Louis Bonaparte, frère cadet de Napoléon Bonaparte, a régné en tant que roi de l'État client français de Hollande de 1806 à 1810. Alors que Napoléon destinait la Hollande à n'être qu'un État fantoche, Louis était déterminé à affirmer autant d'indépendance que possible. Ses efforts prirent finalement fin en 1810 lorsque Napoléon annexa à nouveau la Hollande à l'Empire français. Louis s'enfuit alors en exil en Autriche, où il passa le reste de sa vie.
In this response to Sir Walter Scott's biography of Napoleon Bonaparte, Louis Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother, defends his family's legacy and provides his own perspective on Napoleon's life and achievements. Louis argues that Napoleon was a great leader and that many of the stories about him are inaccurate or exaggerated.
This anthology brings together a collection of important historical documents related to the government of Holland, accompanied by insightful reflections from Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland from 1806-1810. Addressing issues such as democracy, religious freedom, and the balance of power, it remains relevant to contemporary debates about governance and society.