Bonaparte: Lucien Bonaparte

Napoleon's brother Lucien, 1775–1840, first became prominent as president of the Council of Five Hundred. He took an important part in the coup of 18 Brumaire (1799); by boldly haranguing the troops while the council was about to outlaw Napoleon, who had lost his nerve, Lucien succeeded in dispersing the Five Hundred. The Directory was overthrown, and Napoleon became First Consul. However, Lucien was critical of his brother's policies and married a commoner against Napoleon's wishes.

Lucien went to live in Italy under the protection of Pope Pius VII, who made him prince of Canino. When Napoleon made the pope a prisoner, Lucien attempted to flee (1810) to the United States but was captured at sea by the British and interned in England. He returned to Italy in 1814 and became reconciled with Napoleon, who was then in Elba. Lucien returned to France during the Hundred Days, and after Waterloo he tried to secure the throne for Napoleon II. He died in exile in Italy.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Later Generations
• Jérôme Bonaparte
• Caroline Bonaparte
• Pauline Bonaparte
• Louis Bonaparte
• Elisa Bonaparte
• Lucien Bonaparte
• Joseph Bonaparte
• Parentage
• Bibliography

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: French History: Biographies