L’Aiglon is a captivating play in six acts written by Edmond Rostand. It revolves around the life of Napoleon II, who was the son of Emperor Napoleon I and his second wife, Empress Marie Louise. The title of the play is derived from a nickname for Napoleon II, which means “eaglet” in French, signifying a young eagle.

The play premiered on March 15, 1900, at the Théâtre Sarah Bernhardt in Paris, with the legendary actress Sarah Bernhardt portraying the title role. Bernhardt’s iconic white costume, designed by fashion designer Jacques Doucet, added to the allure of the performance. Later that year, an English translation by Louis N. Parker brought the play to New York’s Knickerbocker Theatre, where Maude Adams took on the role of the stricken eaglet. The London debut followed in 1901, once again featuring Bernhardt in the lead.

L’Aiglon remains one of Sarah Bernhardt’s signature roles, and its emotional portrayal of the Duke of Reichstadt, who never ruled but faced a tragic fate, continues to resonate with audiences. Additionally, composers Arthur Honegger and Jacques Ibert created an opera titled L’Aiglon, based on Rostand’s play, which premiered in 1937 at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo.

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