Napoleon Bonaparte’s Personal Sword Sells for Nearly €4.7 Million at Paris Auction
The sword wielded by French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte throughout his reign has been sold at auction in Paris for €4.663 million, nearly surpassing the previous world record of €4.8 million set in 2007 for another of his swords.
The auction was organized by the Giquello auction house on Thursday evening at Drouot, Paris, and the final bid, including auction fees, reached a total of €4.663 million.
This historic sword was commissioned by Napoleon in 1803, when he was still serving as First Consul, from the renowned gunsmith Nicolas Noël Boutet, director of the Versailles Manufacture. It was presented to Napoleon in 1804, shortly after his coronation as emperor. Napoleon kept the sword until 1815, when he returned from exile on Elba and gifted it to Marshal Emmanuel de Grouchy. Since then, the artifact has remained within the Grouchy family, preserving its rich history.
Alexandre Giquello, head of the firm that conducted the auction, described the sword as a masterpiece of significant historical importance with an undeniable provenance. He emphasized that it symbolizes the convergence of art, history, and power.
As a potent symbol of the Napoleonic era, the sword is intertwined with key events that shaped European history. Its recent sale presents a rare opportunity for collectors and historians eager to explore Napoleon’s legacy and his enduring influence on the continent’s past.
