of an unsuccessful surgical operation. Empress Eugenie outlived her husband by almost half a century and died in 1920. Their only son, Prince Napoleon Eugene Louis, served as an officer in the British colonial forces and died in 1879 in the war with the Zulu in Africa.

A. V. Revyakin

Biography
Born Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte on April 20, 1808 in Paris. His father Louis Bonaparte is the King of Holland, the younger brother of Napoleon I. His mother is Hortense Beauharnais, daughter from the first marriage of Empress Josephine, the first wife of Napoleon I.
After the Bonapartes were expelled from France in 1815, Louis Napoleon - as he was usually called until 1852 - studied mainly with private teachers in Italy, Switzerland and Germany, and also received military training in the Swiss army. In 1831 he took part in the defeated revolution in the Papal State. In 1832, after the death of the Duke of Reichstadt, son of Napoleon I, he became the main contender for the throne of France through the Bonapartes and devoted himself to winning the throne.

On October 31, 1836, in Strasbourg, he attempted a military rebellion against King Louis Philippe, but was arrested and expelled from France. He continued to conduct propaganda from London, where he published the book Napoleonic Ideas (Ides napoloniennes, 1840), in which he argued that the Bonapartes had no desire for conquest and tyranny. “The Napoleonic idea,” he wrote, “is not a military idea, but a social, industrial, commercial and humanitarian one,” aimed at supporting the material well-being of the population. On August 6, 1840, Louis Napoleon landed in Boulogne, repeating his attempt to seize power, but the troops he was counting on refused to support him. He was arrested, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Gam fortress. Here Napoleon III continued to write, promoting his policies. Particularly famous was his book Overcoming Pauperism (Extinction du pauprisme, 1844), which increased the number of his supporters among the people, who were increasingly imbued with the Napoleonic legend. In 1846, with the help of a brilliant disguise, Louis Napoleon escaped from prison and returned to England.

The February Revolution of 1848 in France finally gave him the long-awaited chance. In June 1848, four departments elected him to the Legislative Assembly, and in December, by a majority vote, he was elected president of the republic for a term of 4 years. He received 5,434,236 votes, and his opponent - 1,498,107. Playing on the growing disillusionment with parliamentary rule and the growing fear of a “red” uprising, he carried out a coup on December 2, 1851, arrested about 20,000 of his opponents, and dissolved the Legislative Assembly and appealed to the people with a request to grant him virtually dictatorial powers. A plebiscite on December 20, 1851 confirmed him as president for a term of 10 years. A year later, a new plebiscite proclaimed him Napoleon III, Emperor of France. (Napoleon I's son, who never reigned, was considered Napoleon II.)

The marriage in 1853 of the new emperor to Eugenia Montijo, a beautiful Spaniard, revived the glory of the French court - wasteful and outwardly extravagant. Napoleon had an only son, Prince Louis-Napoleon, who was born in 1856 and died in 1879, leaving no heirs.

Napoleon III introduced authoritarian regime, seized all key positions of power, introduced censorship, turned the Legislative Assembly into a registering body that did not have the right to propose or repeal laws, and unleashed persecution of the opposition. For some time this regime held quite firmly. The peasants, who provided Napoleon with an overwhelming majority of votes, cared little about Parisian politicians; they were much more concerned about their own material interests. As stated, they wore their hearts on the left and their pockets on the right. Napoleon provided them with subsidies and benefits, and they paid him with loyalty.

The Emperor established banks, supported development agriculture, creating model farms and carrying out land reclamation, stimulated the construction railways and communications, encouraged the construction of the Suez Canal, introduced a free trade system for the development and modernization of industry, and launched large-scale public works - most notably the reconstruction of Paris under the leadership of Baron Georges Haussmann.

However, dissatisfaction with his despotism grew among the middle bourgeoisie and the working class. Napoleon could not help but see this and, in order to prevent events, made concessions by issuing decrees on November 24, 1860 and January 19, 1867. On January 2, 1870, Napoleon III transferred most of his powers to the ministry under the leadership of the liberal leader Emile Olivier. In a plebiscite on May 8, 1870, this liberal regime received support from 7,300,000 votes, and only 1,500,000 voted against.

In foreign policy, Napoleon III suffered constant defeats. He promised peace upon his rise to power, but soon became embroiled in the Crimean War with Russia (1854-1856). Victory in this war raised the country's prestige. In 1859, in alliance with the kingdom of Sardinia, Napoleon declared war on Austria in order to liberate Italy. In exchange for Sardinia's support, France received Nice and Savoy. But the unexpected peace with Austria angered the Italians, the annexations displeased the British, and the Italians' seizure of all papal possessions (except Rome) turned Catholics in France against him.

In 1861-1866, Napoleon sent troops to Mexico and placed the Austrian Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg on the throne. This costly adventure turned out to be a complete failure, and the captured Maximilian was executed by the Mexicans in 1867. Napoleon's lukewarm protest against the suppression of the uprising in Poland (1863-1864) turned both Russians and Poles against him. By the end of Napoleon's reign, France had no reliable allies left.

When French public opinion became uneasy about Prussia's conquests and the growth of its power, Napoleon demanded territorial compensation on the borders of the Rhine (1867-1868), then succumbed to Prussian intrigues in Spain and finally played into Bismarck's hands by declaring war on Prussia on July 19, 1870. Napoleon finally undermined his reputation by personally leading the army, although his illness did not even allow him to sit in the saddle. On September 2, 1870, he surrendered near Sedan, and two days later he was overthrown during the revolution in Paris.

After the conclusion of peace in 1871, Napoleon was released from captivity and departed with his son and wife for England. Napoleon died at Chislehurst on January 9, 1873.

He was a passionate man, but full of self-control. He professed “Napoleonic” ideas, from his youth he strove for his cherished goal - to become an emperor and did not hesitate in choosing means, clearing the way to it. Considered in Parisian society to be the daughter of Prosper Merimee, she was educated at an elite Parisian boarding school and bore the title of 16th Countess of Theba. But even the ambitious attitude to life of both did not prevent their strong union.

1. Napoleon III

The era of the Second Empire in France is a controversial period in history. According to the definition of official historical science, this is a period of Bonapartist dictatorship - a reactionary regime based on the big bourgeoisie, which came to power by overthrowing the Second Republic and destroying democratic institutions. However, behind this dry definition stands the 22 years of the reign of Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, known as Napoleon III, an extraordinary personality, as was the era of his reign.

Charles Louis Napoleon was born in 1808 from the marriage of Louis Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon I, King of Holland, with the daughter of Empress Josephine, Hortense de Beauharnais. After the overthrow of his uncle in 1814, he and his mother and brother wandered around Europe for a long time until they settled in Switzerland. WITH early childhood was raised to worship Napoleon I. He began his career serving in the Swiss army as an artilleryman and rose to the rank of captain.

Belief in his greater destiny and the spirit of adventurous romanticism led to participation in the uprising against papal authority in Italy in 1830. In 1832, after the death of the son of Napoleon I, Duke of Reistad, he became the heir to the Bonaparte dynasty. In 1836, he made a reckless attempt to seize power in Strasbourg, but was arrested and exiled to America. In 1837 he returned to Europe. In 1840, he landed in Boulogne, where, with the support of several officers, he tried to win over the troops, but were again arrested.

After the trial, he is imprisoned in the Gam fortress, where he spends 6 years. In 1846, with the help of his supporters, he managed to escape from prison. After the overthrow of the July Monarchy in 1848 and the establishment of the Second Republic, he returned to France, where he nominated himself for the presidency of the republic. Unexpectedly for everyone, he wins the election. As president, he pursues a policy of centralizing power and reducing the role of the Constituent Assembly.

With the support of the conservative majority, he assists the Vatican in suppressing the revolution in Italy, on whose side he fought in his youth, which leads to a number of assassination attempts by the Italian resistance. Subsequently, with the help of the monarchical majority in parliament, he prepared the ground for a coup d'etat and in 1852 declared himself Emperor of France. Goal achieved!

2. Countess Teba

To secure his position on the throne, he tries to intermix with the monarchical houses of Europe, but to no avail. Everywhere he receives refusals, veiled by plausible pretexts. At one of the receptions at the Elysee Palace, he meets Eugenia de Montijo, Countess of Teba. Eugenia was born into a family of noble Spanish nobles. Her family adhered to Bonapartist views and was well known among Parisian bohemians.

Her mother, Maria Manuela Kirkpatrick, is a Spanish aristocrat with English roots, her father is Cipriano Palafox, a Spanish grandee, Count of Montijo, who fought under the banner of Napoleon during the Franco-Spanish War. She was educated at a Catholic boarding house and was interested in history and politics. Eugenia was a universally recognized beauty - tall, black-haired with blue eyes, arousing admiration for her grace and dignity.

3. The last imperial couple of France

Eugenie quickly won the heart of Napoleon III and in 1853 they got married in Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. She achieved the love and respect of Parisians by refusing a wedding gift and donating the intended money to charity. The beginning of Napoleon III's reign was brilliant. Through a series of reforms, he managed to increase trade turnover by reducing customs duties, which served as an impetus for economic growth.

Railways are being built, industry is being developed and modernized through the introduction of steam engines, and agricultural reform is being carried out. The capital was reconstructed - modern Paris with boulevards, avenues, squares, squares and parks thanks to Napoleon III and the architect Georges Haussmann. An active colonial policy is being pursued in Asia and Africa.

The successful military campaign against Russia in the Crimean War increased the authority of France in the international arena. At first, Evgenia plays the role of an obedient wife, maintaining the shine of a magnificent imperial court. Gradually her influence increases - she attends cabinet meetings, tries to delve into foreign policy, tries to accept independent decisions with the tacit approval of the emperor, who, due to kidney disease, is increasingly withdrawing from business.

Her successes in diplomacy strengthen Evgenia's confidence in own strength and she acts more and more decisively. In governing the state, she is guided more by principles and intuition than by political expediency.

Thanks to her intervention, a hasty peace is concluded with Austria, after successful army actions in Northern Italy, France gets involved in an unsuccessful Mexican campaign in order to secure the throne for the Austrian Archduke Maximilian - the French corps was hastily evacuated, and the newly-made Emperor of Mexico was shot.

4. End of reign

A number of diplomatic mistakes were made. Inconsistent foreign policy and internal problems led to economic crisis and revolutionary ferment. It was decided to compensate for the failures with a victory over Prussia, which led to disaster. In 1870, the French army was surrounded at Sedan and capitulated. Napoleon III was captured, deposed by the revolution and emigrated to England with his family.

Napoleon died in 1873, Evgenia far outlived her husband, living to a ripe old age. She died in 1920 at the age of 95, having buried her son, the last contender of the Bonaparte dynasty, who died in South Africa, fighting in the ranks of the British army. The last joy in Evgenia’s life was the defeat of Germany in the First World War. She was buried in the crypt of the English Abbey at Farnborough with her family.

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