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| In 1869, the Empress Eugénie accepted to preside over the inauguration
ceremony of the Suez Canal. Her aim was to act as the personification
of the French nation and the imperial dynasty of the Bonapartes.
She left Saint-Cloud and her husband Napoleon III (who was unable to absent himself from France for such a long voyage) and her only son on 30 September. Accompanied by a retinue comprising her nieces, the Duchesses d’Albe, Mme de la Poëze, Mme de Nadaillac, Prince Murat, General Douay, Comte Davilier, Comte Brissac, Comte de Clary, Mlle Marion, Mlle de Larminat, and Commandant Reffy, Eugénie boarded the train for Venice. She asked for only one stop Magenta so as to be able to visit the battle site. 2nd October the Empress arrived in Venice where she awaited the imperial yacht the Aigle. |
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