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Napoleon Bonaparte, one of history’s most famous military leaders, had a rather unusual and humorous encounter with rabbits that stands out as a peculiar moment in his life.
In 1807, after signing the Treaty of Tilsit, which ended the war with Russia, Napoleon organized a celebratory hunt for himself and his companions. The hunt was to take place near his residence at Saint-Cloud, a palace just outside Paris. The event, intended to showcase his power and grandeur, would also feature a large number of rabbits released for the participants to hunt.
However, things took a wildly unexpected turn. Napoleon’s staff had gathered thousands of rabbits, but instead of scattering and running away as they were supposed to, the rabbits charged at the hunters. The reason? The rabbits, which were domesticated and not wild, had been raised in captivity and were not afraid of humans. Instead of fleeing, they swarmed toward Napoleon and his entourage, hopping toward them in large numbers.
As the rabbits surrounded Napoleon, the scene turned chaotic. The emperor was reportedly forced to retreat into his carriage to avoid being overwhelmed by the furry creatures. His companions, too, found themselves surrounded, and the planned hunt turned into an embarrassing spectacle.
This bizarre event became a well-known anecdote in Napoleon's life, often cited as an example of how even the most powerful leaders can encounter unexpected, humorous situations. It also speaks to the sometimes absurd nature of life in the imperial court, where even the most trivial events could take on monumental significance.