Conférence "L’impératrice Eugénie, notre dernière souveraine"
A descendant of an aristocratic family, Eugénie de Palafox y Kirkpatrick, known as de Montijo, was born in Spain in 1826.
During the Civil War, she moved to Paris with her elder sister, before spending some time in England. On her return to France, she met Napoleon III, whom she married at Notre-Dame de Paris in 1853, before giving birth to their only son three years later. A woman of refined taste, she bought her jewellery from Mellerio and had her clothes made by Worth, bringing the crinoline into fashion. A keen sportswoman, she took sea baths in Biarritz and rode horses regularly. She visited the sick, championed the rights of the French people, received diplomats and served as regent on three occasions.
In 1869, she presided over the opening of the Suez Canal. The following year, after the fall of the Empire, she went into exile with the Imperial Prince in England before being joined by the Emperor. The death of her husband in 1873, followed by that of her son in 1879, plunged her into deep grief. She bought a small estate with a church to house the two coffins, then returned to France. She travelled, acquired a yacht to sail the seas, and then stayed at Cap Martin, where she had a magnificent villa built for herself. In 1920, at the age of 94, the last sovereign of the French people passed away in Madrid.
David CHANTERANNE will recount the story of Empress Eugénie, our last sovereign.
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David CHANTERANNE is a historian and art historian. Director of Heritage Sites for the town of Rueil-Malmaison, editor-in-chief of the *Revue du Souvenir napoléonien* and trustee of the Institut Napoléon, he is the author of numerous works, including the recent *Chroniques des territoires. *How the Regions Built the Nation* and *Jacques-Louis David: The Emperor of Painters* (Passés Composés, 2023 and 2025). As historical adviser to the Imperial Cities and a consultant for France Télévisions, he is a regular contributor to numerous historical programmes.
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date: Monday 7 December 2026
venue: Conference Room – Châtillon-sur-Seine Town Hall (entrance: Rue du Président Carnot)
Price: members €7 / non-members €9
Contact: accutb21@gmail.com or 06 83 89 36 00
Lectures begin at 2.30 pm sharp: doors open at 2.15 pm