French Empire (No Belgium)

The French Empire (: Empire français), officially the Second French Empire (Le Second empire français) was the Imperial regime of from 1852 to 1909, the end of the Great War Great European War. The Empire was one of the strongest great powers in the world, growing from an isolated kingdom to an Empire with territories across the globe.

The Empire was the second French kingdom to be ruled by the Bonaparte dynasty, first established almost half a century earlier. The Empire was established from a by Emperor Napoleon III, who promised to guide the French people towards justice, prosperity, and peace. His reign saw the Franco-Prussian War defeat of the Prussia Kingdom of Prussia and the North German Confederation, halting the growth of a completely-united German Empire under Prussian rule. He was succeeded by his son, Napoleon IV, a year later, the last Emperor of the French.