We tried through this paper to reconstitute the evolution of the urologic i
llness of Napoleon III, last emperor of France, the first symptoms of which
appeared many years before the fatal war of 1870, which led to the dismemb
ering of France. In this connection, we present Napoleon III's physicians a
nd his cures, along with the diagnostic and therapeutic errors.
The case of Napoleon III is a typical example of the influence the bad heal
th of a sovereign can exercise on the destiny of his country.