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What happened to Napoleon III at the Battle of Sedan?

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Portrait of Napoleon III in a dark military uniform with gold epaulettes, a red sash, and medals, set against a deep red background. Painted by Hippolyte Flandrin. — Napoleon III Napoleon III, detail of a portrait by Hippolyte Flandrin, 1862; in the Versailles Museum.

At the Battle of Sedan on September 1–2, 1870, Napoleon III suffered a decisive defeat that ended his reign. Despite being severely ill, the emperor joined the battle line in a desperate attempt to find death in combat and avoid the humiliation of defeat, but he was ultimately unsuccessful in this effort.12

Recognizing that further resistance would only result in pointless slaughter, Napoleon III ordered a white flag raised on the morning of September 2. He subsequently traveled to meet the German king, William I, to surrender. This capitulation led to his deposition and the collapse of the Second Empire, triggering the proclamation of the Third Republic in Paris shortly thereafter. Following his surrender, Napoleon III was held by the Germans before eventually being released and moving to England, where he lived until his death in 1873.132