Bonapartes on the Thrones of Europe. Portraits and Memories of Napoleon’s Dream

The dream of Napoleon to create an empire in Europe under French control was short-lived and destined to be destroyed within a decade under pressure from the great International powers. To pursue his project, Napoleon entrusted the governments of some of the major European states to members of his family.  At the head of the Kingdom of Naples he first placed his brother Joseph (who later became king of Spain) and then his sister Caroline: the Grand Duchy of Tuscany was entrusted to his other sister Elisa; the thrones of Westphalia and of Holland, Napoleon

 gave to his brothers Jérôme and Louis respectively.  Similarly Eugenio de Beauharnais, the son of Napoleon’s first wife, became Viceroy of Italy.  Political advantage was the motive for Napoleon’s marriage to Marie-Louise of Austria, daughter of the Emperor Francis I.

The collections of the Museo Napoleonico offer the visitor a chance to retrace the history of Napoleon’s empire and discover, through portraits and other memorabilia the people who took on leading political roles in Europe at the beginning of the 1800’s.

Guided tour by Fabio Benedettucci.