Season 2023 - Talk 14- Napoleon III and Eugenie

In 'Napoleon III and Eugenie' Jo Watson tells us about the man who was Emperor of France from 1852 until his defeat by the Prussians in 1870 and his wife Eugenie.

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Napoleon III:
Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte is born in Paris in the early hours of April the 20th, 1808. His father is Louis Bonaparte, the younger brother of the Emperor Napoleon.

The union of his parents isn't overly successful as they not particularly compatible. They spend long times apart, but produce three sons, all called Napoleon something or other.

Arriving a few weeks earlier than expected he's rather weak at birth so he's bathed in wine and wrapped in cotton wool. Was he just a premature child, or as the scandal mongers were later very fond of saying, fathered by someone else?

He involves himself in political intrigue, failed putsches and becomes a feared ladies man. A few years elapse and he heads to London with his extensive inheritance. Louis sets up house in Mayfair with 17 servants and a monogrammed carriage and begins to mix with high society.

He seduces eligible young ladies when their mothers aren't looking, notches up a couple of engagements and joins country house set. He attends shooting parties, reads voraciously in their libraries and hobnobs with eminent politicians all the time preparing for another shot at power.

In 1853 he marries Eugenie

Empress Eugenie:

26 year old Eugène Montejo, educated partly in Paris, is a regular visitor to the court. She is also one of the most beautiful women in Europe. She also impresses Napoleon with her horsemanship and conversation.

She's a good Catholic girl and is determined not to be another notch on his bedpost. He definitely tries, but she never relents. 'What is the way to your heart', he asks. 'Through the church, sire', she replies.

Jo Watson has written a book about Empress Eugenie and you can find more about it here.

Listen to the podcast and hear the whole story from Jo.
About this podcast:
This is an edited recording of a talk given to the Farnham u3a World History: Ancient, Medieval and Modern  Group.

This podcast is also available through Amazon Music,  Apple Podcasts,  Castbox, Deezer, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher , Vurbl , You Tube and others.

AKM Music licenses Media Magazine for use with this talk.

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