Napoleon's personal sword reappears after more than 200 years

The recent auction of a sword commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 from Nicolas Noël Boutet highlights the French emperor's lasting symbolic and material legacy . The weapon, designed for the personal use of the then First Consul, accompanied Napoleon throughout his rise and consolidation as a central figure in European history.

The sabre had a starting estimate of between €700,000 and €1 million, but was eventually sold by the Giquello auction house at the Hôtel Drouot for €4.7 million . It thus nearly missed the world record for an artefact belonging to the former Emperor, set at €4.8 million in 2007 for his sabre from the Battle of Marengo , and joins the very exclusive circle of the most valuable Napoleonic artefacts ever sold at auction.

Napoleon kept it until the end of his term as emperor, and after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo , he gave it to Emmanuel de Grouchy in 1815, whom he appointed as his last Marshal of the Empire. Its continued existence in the family's hands for over two centuries gives this artifact particular historical value.

Its design and craftsmanship reflect the military and aesthetic refinement of the Napoleonic era, as well as the leader's desire to project power through personal emblems. Few replicas of this weapon exist: a second identical sword is currently housed in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.

Napoleon memorabilia regularly comes up for auction in France, in a thriving trade marked by intense interest from collectors, according to AFP. Two pistols used to attempt suicide sold in France last July for €1.7 million, while one of his signature "bicorn" hats was acquired for €1.9 million in November 2023.