The Second Empire's International Relations

Posts in this section include:

• Amna Maaz, The alliance between Britain and France

• Ava Merolla, French involvement in the Italian Wars of Unification & The collapse of the Second Empire

• Niamh O'Neill, The French Empire's relationship with Asia

• Kelton Smith, The opening of the Suez Canal

The alliance between Britain and France

By Amna Maaz 

Empress Eugénie (1826–1920), wife of Napoleon III, played a pivotal role in the international affairs of the Second French Empire (1852–1870). She was a Spanish noblewoman by birth, and maintained strong ties with Spain, influencing Franco-Spanish diplomacy. As de facto regent in Napoleon III’s absence, most notably during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, she actively engaged in political decision-making, offering counsel on both governance and military strategy.

Eugénie’s political acumen was widely recognized. She was the first female sovereign to be received by the Egyptian Sultan and the only woman he had ever been seen with in public—an indication of her exceptional diplomatic influence. She took an active role in state affairs, frequently presiding over councils and staying up late with advisors to deliberate on policies. She would even summon officials to read her reports of public meetings, demonstrating an unwavering dedication to governance, a rarity for women in 19th-century European politics.

Parallels have often been drawn between Eugénie and Marie Antoinette, as both were foreign-born consorts who captivated the public with their beauty and elegance yet faced criticism for their perceived extravagance and political influence. Ultimately, both witnessed the collapse of their respective monarchies, leading to lives spent in exile.

Eugénie’s role in shaping France’s international image extended beyond diplomacy. Her presence at the grand military review on the Champs de Mars on 24 August 1855 highlighted her engagement in imperial affairs. This event, attended by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, (later recorded in Queen Victoria’s journal as “truly magnificent”) showcased France’s military might and reinforced Franco-British unity during the Crimean War. The meticulous painting of the review positions royal and imperial figures centrally, underscoring their diplomatic significance.

Through her political insight, diplomatic engagements, and active participation in governance, Empress Eugénie emerged as more than a consort—she was a formidable force in European politics, helping shape the trajectory of the Second French Empire.

The Empress had an innate taste for the style characteristic of the Far East style shown clearly in the rooms of the Château de Fontainebleau which was used to house the French Monarchy from 1137 to its fall in 1870. The Chinese Museum and Salon which were meant for relaxation and intimate evenings of the royal court contained exceptional Asian collections put on display by the Empress. They possessed furniture from the looting of the Summer Place in Peking of the British and French in 1860, as well as a curious abundance of porcelain, jade and Buddhist liturgical objects; the ensemble forms a unique and astonishing scenography, consecrating this "Chinese museum” [1] . 

We can again see her interest and relationship to far eastern countries with this portrait depicting a 35 year old Eugenie with her husband Napoleon the III as they are receiving the Siamese Embassy in the ‘Chinese Museum’ who were representing the Kingdom of Siam now known as Thailand. As the embassy entered ‘the ambassadors and their entourage threw themselves on their knees’[2] which was a display of the revived diplomatic relationship, this shows how Eugenie was surrounded by various cultures within Asia due to the Frances imperial history meaning her clothes, interior decoration, routine etc would often be inspired by far eastern customs.

(1) 'The Chinese Salon of the Empress Eugénie' on Fontainbleu-Tourisme.com 

(2) Davey Wright, Hamish 'The Second Empire and Siam: A brief look at Franco-Siamese relations during the 19th Century', on Napoleon.org 

The Empress Eugénie and the inauguration of the Suez Canal

by Kelton Smith

Since the days of Egyptian pharaohs, merchants had dreamed of a trade route that could cut through the Sinai peninsula and allow for easy travel between the vast wealth of the traders in the Indian Ocean and the thriving agricultural heartland of the nile delta, attempts were made by the legendary (and even potentially mythological) Sesostris to dig a canal from the gulf of Suez to Zagazig, a prosperous city along the nile river however this “canal” could only be navigated in the flood season and considering the immense numbers of merchants and the near infinite volume of trade passing through the Nile it was clear that such a proper canal was necessary and thus the task lay on the minds of every great engineer across the centuries.

However it would take until 1858 (almost 3000 years) for Ferdinand de Lesseps to form the Compagnie De Suez, a company with the goal of creating a canal that would connect the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.

Eugénie's support of the canal's construction can, in no way, be understated. Eugénie was the cousin of Ferdinand de Lesseps and was a long time supporter and contributor to the international project that she earned the moniker “The canal's guardian angel”. Consequently it is of no surprise that she was invited to the inauguration of the canal in November 1869. Thanks to her the entire dynamic of the middle east was permanently changed, turning it into a valuable strategic location for the protection of international trade. This moment marked the final moment of international prestige for the Second French Empire. Soon after Eugénie's husband, Napoleon, surrendered at the battle of Sedan and the French monarchy was ousted.

A variety of Ottoman and French flags adorn the three stands of the ceremony, demonstrating the significance of both Eugénie and Frances support of the project as it was placed alongside the flag of the nation it resided in. This shows that for the duration of the ceremony Eugénie was as revered as the ruling Sultan, simply because her support for the project was so unwavering that she was committed to supporting the construction and development. This was in spite of British angst about the project, even though her husband, Napoleon III, was ill and unable to go she still took the arduous journey to Port Said to be apart of the opening ceremony.

(1) Upton, George, 'Eugénie - Empress of the French' (1910). Available online Heritage History