September 4th 1870: Napoleon III deposed
On this day in 1870 French Emperor Napoleon III, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, was deposed. Before assuming the imperial title in 1852 he was the first President of France, having been elected by popular vote. However when prevented from running for a second term he staged a coup d’état and seized the throne. Napoleon’s initial reign was characterised by repression of political enemies and wide-ranging reform of French life, including some positive changes like extensive rebuilding of Paris, financial reorganisation and some labour rights. He was eventually overthrown due to his poor leadership in the Franco-Prussian War, which resulted in decisive Prussian victory under the leadership of Otto von Bismarck. The Emperor was even captured by the Prussians himself at the Battle of Sedan and after this surrendered to the Prussians in what many French saw as a humiliating debasement. Soon after that debacle he was removed from power and was held in captivity before going into exile in Britain. The Third Republic was declared and the monarchy abolished, thus making Napoleon III the last French monarch.
