Posted on 06/08/2007 12:33:33 AM PDT by Cincinna
A new Napoleonic campaign is under way in France - but this time the great-great-grandnephew of Napoleon Bonaparte is trying to get elected.
Charles Napoleon, 57, is running for the Democratic Movement party. It was founded by centrist Francois Bayrou, who ran in the presidential race.
"I have a life beyond my name and inheritance," he insists.
Two centuries ago the emperor Napoleon led French armies into battle. Charles hopes for a seat in parliament.
"I stand behind my name, but I'm also careful never to hide my own values," he says.
The parliamentary election will take place in two rounds, on 10 and 17 June.
Charles Napoleon is standing in a constituency that includes Fontainebleau, where the emperor had his favourite residence and spent his last days before heading into exile.
Unlike his diminutive ancestor, Mr Napoleon stands almost two metres (6ft, 5 inches) tall.
The modern politician uses an orange-painted "Napomobil" van to travel through his constituency of 110,000 voters.
Lessons from Napoleon
Mr Napoleon first entered politics in 2001, when he won a municipal election in the city of Ajaccio, Corsica.
His surname is Napoleon rather than Bonaparte since his great grandfather decided to use it.
"Some people tell me: 'Napoleon is dead. So who are you?'", he says.
But Mr Napoleon runs a foundation and has written several books about his ancestor.
"One lesson I draw from Napoleon and other leaders... is that you need to be able to take risks and innovate," he told Reuters news agency.
"We're always facing new problems, such as the environmental challenges today. We must respond in new ways.
"In a similar way, the question of equality of human beings was posed after the French Revolution. ... He (Napoleon) responded to that. It is up to us to tackle our era's problems," he said.
The elevation of the Bonapartes to, theoretically, the status of a royal line was entirely through marriage, and is subject to debate. Basically those who understand the European notions of legitimacy vis-a-vis Christian monarchy could dispute the claim of the Bonapartes being "royal." Those who have no understanding of it, and thus accept a kind of political [for lack of a better word] realism do not as such distinguish between the "royalty" of a legitimate dynasty vs. the pretensions of a military dictator. Thus under the latter understanding anyone who says he is "king" and has the power to back it up IS king. Regardless of his actually legitimacy.
Where as a legitimist, such as myself, does not accept that possibility. One cannot simply declare themselves royal.
The concession of the royal houses of Europe to Napoleon I in allowing him to marry into the "club" if you will, was made in the hopes that he would then start playing by the rules. It was a mistake and those royal families paid for it.
As for the president turned emperor Napoleon III, the telling point should be that in seeking the hand of a real royal person to "legitimize" his claim, he was rebuffed by the royal families who had seemingly learned their lesson.
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