| |
From
9 to 18 June 1806, VerHuell ruled Holland as in interim
ruler following the departure of Schimmelpenninck, who
was replaced by Louis Bonaparte, who had been created
King of Holland by his brother, Napoleon. Upon Louis'
arrival on 18 June, VerHuell interim rulership ended.
Louis, who view of being King of Holland often conflicted
with Napoleon's view, often subjected himself to Napoleon's
wrath when he would refuse to follow an order of Napoleon's
that he deemed harmful to his country. He was therefore a
popular king. Because of Louis Bonaparte's enmity toward
his brother, and VerHuell had a strong friendship with
Napoleon, Louis and VerHuell did not get along well. To
make matters worse, VerHuell was good a good friend of
Louis' wife, Hortense, the Queen of Holland. Hortense was
the daughter of Josephine, Empress of the French, and
step-daughter of Napoleon. Josephine had encouraged the
marriage of Hortense to Louis in the mistaken belief that
it would assist to preserve her own marriage to Napoleon.
Hortense was extremely devoted to her mother and Napoleon.
Louis hated and despised her and made her life miserable.
Therefore, it can be seen that anyone who was a good
friend of the Queen of Holland would automatically become
an enemy of the King of Holland. It was later rumored
that VerHuell was the father of Napoleon III, but it was
just a rumor.
For two years, VerHuell served as a minister, then as
ambassador for Holland in Paris for another two years. In
1810, when Napoleon deprived Louis of his crown and
annexed Holland, and occupied the country, VerHuell was
made a vice-admiral in the French navy. He also became
Earl of Sevenaer (near Doetinchem, now called Zevenaar).
In the French navy, it was VerHuell's job to protect the
empire's northern boundaries from seaborne invasion. He
first commands the navy in the north from his
headquarters in Hamburg (in Germany), then later from his
headquarters in Den Helder (above Amsterdam in The
Netherlands). In 1813-14, VerHuell defended his fortress
in Den Helder, called LaSalle, against the troops of
Prince William (son of Prince William V. and later King
William I.). Politically, this was not a clever act on
VerHuell's part, but he maintained his loyalty to France
even when Louis XVIII. was placed on the throne of France
in 1814. After Napoleon's first abdication in 1814,
VerHuell and his troops were allowed to go freely to
France. Knowing that he could expect nothing more from
Holland, VerHuell applied for French citizenship and
received it in early 1815. On Napoleon's return to France
in 1815, VerHuell's former enthusiastic feelings were
considerably tempered and he refrained from active
service.
In 1816, VerHuell officially retired and he becomes a
member of the Chambre des Pairs. There he defended the
rights of the Protestants in France.
When Louis-Philip became the King of France, he and
VerHuell became close friends. VerHuell then became a
highly respected citizen of France. In this time (29 July
1936) the Arc de Triomphe was finished, with VerHuell's
name in it, as only Dutchman. |
