Eugénie de Montijo, the Last Empress of France

Born Spanish, Eugénie Countess de Montijo de Teba was raised on French literature. Her French teacher was Stendhal, and a family friend for many years was Prosper Mérimée. Eugénie's father provided her with an excellent education. When she began to appear at balls in the Elysee Palace, her beauty and perceptive mind caught everyone's attention; there she was introduced to the future emperor, who fell in love with her at first sight. In 1853, the solemn wedding of Napoleon III and Eugénie took place in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. She was the only woman on the French throne to serve as regent three times. Eugénie was considered one of the most beautiful women of her time, a patron of the arts and literature, as well as a trendsetter in fashion in Europe.

The dramatic fate of the last empress of France, who played a significant role in European politics for about two decades, is told in the latest book of the series.