Charles Louis NapolÃ on ( 1808 â `` 1873 ) , son of Louis NapolÃ on , was president of France in 1848 and emperor in 1852 until 1870 , reigning as NapolÃ on III . Charles Louis NapolÃ on ( 1808 â `` 1873 ) , son of Louis NapolÃ on , was president of France in 1848 â `` 1852 and emperor in 1852 â `` 1870 , reigning as NapolÃ on III ; his son , EugÃ ne Bonaparte ( 1856 â `` 1879 ) , styled the Prince Imperial , died fighting the Zulus in Natal , South Africa .