Empress Eugenie of France

[CyrilSebastian]

          In The Mad Monarchist, the Consort Profile of Empress Eugenie of France mentioned:     
   
          She (Eugenie) also took it upon herself to act as a defender of the Catholic Church around       
          the world when other countries would not. It is no exaggeration to say that virtually every decision made by Napoleon III 
          that benefited the (Catholic) Church and Catholic society was done on her advice.

[Poche]

That explains the French troops protecting the Pope before the 1870 collapse of the Papal States.

[CyrilSebastian]

                            Empress Eugenie first met Prince Louis Napoleon after he had become president of the     
                            Second Republic, with her mother, at a reception given by the Prince-President at     
                            the Elysee Palace on April 12, 1849.

[CyrilSebastian]

Empress Eugenie believed it was vital to preserve the Papal States if the Pope was to perform his mission as God's instrument on earth without interference.

[CyrilSebastian]

Due to her mother's role as a lavish society hostess, Eugenie became acquainted with Queen Isabella II of Spain   
and the prime minister Ramon Narvaez.

[CyrilSebastian]

Despite Eugenie's highborn pedigree, many people around Europe thought that Emperor Napoleon III was marrying down.

[CyrilSebastian]

During the 1870s, there was somer talk of a marriage between Prince Napoleon Eugene,   
Empress Eugenie's son and Princess Beatrice of England, Queen Victoria's daughter.