Who was Napoleon II?
Napoléon François Joseph Charles Bonaparte was born on 20 March 1811 at
the Tuileries Palace in Paris.
Family
His parents were Emperor Napoleon I of France and Empress Marie Louise
born Marie Louise of Austria).
Since his birth Napoléon II had been Prince Imperial of France and King of
Rome as well.
Childhood
On 9 June 1811 Napoléon II was baptised in the Notre Dame de Paris.
Napoléon was put in the care of Louise Charlotte Françoise Le Tellier
de Montesquiou. She was affectionate and intelligent. The governess
assembled a considerable collection of books intended to give the infant
a strong grounding in religion philosophy, and military matters.
de Montesquiou. She was affectionate and intelligent. The governess
assembled a considerable collection of books intended to give the infant
a strong grounding in religion philosophy, and military matters.
Napoleon I saw his second wife and their son for the last time on
24 January 1814.
24 January 1814.
The Treaty of Fontainebleau in 1814 gave Napoleon II the right to use
the title of Prince of Parma, of Placentia and Guastalla. His mother was
styled the Duchess of Parma, of Placentia and of Guastalla.
the title of Prince of Parma, of Placentia and Guastalla. His mother was
styled the Duchess of Parma, of Placentia and of Guastalla.
On 13 April 1814, Marie Louise and her three-year-old son Napoleon II,
met Emperor Francis I of Austria (Marie Louise's father) and
Tsar Alexander I of Russia.
met Emperor Francis I of Austria (Marie Louise's father) and
Tsar Alexander I of Russia.
On 23 April 1814, Napoleon II and his mother left France forever, they
went in exile in Austria.
went in exile in Austria.
Waterloo
In 1815, after his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon I abdicated for the
2nd time in favour of his four-year-old son, whom he had not seen since
his exile to Elba. However Napoleon II stayed with his mother in Austria.
2nd time in favour of his four-year-old son, whom he had not seen since
his exile to Elba. However Napoleon II stayed with his mother in Austria.
Life in Austria
Since 1814 the young Napoleon lived in Austria, where he was known as
Franz. In 1818 he was awarded with the title of Duke of Reichstadt by his
maternal grandfather Emperor Francis.
Franz. In 1818 he was awarded with the title of Duke of Reichstadt by his
maternal grandfather Emperor Francis.
He was educated by a staff of military tutors and developed a passion for
soldiering, dressing in a miniature uniform like his father's and performing
maneuvers in the palace.
soldiering, dressing in a miniature uniform like his father's and performing
maneuvers in the palace.
By 1820, Napoleon had completed his elementary studies and begun his
military training. He learned German, Italian and mathematics as well.
military training. He learned German, Italian and mathematics as well.
In 1823, he was made a cadet in the Austrian Army. He was a very tall
young man and described as intelligent, serious and focused.
young man and described as intelligent, serious and focused.
Franz grew distant from his mother and fell that his Austrian family
were holding him back to avoid political controversy.
were holding him back to avoid political controversy.
He was noted from his friendship with Sophie (the mother of Franz Joseph),
a Bavarian princess of the House of Wittelsbach. There even were rumours
of a love affair between Sophie and Napoleon II.
a Bavarian princess of the House of Wittelsbach. There even were rumours
of a love affair between Sophie and Napoleon II.
Death
In 1831, Napoleon II alias Franz was given command of an Austrian battalion,
but he had never the chance to serve.
but he had never the chance to serve.
In 1832, Napoleon II caught pneumonia and he was bedridden for several
months.
months.
On 22 July 1832 Napoleon II died of tuberculosis at Schönbrunn Palace in
Vienna. He had no children. Thus the Napoleonic claim of the throne of
France passed to his cousin, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte.
Vienna. He had no children. Thus the Napoleonic claim of the throne of
France passed to his cousin, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte.
On 15 December 1940, Adolf Hitler ordered the remains of Napoleon II
to be transferred from Vienna to the dome of Les Invalides in Paris.
However, inter alia his heart remained in Vienna.
to be transferred from Vienna to the dome of Les Invalides in Paris.
However, inter alia his heart remained in Vienna.
Schönbrunn Vienna: own picture taken in 2011
Des Invalides- Paris - own picture taken in 2017
Source pictures: Wikipedia - except the two I took myself during the travels.
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