Charlemagne de Maupas

Charlemagne Émile de Maupas was born in Bar-sur-Aube, Aube, on 8 December 1818. He studied law in Paris.^[1] He entered the prefectural career as a sub-prefect of Uzès in 1845, then of Beaune in 1847. He returned to private life after the February Revolution of 1848. He attached himself to the Bonapartist party, and soon gained the confidence of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte. De Maupas was named in succession sub-prefect of Boulogne-sur-Mer (1849), prefect of Allier (1849) and prefect of Haute-Garonne (1850).^[2] He was noted for his zeal and lack of scruples. When prefect of Haute-Garonne he wanted to arrest enemies of the regime. The magistrate protested that there was no evidence. He replied that evidence would be created.^[3]

On 27 October 1851 Louis Napoleon appointed de Maupas to police headquarters in Paris.^[3] He replaced Carlier as head of the prefecture of the police.^[2] He was one of the leaders of the 2 December 1851 coup, along with Charles de Morny and Saint Arnaud. He disagreed with the tactic of letting the riots start before annihilating them. His preferred approach would have been to deploy the army in force in Paris to deter any attempt at resistance. Although there were risks of the troops fraternizing with the insurgents, his approach would have avoided bloodshed.^[3] In his first proclamation he warned the people of Paris not to resist in face of inflexible force, and that night arrested all who seemed most hostile to the coup.^[2]