Eugénie de Montijo was born on May 5, 1826, in Granada, Spain. She became the last Empress of the French as the wife of Napoleon III, who ruled from 1852 to 1870. Eugénie was known for her beauty and fashion sense, influencing the styles of her time. As Empress, Eugénie played a significant role in the cultural and political life of France. She supported various charitable causes and was involved in the arts, promoting the works of artists like Edgar Degas and Édouard Manet. Her reign ended with the fall of the Second Empire during the Franco-Prussian War.