Napoleonic Trivia #79 (1 Viewer)

[Grognard]

Thought to start the New Year with this interesting one...

In 1808 Napoléon got inducted into a prestigious knight order by a Nordic monarch. In addition, this order's insignia is quite out of context in that country. What are this order and its insignia?

 

[Fort-Stamford]

Insignia of Knight of the Order of the Elephant from Denmark.

 

[Napoleon1er]

I remember that order from the Musee de la Legion d'Honneur. One of my favorites.

 

[Grognard]

Insignia of Knight of the Order of the Elephant from Denmark.
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Correct answer Fort-Stamford! {bravo}}

In May 1808, Napoleon was made knight of the Order of the Elephant by King Frederik VI of Denmark. His insignia was taken by the Prussian at Waterloo (it was in Napoléon's berline) and given to the King of Prussia. In 1946 it ended up in Russian hands and it's still currently in Russia at the State Historical Museum in Moscow. It should technically be in Denmark since insignias have to be returned to the Order upon their recipient's death.