Napoleon III

About Napoleon III

Napoleon III, born Charles-Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, remains a pivotal yet often overlooked figure, ranking #421 in historical importance. As the first President of France and later the Emperor of the Second French Empire (1852–1870), his reign was defined by significant modernization of Paris—most famously through Baron Haussmann's massive urban renewal projects—and substantial foreign policy involvement, including the Crimean War and the eventual unification of Italy. His importance stems from cementing a modern, yet authoritarian, form of governance in 19th-century Europe before his final defeat and exile.

Despite this high historical standing, Napoleon III's contemporary digital footprint is comparatively small. He registers 1.6 million annualized Wikipedia views in 2025, placing him in a state of 'overattention' by a factor of +4x relative to his HPI rank. This means the internet pays him significantly more attention than his historical placement would suggest, though this must be viewed against modern figures. For contrast, a much less historically important contemporary politician like George H. W. Bush (#788 importance) garners 4.4 million views, indicating a considerable gap in modern digital focus for the former Emperor.

This online presence is currently contracting; his 2025 Wikipedia traffic has seen a notable 15.5% year-over-year decrease, suggesting a steady decline in the present-day internet's curiosity regarding the man who shaped modern Paris.