The letter was written by Napoleon on July 23, 1809, to his close associate Jean-Jacques-Régis de Cambacérès.
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Napoleon’s 1809 Letter Denying Role in Pope’s Abduction Auctioned in France
Historic Document Fetches Over £26,000
A rare letter written by French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was recently auctioned in Fontainebleau, France. The letter, denying his involvement in the 1809 abduction of Pope Pius VII, sold for £26,360 (around $30,000) at the Osenat auction house.
Written in July 1809 to a Trusted Ally
The letter, dated July 23, 1809, was addressed to Napoleon’s close confidant, Jean-Jacques-Régis de Cambacérès. In it, Napoleon claimed that the Pope’s forced relocation from Rome to France was carried out without his knowledge or approval.
Napoleon Claims He Was Informed Late
Napoleon stated that he was informed of the incident 10 to 12 days after it occurred. He emphasized that once he learned of the Pope’s whereabouts, he would consider the appropriate steps to take.
Fontainebleau’s Historical Connection
The letter was auctioned in Fontainebleau—a fitting location, as it was the very place where Pope Pius VII was once held captive by Napoleon. Before that, the Pope had also been imprisoned in the Italian city of Savona.