Napoleon II of France facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Napoleon II
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| Emperor of the French | |
| Preceded by | Napoleon I |
| Succeeded by | Louis XVIII (as King of France) Joseph Bonaparte (as Head of the Bonapartes) |
| King of Rome | |
| Duke of Reichstadt | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 March 1811 Paris, France |
| Died | 22 July 1832 (aged 21) Vienna, Austria  |
| Full name | Napoléon François Charles Joseph Bonaparte |
| Father | Napoleon I |
| Mother | Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma |
Napoléon François Charles Joseph Bonaparte (born March 20, 1811 – died July 22, 1832) was the only son of the famous French Emperor Napoleon and Marie Louise of Austria. He was also known as Napoleon II.
Contents
About Napoleon II
His Early Life
Napoléon II was born in Paris, France, in 1811. His father, Emperor Napoleon I, was a very powerful ruler.
In 1814, Napoleon I was defeated by a group of countries called the Sixth Coalition. He was forced to step down as emperor. Napoleon I wanted his son, Napoleon II, to take his place. However, the other countries did not agree to this.
Napoleon II and his mother went to live in Austria. Meanwhile, his father, Napoleon I, was sent away to an island called Elba. In 1815, Napoleon I escaped and took back control of France. But he was defeated again at the Battle of Waterloo and had to resign once more.
Emperor for a Short Time
After his father's final defeat, Napoleon II was briefly considered the Emperor of the French. This was for a very short time, from late June to early July in 1815. He was only four years old at the time.
Life in Austria
Napoleon II spent most of his life in Austria. There, he was known by the name Franz. When he was seven years old, he became the Duke of Reichstadt.
At the age of 12, he joined the Austrian Army. He enjoyed a close friendship with Princess Sophie of Bavaria.
His Death
Napoleon II died from a serious lung illness called tuberculosis. He passed away on July 22, 1832, when he was only 21 years old.
Where He Was Buried
In 1940, during World War II, Adolf Hitler had Napoleon II's remains moved. They were taken from Vienna, Austria, to Les Invalides in Paris, France. For a while, his remains were buried next to his father's. Later, they were moved to a different part of the church.
His Legacy
- Napoleon II was often called "The Eaglet" (which is L'Aiglon in French). This nickname came from his father, Napoleon I, who was sometimes called "The Eagle."
- A famous French writer named Edmond Rostand wrote a play about his life called L'Aiglon.
- A Serbian composer, Petar Stojanović, created an operetta about him in the 1920s. An operetta is like a short opera with spoken parts.
- Later, two composers, Arthur Honegger and Jacques Ibert, worked together on an opera also called L'Aiglon. It was first performed in 1937.
- A journalist named Henri Rochefort once joked about Napoleon II. He said that because Napoleon II never truly ruled, he was France's best leader. This was because he brought no wars, no new taxes, and no harsh rule.
Images for kids
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Empress Marie Louise and her son Napoleon, King of Rome, by François Gérard, 1813
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Tomb of Napoleon II at Les Invalides, Paris
See also
In Spanish: Napoleón II Bonaparte para niños
