Napoleon III: France's Last Emperor with Edward Shawcross | Ancient to Recent | Episode 72

As a child he saw his uncles empire collapse, as a young man he was consumed by dreams of glory and as an adult he turned those dreams into reality.

This is the story of Louis Napoleon, the last Emperor of France.

A story of intrigue and delusion, of ambition and deceit of honour and shame as a man with nothing but his name rises to an imperial throne.

In this episode Joseph Parkinson is joined by renowned historian Edward Shawcross, author of The People's Emperor, the Unlikely Rise and Spectacular Fall of Louis Napoleon.

We discover how he seizes power, tried to heal Frances social ills and restore France as the premier nation of Europe.

How Louis Napoleon embarks on an ambitious program of social change at home, transforming Paris into one of the world capitals.

And also how he embarked on reckless adventures in Mexico and Italy that brought disaster for France.

How, against all the odds he made and lost an Empire.

Episodes of Ancient to Recent are out every Saturday and are available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcast.

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