Napoleon’s Personal Sword to Be Auctioned in Paris
Paris, The Gulf Observer: A historic sword personally commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte for his own use is set to go under the hammer in Paris next month, auction house Giquello announced on Friday.
Ordered by Napoleon in 1802, the sabre remained in his possession throughout his reign and was later gifted to his trusted ally, Emmanuel de Grouchy, whom Napoleon appointed as his final marshal of the empire. The sword has remained within Grouchy’s family lineage since 1815, the year of Napoleon’s ultimate defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.
The auction is scheduled for May 22, with the sword expected to fetch between €700,000 and €1 million (approximately US$800,000 to US$1.1 million).
A second identical copy of the sabre, also commissioned by Napoleon, is currently housed at the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Interest in Napoleon memorabilia continues to thrive among collectors. In July 2024, two pistols Napoleon once intended to use in a suicide attempt were sold for €1.7 million, while one of his iconic “bicorne” hats set a record in November 2023, selling for €1.9 million.
Additionally, a hand-written letter from Napoleon, in which he denied involvement in the 1809 kidnapping of Pope Pius VII, is scheduled to be auctioned this weekend near Paris, with estimates ranging from €12,000 to €15,000.
