Napoleon II of France

Napoleon Fran?ois Joseph Charles Bonaparte (March 20, 1811 ? July 22, 1832), Duke of Reichstadt, was briefly the second Emperor of the French.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His Majesty Napoleon Fran?ois Joseph Charles Bonaparte, King of Rome, Prince Imperial of France was the son of Emperor Napol?on Bonaparte and his second wife, Archduchess Marie Louise of Austria. He was titled as HM King of Rome, which Napol?on I declared was the title of the heir-apparent (though it was only a title, and if he came of age, he still would not actually rule).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Three years after his birth in Paris, the First French Empire - to which he was heir - collapsed, and Napol?on abdicated the throne in favour of his infant son, who was taken by the empress to Chateau Blois in April 1814. In 1815, after his defeat at Waterloo, Napol?on again abdicated in favour of his son.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Chamber of Representatives and Chamber of Peers recognised him as Emperor from the moment of his father's abdication (June 22, 1815), but the entrance of the Allies into Paris (July 7) put an end to this short-lived regime. Despite his nominal reign, he is not normally referred to as "Napoleon II" except by Bonapartists who also call him the King of Rome. Nevertheless, the next Napoleon to come to the throne of France took the name Napoleon III in deference to him.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After 1815, Napoleon was a virtual captive in Austria. He was awarded the title of Duke of Reichstadt in 1818. He died of tuberculosis at Sch?nbrunn Palace in Vienna on July 22, 1832. In 1940 his remains were transferred, as a gift to France from Adolf Hitler, from Vienna to the dome of Les Invalides in Paris, where he now rests beside his father.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He was also known as "L'Aiglon", or "The Eaglet". Edmond Rostand wrote a play, L'Aiglon, about his life.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Serbian composer, Petar Stojanović composed an operetta "Napoleon II: Herzog von Reichstadt", premiered in Vienna in the 1920s.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

March 20: March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in Leap years). There are 286 days remaining....

1811: 1811 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar)....

July 22: 22 July is the 203rd day (204th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 162 days remaining....

Napoleon II of France related Images and Photos (experimental)

View of France II	South of France II	Englishwoman Who Married Clovis II of Neustria Became Regent of France Mother of Three Kings Saint	Vin de France II
Francois-Charles-Joseph Bonaparte Napoleon II Known Also as the Eaglet	Richard II Weds the Seven Year Old Isabelle of France Daughter of Charles Vi	Chairs Brought That Napoleon and the Minister Might Sit the Story of France Told to Boys and Girls	Portrait of Philip Augustus II King of France
Portrait of Suzanne of Bourbon Daughter of Peter II and Anne of France Duke and Duchess of Bourbon	Napoleon at the Head of His Staff During the Campaign of France	View of France IV	View of France VIII