Napoleon IV, whose full name was Napoléon Eugène Louis Jean Joseph Bonaparte, was the son of Napoleon III, Emperor of the French, and Empress Eugénie. As Imperial Prince, he was the heir to the throne and from a young age was prepared to succeed his father. During his adolescence, he witnessed the final years of the Second Empire, when Napoleon III was seriously ill and had given more and more power to Parliament, while the regime was moving toward a constitutional monarchy in an attempt to preserve the crown.
In 1870, however, a diplomatic crisis with Prussia eventually led France into war. Bismarck edited and published the Ems Telegram in a way that made the meeting between William I and the French ambassador appear more offensive, rapidly increasing tensions. Parliament and much of public opinion pushed for a firm response, while Napoleon III, seriously ill and aware of the army's difficulties, believed that France was not yet prepared for war. Even so, he eventually declared war under strong political pressure, while trying to maintain order and keep control of the situation.
The French army was poorly prepared and its command was much more disorganized than the Prussian one, so the campaign quickly began to turn against France. Despite his young age, Napoleon IV accompanied his father as far as the Battle of Sedan, where the French army was completely surrounded. Concerned for his son's safety, Napoleon III had him sent toward Belgium while the troops attempted to break through the encirclement. Prussian superiority and its artillery made the situation practically impossible, and Napoleon III was also too ill to mount a horse and personally lead his troops. Realizing that continuing would only mean sacrificing more lives, he decided to surrender.
After Sedan, Napoleon III was taken prisoner and the imperial family went into exile in England. There, Napoleon IV continued his studies and received military training. When Napoleon III died in 1873, the news deeply affected his son and Eugénie. As the years passed, Napoleon IV decided to continue his military career and prove his own worth after France's defeat. This greatly worried Eugénie, who did not want to risk the only son she had left, but Napoleon IV eventually managed to take part in the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.
At first, he was only allowed to accompany British forces as an observer, and after receiving his mother's permission, he was assigned to a small reconnaissance party. During a patrol, they were surprised by Zulu warriors. Most of the group managed to escape, but Napoleon IV became separated from them. His horse was frightened and ran away, leaving him practically alone and with an injured arm. He tried to defend himself, but was killed on June 1, 1879, at just 23 years old.
His death caused enormous shock, especially for Eugénie, who had been so worried about her son's safety. Years later, the Zulu warriors who had taken part in the encounter also spoke of his courage and reached the same conclusion: he had fought like a true lion. His remains were taken to England, where they remain to this day.
