Victor Hugo's Early Life
Victor Marie Hugo was born February 26th 1802 to Parents Sophie Trebuche and Joseph-Leopold-Sigisbert Hugo. Hugo was the third son born into the family. His brothers were Abel Joseph Hugo and Eugene Hugo. His mother was very religious and a Catholic Royalist. Victor childhood was a period od national political turmoil: Napoleon was made Emperor when Hugo was two and the Bourbon Monarchy was restored when he was seventeen. Hugo was a republican and considered Napoleon a hero in his younger years. Hugo's father Joseph was a general in Napoleon's army (until they failed in Spain). Since his father was in the army Victor and his family had to move around a lot. Eventually his mother Sophie had grown tired of military life and of her husband's lack of Catholic beliefs. As a result she left Joseph taking her three sons with her. Since she left Victor's father she dominated Victor's education and uprising. This resulted in Hugo's earlier work in poetry to reflect his mother's passion for both the king and faith. However later during events leading up to France's 1848 revolution Victor would begin to rebel against his Catholic royalist education and instead move toward republicanism and free thought.