#King of Rome

[louriee]

Napoleon II

#5- Angsty French Prince and The Duke Ever.

[napoleondidthat]

Napoleon could always count on Chucky when no one else would be his friend.

[bunniesandbeheadings]

[empirearchives]

French people, here is the Prince, object of all our wishes. By Benjamin Zix, 1811.

Français, voilà le Prince, objet de tous nos voeux

Napoleon presenting Napoleon II to a French crowd in 1811.

[miffy-junot]

1813 French print of baby Napoleon II

[captainknell]

*BOOK REPORT*

Napoleon and His Son by Pierre Nezelof

First of all, this book is called a "fictionalized biography" so that leaves me to doubt most of it as "fact", at least in a word for word sense. That is my disclaimer.

This book, unlike most Napoleon books I have read, tells what the characters are thinking and feeling and saying. It seems that normally in books, direct and known quotes are the only dialogue that occurs. The way that this one is written makes it feel as if you are really there and it is easy to visualize. It's not just some dry spouting of facts. That being said, I'm not sure how historically accurate it really is.

Our story begins with Marie Louise finding out that Napoleon has divorced Josephine and is looking for a bride. She soon finds out that she is the intended target and is upset, calling Napoleon "the devil" and "the antichrist".

The story progresses through their marriage and the birth of Napoleon II. Here is the one part where I actually feel bad for Marie Louise. I can relate to her on a mom level. She had a difficult birth and then, by etiquette at the time, didn't have the moments of bonding needed for a mother and baby, especially your first baby. Napoleon II had servants for everything. He did not even need his parents. A wet nurse breastfeed him, which again, was common at the time, but breastfeeding and skin to skin contact with a baby is a HUGE thing in bonding. Marie Louise never had that chance. Now I'm not condoning her neglectful behavior later on, but I understand the reason. She did not feel close with Napoleon II, and I think that made it easier for her to just ignore him and leave him to be brought up by tutors. I know with my first son, not having EVER been around babies, that I didn't know how to connect with him at first. My husband went as far as to accuse me of not loving our son when really I just didn't know how to interact with a baby. Once I figured that out, things were much better. But what I'm saying here, is that she didn't get the chance to figure that out. She didn't have to. There were people for her son's every need except that of a real mother.

Once Napoleon went into exile, first at Elba, and then again to St. Helena, Marie Louise ran back to the only life she knew without Napoleon: Austria. Napoleon II was only a toddler. They took away his toys and French clothes and did their best to make him an Austrian prince under Metternich's careful watch. They began calling him Franz. Eventually all his French staff were removed and replaced with Austrian staff. He was kept in the dark about many things concerning his father, especially where he currently was and how he was being treated. Meanwhile, Marie Louise had quickly fallen in love with Count Neipperg, and was concealing her new life, and even new children! from her son. She was away from Franz for years at a time, often making excuses on why she couldn't travel to see him.

Franz's only friends were Sophie of Bavaria and Prokesch von Osten. Sophie was his comfort and Prokesch was his hope. They were always making grand plans to help Franz return to the French throne. He felt that these were the only people he could trust. Everyone else reported back to Metternich, who was basically holding him prisoner, keeping him away from France and even his own inheritance.

Unfortunately, Franz was a sickly young man. By the time he was 21, he was on his deathbed. Unfortunately, Prokesch was away - meeting with Franz's grandmother, Laetitia (as it is spelled in this book), mother of Napoleon Bonaparte. Sophie went into labor also at this time with her second child, and was unable to see Franz once more. She had barely left his bedside during his illness despite her pregnancy. Begrudgingly, Marie Louise showed up, ordered by her father to do so. She couldn't stomach the sight of her dying son and kept fainting/running out of the room/leaving him alone. Franz died of Tuberculosis and Metternich slept easily, knowing that the threat of Napoleon was gone.

It was a very good book with an engaging story. I would definitely recommend, but again, I caution that it might not be 100% fact.

[shannonselin]

Napoleon II, styled King of Rome, later Duke of Reichstadt, by Thomas Lawrence, 1818-1819

Napoleon’s only legitimate child, Napoleon François Charles Joseph Bonaparte, was born at the Tuileries Palace on March 20, 1811, to all the splendor of the French Imperial Court. His birth was a touch-and-go affair. The doctor feared that either Napoleon’s wife, Marie Louise, or the baby might die. Napoleon said he would have preferred being at a battle.   

The baby was given the title of King of Rome. He was later known as Napoleon II, the Prince of Parma, and the Duke of Reichstadt. He did not hold all of those titles at the same time, and you can tell whether someone was a supporter of Napoleon based on how they referred to the boy after 1815. His nickname was l’Aiglon, or the Eaglet (one of Napoleon’s symbols was the eagle).

He led a short, sad life, living in exile from France and dying of tuberculosis at the age of 21. For details, see “Napoleon II:  Napoleon’s Son, the King of Rome.”

[mu-rat78]

Jon snow / Napoleon II Similarities

I don’t know if I’m the last to realize this , but has anyone noticed that Jon snow has a lot of similarities to Napoleon II lol. Like I don’t know if George rr Martin got influenced but it is interesting.

1. Both sides of their family’s faught against one another

2. A coalition or alliance of kingdoms forms to take down their father’s family . Britain, Austria, Prussia etc / North, Vale and Stormlands and riverlands etc.

3. both taken and raised in their mothers homeland . And given a new name and identity. Separating them from their royal identity.

4. Both raised in the house of their mother’s family yet is still treated as an outsider.

5. They both take more after their mothers side than as far as looks

6. Both brood and depressed.

I will say that least Ned stark was a better father figure than Francis ii. Least he wasn’t threatening to put a child in prison if he followed his father footsteps. Also the Starks overall were better people than the hasburgs ,and least Jon snow’s mother had a good excuse for not being there(being dead in all) and didn’t abandon him. But I digress.

[unverredumatcha]

No wonder the King of Rome cried when Napoleon played peek-a-boo with him

Just look

[microcosme11]

The only review. It doesn't surprise me that it's confusing. Napoleon probably got distracted while dictating it along with five other things. And he told his son, The world is governed by love and fear? I think greed should be in there.

[captainknell]

I have been trying to formulate a response for some days, but when I was reading I came across this passage which I thought summed it up nicely:

Can anyone explain to me how Marie relationship with her son, Napoleon II? I really want to know why people hate her but I found no source in google 😔😔

[napoleondidthat]

Take your kid to work day was everything Napoleon hoped it would be.

[empirearchives]

Allegory of the Birth of the King of Rome, 1811

Ernest Joseph Bailly

Museum of Fine Arts Ghent

[miffy-junot]

Naps and his baby for Halloween :3

(sorry this is very rushed T-T)

[miffy-junot]

Napoleon II was officially voted the cutest Napoleon in a poll I made, so I think he also deserves to be voted the cutest Habsburg as well!

Maria Leopoldina, Empress of Brazil, reigned from 1822-1826

This Barbie made Brazil independent

Napoleon II, Duke of Reichstadt

Died young but loved in this bracket

[sforzesco]

WILL NO ONE RID ME OF THIS TROUBLESOME PRIEST ROMAN?

When Caesar arrived in pursuit on the third day, Theodotus showed him Pompey's head and ring, but Caesar was offended and wept.

-Liv. Per. 112.4

the title quotation is referring to the famous quote associated with the henry II-thomas becket conflict. the uhhhhh. the themes match, somewhat. feels the same, in some kind of way. anyway, fucking RIP to caesar and pompey. it's gotta be lonely, to start off as three, and then two, and even locked in conflict, there's a familiarity of being known that you're never going to have again. ah, what loss. what tragedy. etc etc etc.