| Louis II | |
|---|---|
| |
| Louis II in 1901 | |
| Emperor of France | |
| Reign | 1890-1922 |
| Coronation | July 20, 1890 |
| Predecessor | Philippe I |
| Successor | Napoleon III |
| Born | May 19, 1852 Paris, France |
| Died | June 8, 1922 Versailles, France |
| Burial | June 15, 1922 Bonaparte Mausoleum, Paris, France |
| Spouse | Heloise |
| Issue | Napoleon III Albert I Princess Vivianne |
| Full name | |
| Louis Francois Joseph Bonaparte | |
| House | House of Bonaparte |
| Father | Philippe |
| Mother | Beatrice Des Camps |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Louis Francois Joseph Bonaparte (born May 19, 1852; died June 8, 1922), better known by his regnal name of Louis II, was the 5th Emperor of the French, reigning for 32 years, from the death of his father Philippe the Great in 1890 until he himself died in 1922. His reign was defined by the Colonial Wars and France's expansion from being a self-sustained European power to a global military power. Troubled economics and a growing disparity between the rich and the poor, coupled with clear signs of instability within the bloated structure of government, marred his reign, although modern historians celebrate Louis II as a modernizer who built France's foreign policy as opposed to strengthening the nation internally, like his father. He was the first of four of the six 20th century Emperors to bear two sons and thus two potential rivals for the throne.