Wow, Napoléon IV looked like a dweeb
Right around 1812, after Napoléon I’s disastrous Russian campaign, everything started going downhill for the Bonapartes.
Napoléon I: Ultimately defeated in 1815 and died in exile.
Napoléon II: Emperor of France for about two weeks. Cause of death: tuberculosis at age 21. Died in exile.
Napoléon III: Wasn’t proud of the Battle of Puebla and the Franco-Prussian War. Died in exile.*
Napoléon IV: Killed in a battle with the Zulu. Posed for the picture on the left.
For some reason, the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, has been stuck in my head this morning. Which is why this post is up.
For extra nerd points: A version of La Marseillaise was the theme music for Napoléon I in the game Civilization IV. This is despite the fact Napoléon expressly outlawed the song during his rule.
The Napoleons brought about France’s worst nightmare:
Napoleon I started the ball rolling for German unification. It wasn’t until he created the Confederation of the Rhine that the Germanic states had any sort and sense of political grouping.
Napoleon III’s war with Prussia brought about the unification of Germany.
Way to go, Napoleons!
Comment by Allen | 18 June 2007
Excellent point! No Napoleons, no Germany. No Germany, no Volkswagen. No Volkswagon, no Beetle. No Beetle, no [fill in something of consequence; I can't think of anything].
Comment by Donnie Briggs | 18 June 2007