Napoleonic Trivia #76 (1 Viewer)

[Grognard]

Napoléon had always 12 of these on hand. 4 were made each year. He took 4 of them with him to St Helena and one was placed in his coffin. What are these?

 

[MARENGO]

Hi, I'm not really sure, but will hazard a guess that the items in question are swords. {sm2}

 

[Napoleon1er]

Black fur felt military cut bicorns adorned only with a single French cockade.

 

[blaster]

Snuff bottles?

 

[Grognard]

Black fur felt military cut bicorns adorned only with a single French cockade.

Correct Sandor! {bravo}}

This is of course Napoleon's famous hat! Poupard the famous Parisian hatmaker was making these exclusively for the Emperor. They were actually made from black beaver fur and only adorned with a tricolor cockade under a silk ribbon held by a button. Unlike other officers who were wearing their bicorn hat in "column" style. As we know Napoléon was wearing his in "battle" style allowing him to be immediatly recognized. The oldest hat that remains is the one that he wore at Marengo. The hat in the picture below was among the four he took with him to St Helena.