Napoleon Bonaparte

Iconic Moment: 21 October 1805, Battle of Trafalgar

Napoleon Bonaparte (1769 - 1821) is one of the preeminent military leaders in the history of France having conquered most of Europe. His military campaigns are still studied at academies all over the world, but two of his most iconic moments are actually decisive military defeats – the Battle of Trafalgar and the Battle of Waterloo, which led to his capture, imprisonment and death.

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The Battle of Trafalgar was the most decisive British naval victory of the Napoleonic Wars. Admiral Lord Nelson led 27 ships from onboard HMS Victory against 33 French and Spanish ships off the south-west coast of Spain, just west of Cape Trafalgar. The Franco-Spanish fleet lost 22 ships, without a single British vessel being lost, although Nelson was killed by a French sniper before the battle.

Nelson got the better of Napoleon’s fleet led by French Admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve on that occasion, but Napoleon is remembered as one of the great military tacticians and for his role in the so-called Napoleonic Wars, during which he established dominance over much of Europe and sought to spread revolutionary ideals.

Even though Napoleon had a complex about his height he need not have worried about his standing in history. Now you have the chance to own rare collectibles from hand written and signed letters to a sash belonging to Napoleon and even a few strands of his hair.