King Louis Napoleon
Louis Bonaparte was born in 1778 in Ajaccio (Corsica) as youngest brother to Napoleon Bonaparte. He studied at the French Military academy in Chlons-sur-Marne. Like his brother he participated in the French occupation of Italy (1796-97) and Egypt (1798-99). In 1806 he was made king of Holland by his brother Napoleon. The intention of Napoleon was clear; the creation of vassal-states. At the height of his reign four of the european thrones were occupied by his family members.
Lodewijk Napoleon was married to Hortense de Beauharnais, the stepdaughter of his brother. They had three sons: Napolon Charles Bonaparte (the later Napoleon III), Napoleon Louis Bonaparte, en Louis Napoleon Bonaparte who died nine days after King Louis Napoleon was born. The marriage arranged by Napoleon, was far from happy. Both Louis and Hortense were active outside of of the matrimonial vows. Its is said that Louise Aubry d'Arancey who was born in 1809, as daughter of Johanna Hester Smith (a lady of Lois' court) and Antoine Aubry d'Arancey, was a unlawfull child od Louis. Louis was there when the small Louise was baptised. Also her Christian name and her later wealth do suspect likewise. Hortense had lovers had lovers and unlawful kids as well.
Louis Napoleon was welcomed surprisingly warm in the Hague. This a consequence of several circumstances. In the first place there was no sudden change. At the end of the eighteenth century stadtholders gained a quasi-monarchic authority and the people got used to one-man rule of the country under Schimmelpenninck. In the second place ex-stadtholder Willem V had just died. His followers where with this dismissed of their sworn alliance. A piquant detail is that the appointment of Louis as king of Holland, had some constitutional ground.. William Frederic, Prince of Orange-Nassau, son of the dead Stadtholder Willem V (we are talking the future King William I) had sold, in 1801, his King Louis Napoleonirloom, on Stadtholdership, to Napoleon. The third reason was that the people were relieved the Netherlands were not annexated, and there for kept the independence they valued so much.
Louis Napoleon build on the acquired governmental rights of the Bataafse Republic and the "Rule of Schimmelpenninck". King Louis Napoleon could easily put the use what was left over from the Schimmelpenninck's government. Louis made his own input as well: King Louis Napoleon introduced a uniform coin unit, which simplified collecting taxes, introduced a more humane code of law and made himself strong for changes in King Louis Napoleonalthcare and education.
He put his mark as well on the culture It was him who took the initiative to build the Royal Library and the National Museum. The latter opened its doors on the 15th of September 1809, in "the Palace on the dam". This Predecessor of the State Museum, was based on the collection of the, in 1800 in Thee Hague, opened Gallery of Arts. Louis showed himself as a true Maecenas and bought within a short period some renowned collections for the museum. King Louis Napoleon stimulated the arts of his days by the organisation of exposition of living artists and the giving of prices.
During his short rule Louis became more and more popular. His popularity was caused by his quick reaction on some of the disasters that happened during his reign. King Louis Napoleon assisted in recovery and King Louis Napoleonlp to victims. King Louis Napoleon visited the Betuwe in 1809 after a flooding and financially aided the victims. The people appreciated him as well, for his refusal to support the national service and continental system. The in 1806 proclaimed Continental System entailed complete restriction on trade with England. This would have been disastrous for the Dutch economy, if it was not for Louis' excemptions and his poor supervision on its observation. Only in 1808 King Louis Napoleon closed the Harbours for non-allied ships.
In 1810 the Netherlands were, not in the least because of the above, annexated by France. In March 1810 French border patrol are introduced and Zeeland, Brabant and Limburg are declared French ground. King Louis Napoleon, gives in under the pressure and abdicates the throne, on the first of Juli. On the 9th of that month the kingdom of Holland became part of France by decree, and came under the direct rule of Napoleon Bonaparte. After his abdication as king, Louis resides most of the time in Italy. King Louis Napoleon dies in1846.
In the traditional (backdated) "homeland-history" it was attempted to write out Louis Napoleon. Modern historical research results however in very positive opinions regarding his rule as king of Holland. King William I, could build his rule on the popularity of Louis I. Without Louis Napoleon, the monarchy would not have the popularity it has now