Emperor of the French | |
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Empereur des Français | |
Coat of Arms of the French Empire | |
Incumbent | |
Napoleon IV since 8 October 1873 | |
Details | |
Style | His Imperial Majesty (name), by the grace of God and the will of the Nation, Emperor of the French |
Heir apparent | Charles Louis Napoleon Francis Joseph Bonaparte, Prince of Burgundy |
First monarch | Napoleon I |
Formation | 18 May 1804 (First French Empire) 2 December 1852 (Second French Empire) |
Residence | Tuileries Palace |
The Emperor, or Empress if a woman, is the highest authority in France. It occupies the Moderator power, which is responsible for keeping the harmony between the other powers. The Emperor has enormous power for such, but don't use such power unless requested or in the event of a national emergency. It is his prerogative to choose the Prime Minister, judges of the Imperial Court of Justice and Senators. However, he is bound by a "gentlemen agreement" to chose the Prime Minister as recommended by the Chamber of Deputies, mostly the party with most seats; appoint judges at the recommendation of the Prime Minister and choose one of the four most elected for the position of Senator.
The person of the monarch is, under the constitution of 1871, inviolable. Yet this does not mean he can't be charged with criminal offenses. Rather, as the interpretation of the deputies, it means that if an Emperor commits a crime, it has the same effect of an abdication. The heir of the Empire is always the first male son of the Emperor. If he only have female daughters, they can be heir of the throne. Should the Emperor have no issue, it will be traced back one generation, with the same rules: preference of the first male issue.
Should the throne not be occupied, because of death of Emperor or any other problem that stop an Emperor from ruling, yet the heir is incapable, because of age or other reason, and regent shall be chosen by the senators. He will rule until an Emperor, or Empress, assume the throne.
Portrait | Name | Reignspan | Lifespan | Notes |
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Napoleon I | 18 May, 1804 - 11 April, 1814
20 March, 1815 - 22 June, 1815 |
15 August, 1769 - 5 May, 1821 | Deposed in 1814 and restored and again deposed in 1815 | |
Napoleon II | 22 June, 1815 - 7 July, 1815 | 20 March, 1811 - 22 July, 1832 | Never ruled, son of Napoleon I | |
Napoleon III | 2 December, 1852 - 8 October, 1873 | 20 April, 1808 - 8 October, 1873 | Nephew of Napoleon I | |
Eugénie | 8 October, 1873 - 16 March, 1874 | 5 May, 1826 - | Wife of Napoleon III, acted as regent | |
Napoleon IV | 8 October, 1873 - | 16 March, 1856 - | Son of Napoleon III |
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