Louis II
King Lodewijk (a.k.a. Napoleon-Louis Bonaparte)
Louis was the King of Holland and the oldest son of King Louis I and Queen Hortense and the older brother of Prince Charles Bonaparte. In a political union, he was married to the American Princess Hortensia. The marriage was estranged from the start, paralleling the relationship between Louis' parents. The relationship improved, but very slowly. Louis was very active in the running of Holland, working to improve the quality of life for his subjects to his father's insistence.
In 1847, he was convinced to invite Karl Marx to court to discuss ideas. Though Marx's ideas were considered too extreme to implement in Holland, Louis agreed to enact some reforms in select Orange Colonies in South Africa. The working class of these colonies improved, though the populace began to question the role of the monarchy. These tensions were not quelled until the South African War many decades later.
Though he cared deeply for his people, he maintained absolute power until the Revolution of 1848. Holland saw little more than peaceful protests, most of which asking for representation. Louis transferred much of his power to the States General that had been greatly diminished during the rule of the Bonapartes.
Holland sided with the Breton rebels in the French Civil War in order to obtain French Flanders. With Dutch support, Brittany gained its independence.
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