Empress Carlota of Mexico
1840-1927
When the
nation of Mexico defaulted on some loans it owed to European bankers,
France invaded and seized Mexico as collateral. French Emperor Napoleon
III then installed a cooperative Austrian archduke named Maximillian to
run the country as
Emperor on his
behalf. Maximillian's wife, Charlotte of
Belgium, came along to be Empress
Carlota of Mexico. A nasty civil war erupted, until Maximilian
was overthrown and executed by partisans.
Carlota lived in
exile, mourning and
seclusion for
decades after this.
Husband: Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico (m. 1857. died 1867)
SITE INDEX
Royal Wives