An historic pair of pistols presented by Emperor Napoleon to a Royal Navy officer just six weeks after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo have sold for over £37,000.
The guns bear the marks for 1798-1809 and were presented by the legendary soldier to Captain Marshall on board HMS Bellerophon on August 6, 1815.
He was being held on the ship while the British Government considered his claim for asylum.
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His claim was eventually refused and Napoleon was exiled to the island of St Helena where he eventually died.
Estimated to fetch up to £14,000 they were bought by a private collector for £37,500 at Olympia Auctions, in Kensington, west London.
Expert and auctioneer Thomas Del Mar said: “Napoleon’s arrival on the Bellerophon is recorded in the log for the ship dated 15 July 1815” as reported by What’s The Jam.
“While in custody Napoleon and his entourage were treated like guests with the former Emperor given access to the great cabin of the ship.
“Napoleon wanted to travel to North America where he hoped to gain asylum.
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“Upon refusal of this by the British he hoped to be allowed to live out his life in England which was also refused.
“He was held aboard the moored Bellerophon at Plymouth and not allowed to set foot on British soil, much to his annoyance.
“Over the following weeks the British government considered the fate of the ship’s famous prisoner.
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“Eventually a decision was made to designate Napoleon and his entourage as prisoners of war with the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic chosen as their place of exile.”
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