Napoléon François Joseph Charles Bonaparte



Son of Napoleon Bonaparte and his second wife, Marie Louise of Austria. When he was born, he was called the King of Rome. His father said this was a polite way of reminding everyone that his son was going to be his successor.

Life
Napoléon Francois Joseph Charles Bonaparte was born in Paris to Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and his second wife, Marie Louise of Austria in 1811. Three years later, the First French Empire —to which he was heir— collapsed. Napoleon wanted to resign as Emperor and let his young son take over, but Emperor Alexander I of Russia disagreed. Napoléon II was taken by his mother to Austria in 1814.

After Napoleon I's defeat at Waterloo in 1815, Napoleon II convinced his father to resign. Napoleon I then declared his son "Emperor of the French" but this was not official because the Bourbon Restoration was proclaimed immediately after the abdication of Napoleon I. After 1815, the young prince, now known as "Franz" (after his maternal grandfather, Emperor Francis of Austria), lived in Austria. He was awarded the title of Duke of Reichstadt in 1818. Napoleon was very close to Princess Sophie of Bavaria and it has been said that he was the father of her son, the future Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico. This idea has not found acceptance. Napoléon II died of tuberculosis at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna on July 22, 1832. It was said that Sophie never recovered after his death

On December 15, 1940, his remains were moved from Vienna to the dome of Les Invalides in Paris. This a "gift" to France by the German dictator Adolf Hitler. Coming from Hitler, this "gift" was not appreciated by the French people. The remains of Napoleon I had been moved there on December 15, 1840. For some time, the young prince was buried beside his father. Later his remains were moved again into the lower church.

Legacy
Bonapartists (supporters of Napoleon) referred to him as the King of Rome and as Napoleon II. Although this latter designation had and still has no official status, the next Napoleon to come to the throne of France took the name Napoleon III in deference to him. He was also known as "L'Aiglon", or "The Eaglet". Edmond Rostand wrote a play, L'Aiglon about his life.