Napoleon Rare Sword to be Sold at Auction in Paris on May 22

A rare sword once owned by French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte for "personal use" will be auctioned on May 22 in Paris, France, with an expected price tag of between 700,000 and 1 million euros, according to an auction house.

This sword is one of the rare pieces specially commissioned by Napoleon between 1802 and 1803, when he was First Consul of France. The sword was crafted by Nicolas-Noël Boutier, director of the Versailles Arms Manufacture, who was considered one of the greatest firearms (carbines) manufacturers of his time, according to Agence France-Presse.

The Hôtel Drouot, where the auction will be held, explained that Napoleon kept this sword until the end of his reign, before gifting it to Emmanuel de Grouchy, one of his loyal followers who was later promoted to the last Marshal of the Empire. Since 1815, the sword has been preserved by the descendants of Marshal de Grouchy and will be auctioned for the first time ever.

A second exact copy of this sword, also commissioned by Napoleon, is now housed in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, further enhancing the historical value of this rare weapon being auctioned in Paris.

Objects associated with Napoleon Bonaparte have seen a remarkable boom in auctions in recent years, despite the fact that more than two centuries have passed since his death in exile on the island of Saint Helena in 1821 at the age of 51, after having established his military and political dominance over Europe. In July 2024, two pistols owned by Napoleon until his first abdication in 1814, designated as national treasures, were sold at auction for €1.69 million, plus fees. In March 2025, a volume of the French Civil Code, owned by Napoleon, sold for €395,000. Napoleon was keen to standardize laws in France during the early 19th century, contributing to the consolidation of the French legal system known to this day. 

This new auction reflects the continued global interest in the legacy of Napoleon, one of the most prominent military and political figures in modern European history.