Napoleon’s hat sells for record US$2.1 million at French auction

A long time ago, there was a famous French emperor named Napoleon Bonaparte. He was known for wearing a special kind of hat called a bicorne. It was black and had the colors of the French flag. Recently, one of these hats was sold for a huge amount of money - nearly 2 million euros, which is over 2 million dollars! This sale broke the record for the most expensive Napoleonic hat ever sold. The auction took place at Osenat's auction house in France. Collectors from all around the world were interested in the hat, but the auction house kept the buyer's identity a secret. The hat was previously owned by a businessman named Jean-Louis Noisiez who had died. Other items that once belonged to Napoleon were also sold, including a special medal and a pair of silver spurs. Napoleon is thought to have had about 120 of these hats, but most of them are missing today. The hat was a symbol of Napoleon's image, and he wore it in a unique way - sideways - which made him stand out on the battlefield. Napoleon became a key figure during the French Revolution and later crowned himself as emperor. However, he was sent away from France after losing a battle at Waterloo and died on an island called Saint Helena. A new movie about Napoleon's life is about to be released in theaters. The actor Joaquin Phoenix, who plays Napoleon, described him as socially awkward but also romantic. The film will show large battles and Napoleon's complicated relationship with his wife, Josephine. Joaquin Phoenix mentioned that researching for the role was difficult because there are many different stories about Napoleon. He focused on finding inspiration from small details of Napoleon's life, like his eating and drinking habits.