Ľudovít Bonaparte bol mladším bratom Napoleona Bonaparte a vládol ako kráľ klientskeho štátu Holandska v rokoch 1806 – 1810. Hoci Napoleon zamýšľal Holandsko ako bábkový štát, Ľudovít sa snažil o čo najväčšiu nezávislosť. Jeho snahy však boli ukončené v roku 1810, keď Napoleon Holandsko anektoval späť do Francúzskeho cisárstva. Ľudovít potom utiekol do exilu v Rakúsku, kde strávil zvyšok svojho života.
In this response to Sir Walter Scott's biography of Napoleon Bonaparte, Louis Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother, defends his family's legacy and provides his own perspective on Napoleon's life and achievements. Louis argues that Napoleon was a great leader and that many of the stories about him are inaccurate or exaggerated.
This anthology brings together a collection of important historical documents related to the government of Holland, accompanied by insightful reflections from Louis Bonaparte, King of Holland from 1806-1810. Addressing issues such as democracy, religious freedom, and the balance of power, it remains relevant to contemporary debates about governance and society.