all his official dignities. Nevertheless he was influential in
effecting the reform by which in 1869 it was sought to reconcile the
Empire with Liberal principles. The fatal war of 1870 was resolved upon
during his absence in Norway, and was strongly condemned by him. After
the first disasters he undertook an ineffectual mission to Italy to
implore the aid of his father-in-law; and after the fall of the Empire
lived in comparative retirement until in 1879 the death of Napoleon
III.'s son, the Prince Imperial (see XIII. below), made him direct heir
to the Napoleonic succession. His part as imperial pretender was
unfortunate and inglorious: his democratic opinions were unacceptable to
the imperial party, and before his death he was virtually deposed in
favour of his son Prince Napoleon Victor, who, supported by Paul de
Cassagnac and others, openly declared himself a candidate for the throne
in 1884. He died at Rome on the 17th of March 1891. In the character of
his intellect, as in personal appearance, he bore an extraordinary
resemblance to the first Napoleon, possessing the same marvellous
lucidity of insight, and the same gift of infallibly distinguishing the
essential from the non-essential. He was a warm friend of literature and
art, and in a private station would have achieved high distinction as a
man of letters.

His eldest son, Prince Napoleon Victor Jerome Frederic (b. 1862), became
at his death the recognized head of the French Bonapartist party. The
second son, Prince Louis Napoleon, an officer in the Russian army,
showed a steadier disposition, and was more favoured in some monarchist
quarters; in 1906 he was made governor of the Caucasus.

12. Mathilde.

XII. MATHILDE LETITIA WILHELMINE (1820-1904), daughter of Jerome, and
sister of Prince Napoleon (XI.), was born at Trieste on the 20th of May
1820; after being almost betrothed to her cousin Louis Napoleon, in 1840
she was married to Prince Anatole Demidov. His conduct, however, led to
a separation within five years, and the tsar Nicholas compelled him to
make Princess Mathilde a handsome allowance. After the election of Louis
Napoleon to the presidency of the republic she took up her residence in
Paris, and did the honours of the Elysee till his marriage. She
continued to live in Paris, having great influence as a friend and
patron of men of art and letters, till her death on the 2nd of January
1904.

13. Prince Imperial: son of Napoleon III.