Charles Louis Napoleon Bonaparte became President of France's Second Republic in 1848. Four years later he decided that being President just wasn't good enough for him, and on December 2, 1851 he staged a coup and declared himself Emperor Napoleon III. Napoleon married Eugenie in January of 1853.
This crown was created for Eugenie, and has imperial gold eagles, gold leaves, 2,480 diamonds and 56 emeralds. Its worth noting that neither Napoleon or Eugenie were ever crowned. Not that doesn't make her an Empress or anything but its a shame that there are no actual pictures of her wearing the crown.
Napoleon III was overthrown in 1870 following France's loss in the Franco-Prussian war. As previously noted, the French Third Republic sold a variety of France's Crown Jewels in 1885, but they decided to keep this one. The crown is currently on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Note to self: next time I am in Paris, I must really check out the Louvre. I have only been to Paris once in my life, and I am kicking myself for not vising the museum.
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