He once planned to use them to kill himself; Napoleon Bonaparte’s pistols auctioned for 1.69 million euros – Times of India
Two pistols that former French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte intended to use for suicide were sold at an auction in Fontainebleau for 1.69 million euros ($1.8 million), exceeding the estimated price range of 1.2-1.5 million euros. The buyer's identity remains undisclosed.The guns, adorned with gold and silver inlays, feature a carved image of Napoleon in full imperial pomp.According to auction house expert Jean-Pierre Osenat, these weapons were nearly used by Napoleon to end his life in 1814 after his army's defeat and the occupation of Paris by foreign forces. However, his grand squire Armand de Caulaincourt removed the powder, preventing the suicide attempt. Napoleon later gave the pistols to his squire as a token of gratitude for his loyalty.The French government has classified them as ...