Napoleon's sword sold for $6.4 million

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assholitis
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Napoleon's sword sold for $6.4 million

Post by assholitis »

FONTAINEBLEAU, France - A gold-encrusted sword Napoleon wore into battle in Italy 200 years ago was sold Sunday for more than $6.4 million, an auction house said. The French leader's gold-encrusted sword was bought as a Father's Day gift.

The last of Napoleon's swords in private hands, it has an estimated value of far less — about $1.6 million, according to the Osenat auction house managing the sale.

Applause rang out in a packed auction hall across the street from one of Napoleon's imperial castles in Fontainebleau, a town southeast of Paris, when the sword was sold.

Osenat did not identify the buyer, but said the sword will remain in Napoleon's family, which had put it up for sale. The auction house did not immediately elaborate on the details.

The intricately decorated blade is 32 inches in length and curves gently — an inspiration Napoleon drew from his Egyptian campaign, auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat said.

The sword was carried by Napoleon — who was not yet emperor — into the battle of Marengo in June 1800, when he launched a surprise attack to push the Austrian army from Italy and seal France's victory, auction house officials said.

After the battle, Napoleon gave the sword to his brother as a wedding present, and it was passed down through the generations, never leaving the family, according to the auction house.

The sword was declared a national treasure in 1978, meaning that under French law it could be sold to a foreign buyer but had to remain in France for at least five months per year.


Hey Shloe, I bet you'd like to get a swipe at Napoleon's sword. :wink: :wink: :wink: Nah, but I thought you'd be interested in this story.
Alone we stand, together we fall apart.

*sireofwilshire*
The Rizen shloemoe
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Post by The Rizen shloemoe »

Yes, I read that this morning....naturally I thought
of you :roll: ...you see?...Napoleon was AWESOME!!!! :D
Having abandoned my search for truth,
I am now looking for a good fantasy.
--Anonymous Internet Sage

...Some men...ya just can't reach...
--The Captain from "Cool Hand Luke"
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obiwankobe
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Post by obiwankobe »

he was short, and liked Piggly Wiggly Ice-Cream!!!

Image
-tom

~"Let there be no conflict in America, if you bother me, I whup yo' ass."~Charles Barkley
The Rizen shloemoe
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Post by The Rizen shloemoe »

and So-crates was a hipster...
Having abandoned my search for truth,
I am now looking for a good fantasy.
--Anonymous Internet Sage

...Some men...ya just can't reach...
--The Captain from "Cool Hand Luke"
rotter
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Post by rotter »

Napoleon ice cream is tits! :D
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