Napoleon II: Emperor for 20 Days

Summary

This video from Biographics narrates the brief and tragic life of Napoleon II, the son of Napoleon Bonaparte, who was declared Emperor for a mere 20 days. Born as Napoleon François Charles Joseph, he was known as the 'King of Rome' and later the 'Duke of Reichstadt'. Despite his royal lineage and military aspirations, his life was overshadowed by political machinations and health issues, culminating in his untimely death at 21. The script explores his childhood, his relationship with his father, and the complex political landscape of his time.

Takeaways

• 👑 Napoleon II, the son of Napoleon Bonaparte, was briefly declared Emperor of the French at the age of three, following his father's abdication in 1814.
• 🎭 Born as Napoleon François Charles Joseph, his birth was celebrated with 101 cannon shots, symbolizing the high expectations set for him by his father.
• 🏰 Napoleon II spent most of his life under the control of his Austrian relatives, living a life of a gilded cage, away from his father and the French throne.
• 👶 His reign as emperor was short-lived and largely symbolic, as he was quickly excluded from power by his father's revised abdication and the Congress of Vienna.
• 📚 Despite being educated and groomed to be a loyal Austrian prince, Napoleon II maintained a deep interest in and admiration for his father's legacy.
• 👶🏻 At a young age, he showed a natural inclination towards military activities, playing with military toys and showing intelligence and precociousness.
• 🤴🏻 He was given various grand titles such as Prince Imperial and King of Rome, indicating his father's intentions for a continued lineage of power.
• 📖 Napoleon II's tutors noted his exceptional academic and physical prowess, and by the age of 18, he was already a lieutenant colonel in the Austrian army.
• 💔 His health was a constant struggle, with recurring respiratory ailments that were later diagnosed as tuberculosis, which would eventually claim his life.
• 🗡 Despite his Austrian upbringing, Napoleon II expressed loyalty to France and stated that he would never fight against it, showing a complex identity influenced by his heritage.
• 💬 His life was marked by a sense of unfulfilled potential and a tragic end, as he passed away at the age of 21, reflecting on his life as being bookended by significant events with little in between.

Q & A

Who was Napoleon II and what was his significance in history?

Napoleon II, also known as the Duke of Reichstadt, was the son of Napoleon Bonaparte. He theoretically ruled as Emperor of the French for a few days and was known as the 'King of Rome'. His life was marked by being trapped by his father's enemies and his tragic early death, making him a largely overlooked figure in history.

Why was Napoleon Bonaparte's first marriage to Josephine annulled?

Napoleon Bonaparte's first marriage to Josephine was annulled on the grounds that she could not bear him an heir, which was crucial for the emperor to ensure a clear line of succession.

How was Napoleon II's birth announced to the public?

Napoleon II's birth was announced by the sound of 101 cannon shots, followed by his father's enthusiastic predictions for the boy's future glory.

What titles were bestowed upon Napoleon II during his childhood?

Napoleon II was given several grand titles such as Prince Imperial and King of Rome, with the latter being mostly symbolic, indicating continuity with the Holy Roman Empire.

How did Napoleon II's life change after his father's abdication in 1814?

After Napoleon Bonaparte's abdication in 1814, Napoleon II briefly became the Emperor of the French, but this reign ended after just two days when his father redrafted his abdication, excluding his descendants from power. Napoleon II then lived under the control of his mother and her family in Vienna.

What was the role of Prince Metternich in Napoleon II's life?

Prince Metternich, the Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, ensured that Napoleon II and his mother reached Vienna and played a significant role in shaping the young Napoleon's life, attempting to turn him into a loyal Austrian prince.

How did Napoleon II's tutors perceive his potential for a military career?

Napoleon II's tutors recognized his natural aptitude for military studies and physical prowess, noting his excellence in horse riding, swimming, and wrestling, and concluded that an army career was the only sensible choice for him.

What was the significance of the book 'Memorial of St Helena' to Napoleon II?

The book 'Memorial of St Helena' was an account of daily conversations between Napoleon Bonaparte and Emmanuel dasas Caris. It revived Napoleon II's interest and admiration for his father and influenced his life's principal aim to never show himself unworthy of his father.

How did Napoleon II's health issues affect his military career?

Napoleon II suffered from respiratory ailments, initially thought to be pneumonia but later diagnosed as tuberculosis. His health issues prevented him from gaining battlefield experience and ultimately led to his early death.

What was the final rank Napoleon II achieved in the Austrian Imperial Army before his death?

Napoleon II achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Austrian Imperial Army before his death at the age of 21.

What were Napoleon II's reported last words, and what do they signify?

Napoleon II's reported last words were 'One final time, my birth and my death, that is my entire story. Between my cradle and my grave, there lies a big fat zero.' These words signify his reflection on a life that was largely unfulfilled due to his early death and the restrictions placed upon him.

Outlines

00:00

👑 The Rise and Brief Reign of Napoleon II

This paragraph introduces Napoleon II, the son of Napoleon Bonaparte, who was briefly declared Emperor of the French after his father's abdication in 1814. Born as Napoleon Francois Charles Joseph, he was given grand titles like Prince Imperial and King of Rome. His father's defeat and subsequent abdication led to a short-lived reign for Napoleon II, who was then overshadowed by the restored Bourbon monarchy under Louis XVIII. Despite his brief time as emperor, the young Napoleon was a figure of intrigue and fear among European rulers, yet his story is often overlooked in history.

05:02

📚 The Education and Military Aspirations of Napoleon II

The second paragraph delves into the upbringing and education of Napoleon II, who was groomed to be a military figure due to his lineage. From a young age, he showed a keen interest in military activities and was eventually given a soldier's uniform and the rank of Sergeant. His education included learning tactics, strategy, and fortifications, and he excelled in physical activities such as horse riding, swimming, and wrestling. Despite his father's wish for him to remember his French heritage, Napoleon II was fully integrated into Austrian nobility and was destined to become an Austrian prince and military officer.

10:03

💔 The Tragic Life and Death of Napoleon II

The final paragraph recounts the tragic later years of Napoleon II's life, marked by declining health and a sense of unfulfilled potential. Despite his promotion to higher military ranks and his deep interest in his father's legacy, his health issues, identified as tuberculosis, prevented him from gaining battlefield experience. His loyalty to Austria was unwavering, even as he admired his father's military genius. The paragraph concludes with his untimely death at the age of 21, leaving behind a legacy that was both poignant and complex, encapsulated in his own words reflecting on his birth and death as the bookends of an otherwise uneventful life.

Keywords

💡Napoleon II

Napoleon II, also known as Napoleon François Charles Joseph Bonaparte, is a central figure in the video script. He was the son of Napoleon Bonaparte and became known as the Duke of Reichstadt. His life is a key narrative in the video, illustrating the tragic fate of a young man destined for greatness but overshadowed by his father's legacy. The script mentions his brief reign as Emperor of the French and his life under the control of his Austrian relatives.

💡Biographics

Biographics is the name of the series or channel that the video script belongs to, which focuses on telling the stories of historical figures. The script is based on an original article submitted to Biographics, indicating that the content is curated to highlight the biographical aspects of the subjects it covers.

💡Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte is a historical figure and the father of Napoleon II. He is mentioned as the Emperor of the French who crowned himself and later envisioned a future of conquest and success for his son. His influence and legacy are significant in shaping the life and destiny of Napoleon II.

💡Holy Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire is referenced in the script when Napoleon II is given the title of 'King of Rome,' symbolizing continuity with the historical empire. This title is mostly symbolic and represents the political aspirations and legacy associated with the Bonaparte family.

💡Abdication

Abdication is the act of renouncing or giving up a throne or a similar high position of power. In the script, Napoleon Bonaparte abdicates in favor of his son, Napoleon II, during the campaign of France, which marks a significant turning point in the narrative of the video.

💡Congress of Vienna

The Congress of Vienna was a series of diplomatic meetings that redrew the map of Europe after the Napoleonic Wars. In the script, it is mentioned as the event where major European powers agreed to void all titles and rights for Napoleon's descendants, impacting Napoleon II's claim to the throne.

💡Austrian Imperial Army

The Austrian Imperial Army is the military force of the Austrian Empire, where Napoleon II served as he grew up under Austrian influence. The script describes his military training and promotions within the army, reflecting his natural inclination towards military life and his struggle with health issues.

💡Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis, also known as consumption, is a serious and potentially fatal infectious disease that affects the lungs. In the script, it is revealed as the cause of Napoleon II's deteriorating health and eventual death, highlighting the tragic aspect of his life.

💡Rebellion

Rebellion is a key theme in the script, referring to the uprisings and insurrections that occurred across Europe during Napoleon II's lifetime. The script mentions various rebellions, including those in France, the Netherlands, and Poland, where the name of Napoleon II was invoked by rebels, indicating his symbolic importance in revolutionary movements.

💡Napoleonic Wars

The Napoleonic Wars were a series of conflicts involving Napoleon's French Empire and various European coalitions. The script refers to the aftermath of these wars, particularly the Congress of Vienna, which had significant implications for Napoleon II and his family's political standing.

💡Exile

Exile is the state of being expelled from one's country or homeland. The script mentions Napoleon Bonaparte's exile to the island of Elba and later to St. Helena, which is a critical part of the narrative as it separates him from his son and impacts Napoleon II's life.

Highlights

Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor of the French in 1804, and his nephew Louis Napoleon reinstated the Empire in 1852.

Napoleon II, the son of Napoleon Bonaparte, was known as the 'King of Rome' and was overshadowed by history despite his royal lineage.

Napoleon II's birth was announced with 101 cannon shots, symbolizing his father's high expectations for his future.

Napoleon II was given grand titles such as Prince Imperial and King of Rome, indicating continuity with the Holy Roman Empire.

Napoleon II was intelligent and showed a keen interest in military activities from a young age.

Napoleon II's father abdicated in his favor when he was three, making him the Emperor of the French for a brief period.

Napoleon II's reign ended abruptly when his father redrafted his abdication to exclude his descendants from power.

Napoleon II was forbidden from visiting his exiled father and was raised in the Austrian court.

Napoleon II was given the title of Duke of Reichstadt, an attempt to assimilate him into Austrian aristocracy.

Napoleon II's mother was installed as the Duchess of Parma, a move that separated her from her son.

Napoleon II was a natural at military studies and excelled in physical activities like horse riding and swimming.

Napoleon II was promoted to various military ranks, including Lieutenant and Lieutenant Colonel, despite his young age.

Napoleon II was loyal to Austria but stated he could never fight against France, showing his familial ties.

Napoleon II's health declined due to respiratory ailments, which eventually led to a diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Napoleon II's interest in his father was revived by reading 'Memorial of St. Helena', deepening his admiration for Napoleon.

Napoleon II's death at the age of 21 was marked by his last words reflecting on his life's significance.

Napoleon II's life story is a tale of a young man trapped between royal expectations and personal aspirations.

Transcripts

so hello and welcome to yet another

episode of biographics I'm your host KL

sward and today we're talking about

Napoleon II the emperor for 20 days and

I should note that like all of our

videos here on biographics this one is

based on original article submitted To

Us by our writing team that being

Arnaldo tirani you can find links to

their socials below alongside my own but

let's get to

it on December 2nd 1804 Napoleon

bonapart crowned himself the emperor of

the French becoming Napoleon the years

after his downfall on December 2nd 1852

his nephew Lou Napoleon reinstated the

Empire styling himself as Napoleon II so

the first Follow by thei you may have

noticed something is slightly a miss

here the great Coran General had a son

who theoretically ruled for a handful of

days this young man LED most of his

short life trapped in a gilded cage by

his father's enemies this tragic figure

was feared by European rulers and yet is

largely overlooked by history this is

the story of the boy who become known as

the king of Rome the Duke of the

Reichard and France would be buried as

Napoleon

II in 1809 Napoleon bonapart divorced

his first wife Josephine on the grounds

that she could not sire him an heir the

emperor needed a clear line of

succession so he was remarried to Marie

Louise the daughter of Austrian emperor

R the First on March 20th 1811 Napoleon

was delighted to welcome a baby boy

christened Napoleon Francois Charles

Joseph his birth was announced by the

sound of exactly 101 cannon shots

followed by his father's enthusiastic

predictions which are and I quote I envy

that boy glory is waiting there for him

I will have been Phillip he will be

Alexander he only has to extend an arm

and the world is his Napolean senior was

of course referring to Philip of

Macedonia and his son Alexander the

Great envisioning a future of Conquest

and success for his son fittingly given

his father Napoleon junor was bestowed

with a number of grandio titles such as

Prince Imperial and king of Rome the

latter style carried mostly symbolic

weight as it indicated continuity with

the Holy Roman Empire Napoleon Junior

showed great interest in all things

military from a tender age playing with

flags trumpets drums and the wooden

blocks used by his dad to Mark the

movements of troops which can't imagine

would have been great for Napoleon while

playing battles of like oh just suddenly

a juice ball appears on the T well I

guess that's part of the battle plans

now he was an intelligent and precocious

toddler who spent much of his time

playing with his father this strong bond

was severed on January 24th 1814 when

Napoleon b goodbye to his family to

fight the sixth Coalition in the

campaign of France father and son would

never meet again on April 4th a

Victorious Coalition entered Paris and

Napoleon abdicated in favor of his son

the three-year-old king of Rome suddenly

became emperor of the French as Napoleon

II his auspicious Reign came to an end

just 2 days later when Napoleon senior

redrafted his abdication excluding his

descendants from Power then on the nth

Napoleon Junior and his mother and Marie

Louise left Paris the powerful Austrian

Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince

meanes ensured that mother and child

reach Vienna on April 23rd from then on

the young Napoleon would live at the

court of his grandfather Emperor France

I first as his father was sent to Exile

in the island of ela the prince was

strictly forbidden from ever visiting

his dad to further s his ties with his

Infamous father grandpa France and

metanis took to colan by his second name

franois later they adopted the German

translation France and gave him the

title of the Duke of the Reich St to

turn him into a proper Austrian

Aristocrats as for his mother she was

installed as The Duchess of Palmer

Northern Italy a satellite state of

Austria the role granted her a

substantial income but kept her apart

from her son the final move from Grandpa

France and Prince metanis to assert

control over the

boy in February 1815 Napoleon senior

fled returned to to France and resumed

his campaigns eventually being defeated

at watero on June 18th the foreign

Emperor abdicated once again in favor of

his son being only four years old he was

probably more preoccupied with

chocolates and toy soldiers and

therefore did not grasp that he' become

once again Emperor Napoleon II we should

clarify that only staunch and this is a

word I'm so glad I'm being paid money to

say bonapartists ever recognize young

France as a legitimate successor to

Napoleon the first at the Congress of

Vienna that followed the Napoleonic Wars

the major European powers agreed to void

all titles and rights for Napoleon's

descendants so eat that four-year-old in

any case the contested reign of Napoleon

II lasted a whopping grand total of 20

days and July 8th in fact the old

bourbon monarchy was restored under King

Louie VI 18th Napoleon II became just FR

once again and lived the rest of his

life under the watchful eyes of Grandpa

and meanes the two wanted to turn the

boy into a Dependable loyal Austrian

Prince and thus entrusted into the care

of military tutors France had a knack

for all things military as you might

expect given his you know lineage and at

the age of six he demanded to wear a

soldier's uniform while this whim was

met it was decided that an Austrian

Prince couldn't hold the rank of a lowly

infantryman so he was given the rank of

Sergeant instead so 6 years old already

a sergeant not bad make Daddy proud from

then on Sergeant France bonapart would

serve on Sentry Duty outside his

grandfather's room presenting arms to

incoming Visitors by the age of eight it

was clear to his tutors an army career

with only sensible choice for the boy

one of them the awesomely named count

dietr Stein wrote to Marie Lise saying

and I quote the profession of arms is

undoubtedly the only one he can Embrace

France completed his elementary school

studies in mid 1820 following which he

started foral military training under

again the awesomely named Dietrick Stein

major Weiss and Captain foreste at the

tend to age of nine France was already

learning tactics strategy and the study

of fortifications as a reminder he was

barely into puberty at the time the boy

was clearly natural and he matched his

thirst for knowledge with exuberant

physical prowess his tutors noted that

he excelled at horse riding swimming and

even wrestling I find it hard to imagine

that anyone went all out against someone

with the last name bonapart one day in

July of 1821 Captain foresty pulled the

short his straw and had to give the boy

some pretty bad news on May 5th Napoleon

bonapart had died on the island of St

Helena before dying the former Emperor

had expressed one final wish about his

son to never forget that he was a French

Prince despite having barely spent any

time with him young France was

fascinated by the figure of his father

and for good reason his tutors did not

object to this as they had not been

instructed to teach France to dislike

his father their official narrative was

that Napoleon bonapart had been a

military and political genius his

ambition nonetheless had eventually

brought ruin upon

France despite his father's last wishes

by the age of 12 France was entirely

absorbed in the routine of an Austrian

Prince and in the summer of 1823 he was

appointed as an army Cadet the following

year count Dietrick Stein sent another

report to Marie Lise stating and I quote

once again he Sparkles with wits his

conversation is finesse itself and the

consideration he has for everyone give

him an ease that is far beyond his age

other accounts agree that France was

becoming a focused hardworking yet

sociable and popular student well at

ease in both the barracks and the glitzy

ballrooms of Vienna he had all the

makings of the planned Austrian

Aristocrat he was meant to become at the

age of 15 France was promoted a

lieutenant surely a reason to s

celebrate but around that period his

household staff and tutors first noticed

that the young man was prone to colds

fevers and frequent bouts of coughing

during the summer of 1828 Fran's mother

visited Vienna reuniting with her son by

now he was a dashing 17-year-old 6 foot

tall captain and yet his health did not

appear to improve the following summer

of 1829 Captain France took part in a

large scale military maneuver he was now

18 and asked to be assigned for active

service which superiors probably

influenced by the emperor declined on

the grounds of his chronic poor health

in his 18th years France first came

across the book of Memorial of St Helena

an account of daily conversations

between the author and this is a name I

hope I pronounced correctly Emmanuel

dasas Caris and the exiled Napoleon this

revived even further his interest and

admiration of his illustrious and stored

father openly stating that and I quote

the principal aim of my life must be to

never show myself Unworthy of my father

in 1830 France bonded with a major

depresh Aston who has studied Napoleon's

tactics at water and publicly praise him

in his writings friend probably saw the

major as a surgant father figure and the

major reciprocated the admiration by

writing to a friend that the Young

Prince was and I quote knows more about

the Art of War than the cleverest of our

generals France reassured his new friend

that he would always be loyal to Austria

and her Armed Forces but could never

fight in a war against France in March

of that same year France completed his

military studies and in July he from

over to major in the 54th regimen of the

Austrian Imperial Army another

advancement followed in November as he

became Lieutenant Colonel with the 29th

regiment at this rate France may have

become a general in his 20s however he

lacked one essential component that all

generals at the time needed actual

Battlefield experience throughout 1830

there could have been many occasions to

prove his metal as Europe was shaken by

a wave of violent insurrections and

counter Insurrection for example in July

the second French Revolution forced King

Charles I 10th of bourbon to abdicate

the throne in August an uprising in the

Netherlands led to the independence of

Belgium in November a similar yet failed

movement sweat through Poland and in all

these cases the rebels invoke the name

of Napoleon II as their future leader

German philosopher with the awesome name

of Frederick G commented that the mere

thought of Napoleon II being involved in

European politics sent shivers down the

spines of rulers across the continent

sure his dad slipped into autocracy but

the name of the bonapart would forever

be associated with Revolution an

anti-revolutionary struggle thus the

young bonapart would have made for a

fantastic Figure Head for Rebels to

Rally around the question is would

France have actually embraced raced any

such cause it seems that all FR ever

really wanted was simply to see some

action be it pro or against Revolutions

in February 1831 a string of pro

constitutionalist uprisings broke out in

central Italy targeting the temporal

authority of the Pope notable Rebel

leaders included Fran's own cousins

Napoleon Luis and Charles Luis Napoleon

the future Napoleon III but when the

uprising extended to Palmer threatening

the rule of Marie Luise France demanded

to join an Austrian expeditionary Force

to crush the rebels remember included

his own cousin with his own last name

this would have made for a very

interesting confrontation and most

likely an awkward family reunion Emperor

France however stepped in preventing his

grandson from joining the Expedition the

young officer was thus confined to

Garrison duties and by all accounts he

made for a good officer but his health

continued to decline dogged by

respiratory ailments his physician Dr

mulati initially believe that France may

be tormented by recurring pneumonia it

later became clear that the diagnosis

was an even worse one consumption now

known as tuberculosis Dr malasi lamented

that Fran had and I quote an iron spirit

in a body of Crystal which is so badass

a line I want to use it for my next

Boulders Gate 3 character Fran spent

then first three months of 1832 under

ordered bed rest malfatti and other

doctors argued that the young bonapart

could benefit from living in warmer

climates for example he could move to

Italy and join his mother in Palmer

according to the writer Andre castelot

this option was vetoed by the powerful

Chancellor Mich himself later

conspiracies theorized that metanis had

plot to poison France whom he considered

a potential dangerous enemy Castello

argued that metanis didn't need to

poison him he simply had to let France

die and that sadly wouldn't take long in

May 1832 France received an appointment

to Colonel this would be the last gift

he received from his grandfather two

months later on July 22nd Napoleon

Francois Charles Robert bonapart or

France died in Vienna's scal Brown

Palace at the age of 21 his reported

last words were and I quote quot one

final time my birth and my death that is

my entire story between my cradle and my

grave there lies a big fat zero so I

hope everybody found this video

interesting educational and entertaining

I certainly found the script to be all

three of those things if you did enjoy

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am the interim host of and as always I

would like to wish everybody at home the

day that you all deserve

[Music]

cheers