Napoleon's prized sword that he kept as he conquered Europe - but French Emperor gave blade worth staggering sum away before defeat at Waterloo
Napoleon's prized sword which he carried for a decade and gave away three months before his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo has emerged for sale for £850,000.
The 'Turkish style' sabre was specially commissioned to mark his ascension to French Emperor in 1804 and took several months to make.
The 32inch sabre is inscribed 'N Bonaparte' on one side and 'Premier Consul' on the other.
It was made by the master gunsmith Nicolas-Noel Boutet from the Versailles arms factory.
The Little General was so taken by the 'exceptional' craftsmanship that he kept hold of it until March 1815.
Napoleon is alleged to have once said: 'There are only two powers in the world - the sword and the mind.'
He presented the sword to his last Marshal of the Empire, Emmanuel de Grouchy, to reward him for retaking Lyon and capturing the Duke of Angouleme.
After his devastating defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon was exiled to live out his final years on the South Atlantic outpost of St Helena.
The Grouchy family have treasured the sword for 210 years but are now selling it at Paris-based auctioneers Drouot.
Alexandre Giquello, auctioneer at Giquello & Associes, who are handling the sale alongside Druout, said: 'This sabre stands apart for its exceptional provenance, outstanding craftsmanship, and rarity.
'It is one of the very few personal arms known to have belonged to Napoleon himself and to have remained in the same family for over two centuries.
'A second, identical sabre - also commissioned by the Emperor - is held today by the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg.
'In terms of historical significance, state of preservation, and traceable lineage, this sabre surpasses most Napoleonic arms ever to appear at auction.'
Napoleon's final years on St Helena were spent in declining health and he complained of 'inhumane' treatment at the hands of the island's governor, Sir Hudson Lowe.
He died on St Helena in 1821. His passing was described in letters sent by his British overseers.
They came to light last month when they came up for auction.
The letters were found in a trunk of military mementos for the Wynyard family which was stashed away in the garage of a property in the east of England.
Colonel Edward Buckley Wynyard was the former military secretary to Sir Hudson Lowe.
One letter penned by Major Gideon Gorrequer to Wynyard on the day after Napoleon's death reads: 'Bonaparte expired yesterday evening at 10 minutes before six.
'Just at the very instant the sun sunk below the horizon he breathed his last sigh - he had been confined to his bed since the 17th March.
'...He threw up everything almost that went down his throat would scarcely take any medication - or would not, or could not, take any nourishing.
'He has been sinking ever since the first day he took to his bed.'
Maj Gorrequer added: 'He has died in a manly proper manner no complaint, no invective, no lamentation or nonsense.
'Extreme unction was given to him before his death, and from 6 in the morning yesterday to 6 at night, the whole of his attendants, from the highest to the lowest surrounded his bed in deep silence (Madame Bertrand and the rest of the females) till the moment of his dissolution.
'His last day was one of graceful exclination- but I should think of little pain, if you can judge of his appearance as a corpse- near did I behold one to divested of all that is painful or horrifying to behold in death.
'There was a serenity, a placidity, a peaceful slumbering affect in his countenance (when all the authorities staff naval and military went to see the corpse this morning at six) that had a strong effect on everyone who saw him.
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