Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the most outstanding figures in history. "An exhibit of "Treasures of Napoleon" will open April 6 at the Louisiana State Museum's Old U.S. Mint at 400 Esplanade Ave." (See: "'Treasures of Napoleon' exhibit coming to New Orleans").
The exhibit includes "the earliest known letter in his handwriting, the ceremonial sword from his imperial coronation ceremony in 1804, his camp bed from one of his battles, his personal map of the French empire at its zenith and a monogrammed shirt and long johns he wore shortly before his death in exile in 1821 -- the death that ended a purported plot to kidnap him and bring him to New Orleans." id. See this video on the exhibit below:
Napoleon's New Orleans Connections
For a short period of time, as the ruler of France, Napoleon was also the emperor of Louisiana. His nephew, "Prince Charles Louis Napoleon Achille Murat, son of the King of Naples, and nephew of the Emperor, practiced law in New Orleans. He had his office in Exchange Place, and his residence on Esplanade between Bourbon and Dauphine." (See: "History of New Orleans").
Napoleon "met his Waterloo" in 1815, and was exiled by the European powers to the island of St. Helena. New Orleans mayor, either built, or offered his own home, right, as a residence for the exiled emperor. There is evidence of a plot to rescue Napoleon from St. Helena, started in New Orleans, and which was planned and to be financed by wealthy Frenchmen from St. Louis, Philadelphia, Bordentown and Canada. id. Some suggest that famous Louisiana pirate, Jean Lafitte, was to carry out the escape. But Napoleon's death, in 1821, ended the plans.
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