cuirassier : cuirassier. See Eng. Dict

6. premier Empire. Napoléon I. was proclaimed emperor by the senate May 18, 1804. The first Empire practically ended with his abdication June 21, 181 5, three days after his defeat at Waterloo. His son, the King of Rome, was aknowledged by the government as his successor with the title of Napoléon IL, but Louis XVIII. was restored to the throne only seventeen days after. The second Empire began with the élection of Napoléon III., December 2, 1852, and closed with the proclamation of the French Republic, September 4, 1870.