Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (1778-1846), King of Holland (1806?10) W W as one of three younger brothers of Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France. In his youth he had become close to his older brother, who took him under his wing while at the Royal Artillery school at Auxonne, and had him made Lieutenant of the 4th Artillery Regiment when he was only 16. When Napoleon took command of the French Army in Italy, Louis Napoleon became his brother?s ?aide de camp?. Made Captain at the age of 18, he took part in the Egyptian campaign. Bonaparte arranged a marriage between his stepdaughter Hortense de Beauharnais (the daughter of his wife Josephine) and his brother Louis, which took place on January 4, 1802. Although the marriage was not a happy one, it did produce three sons. These were Napoleon Charles Bonaparte, who died in 1807 at 4 years of age; Napoleon Louis Bonaparte (1804- 1831); and Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (1808-1873), who would become Emperor Napoleon III of France (1852-1870). Louis was at his brother?s side during his early successes, serving in Italy and Egypt, and fighting at Caldiero, Arcola and Rivoli. During the reign of Napoleon I, Louis was made Count of Saint-Leu. In 1805, he was given command of the French troops in Holland. The following year, Napoleon compelled the Dutch delegation to request Louis Napoleon Bonaparte to accept the crown of Holland, thus converting the former Batavian Republic into the Kingdom of Holland, closely controlled by France. Louis Napoleon entered the Hague on June 23rd, 1806. The reception was a sincerely hearty one; for many people were relieved that the Batavian Republic had simply been annexed by France. Though Bonaparte intended his brother to be little more than a French governor, Louis took his duties as King seri-ously, calling himself by the Dutch form of his name, King Lodewijk I, studying the Dutch language, and attempting to serve as a responsible, independent ruler of Holland. He introduced a unified currency (previously, the provinces and certain cities had minted their own coins) and compiled a penal code largely modeled on French law. In addition, he strove to improve health care and education. In July 1809, British troops landed on Walcheren, a former island in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands, in the aim of assisting the Austrians in their war against Napoleon. Louis sent troops to fight the English, who were defeated, however this incident reinforced Napoleon?s desire to strengthen the ties between Holland and France. The difference in outlook between the Emperor and his brother eventually brought about a split between the two. Louis rebelled against the Continental Blockade, which was disastrous for Holland?s economy, and Bonaparte forced him to abdicate in 1810. Louis subsequently traveled throughout Europe and finally retired in Italy. He died on July 25, 1844, and is buried at Saint-Leu-La-Foret, in the Ile-de-France.