Lock of Hair for $13,000
by A lock of Napoleon’s hair, cut after he died, has sold for $13,000 at an auction held in New Zealand.
Born in August 1769, Napoleon eventually led a coup d’etat and made himself the First Consul in 1799. In 1804, the French Senate approved and made him Emperor of France. His actions were important and pivotal in creating and shaping European politics throughout the 19th century and beyond.
In 1813, Napoleon’s forces were beaten by the Sixth Coalition at Leipzig and the following year the Coalition invaded France, forced Napoleon to abdicate his position as emperor and sent him to Elba (island) where he was in exile. However, the ambitious and persistent leader escaped Elba and returned to power within a year, but then lost and was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815. Napoleon then spent the last six years of his life in confinement by the British on Saint Helena.
Napoleon died in 1821, while in exile on the St. Helena island, reportedly because of stomach cancer or perhaps poison (arsenic) which many historians and scientists suggest.
189 years later, a lock of his hair cut after his death was auctioned in New Zealand, even though massive interest was expressed in other countries including France, the United States and Lithuania. The turnout, however, at the event was spectacular and the curl fetched an incredible price.
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