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Napoleon's Suicide
(National treasure of France)
Most people know that Napoleon Bonaparte died of stomach cancer on St. Helena. Still, the fact that the emperor tried to commit suicide after the defeat and occupation of Paris, in 1814, is little known.
The ruler planned to die with a pistol. But his prudent and faithful squire took out the powder in time. Napoleon tried to poison himself, but the poison was not destined to affect either - the imperial stomach rejected its contents.
Nevertheless, pistols have made history. In addition, they are a real work of gun art: richly inlaid and decorated with gold and silver, with a full-length engraved Napoleon in full dress.
On Sunday, the pistols were sold at auction in Fontainebleau for more than €1,700,000 to an anonymous buyer.
The French Ministry of Culture has recognized them as a national treasure, thereby prohibiting "resettlement" to another country — only temporary export with mandatory return to the territory of the Republic is possible.
And this status also gives the French government the right to make an offer to the new owner to buy back such historical weapons.
Fortunately, the owner has the right to refuse🙂
*photo by The Guardian