The Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, was born in Spain and at a very early age she and her family had to flee to France when her father decided to support the Napoleonic Wars. Educated at the Convent du Sacre Coeur for a year she would eventually go to the Royal York Crescent in Bristol to learn English where fellow students called her the “carrot” due to her red hair.
At 23 her mother took her to a party at the Elysees Palace on April 12, 1849 where Louis-Napoleon would see her for the first time. For two years he chased after her and she constantly pushed him away until she finally gave in. On January 30, 1853 the two were married in Notre Dame, after Viollet le Duc had to redecorate the facade and inside in the middle of construction. On March 16, 1856 they had their one and only child, Napoleon Eugene Bonaparte. Filling her role and giving an heir to the throne, she swore off ever sleeping with her husband again, a horrible and disgusting act, she said.
Eugénie was obsessed with Josephine and Marie Antoinette and designed her homes in the decor of her idols. She was also a huge supporter of women's equality and artists. It was Eugéne that gave girls the ability to take the baccalaureate. After years of trying she successfully managed to award the Legion d’Honor to artist Rosa Bonheur. Napoleon wanted nothing to do with it and wouldn’t allow a ceremony so Eugéne took the medal to Rosa herself.
While Napoleon went to battle during the Franco Prussian war, Eugéne stayed in Paris and served as regent working with the government and generals. When her husband surrendered to the Prussians she was so mad she told him he should have killed himself then to dishonor France like he did.
Eventually she had to flee France for England and would outlive her husband by almost 50 years, dying at 94 years old on this day, July 11, 1920.
Listen to her entire story and episode filled with fascinating life with many twists and turns.
