10 Disturbing History Facts They Don't Teach You In School
6. Napoleon's Most Embarrassing Defeat Was Against Rabbits
When you think of Napoleon’s greatest defeat, Waterloo probably comes to mind. However, to win this battle, Napoleon had to overcome the combined forces of multiple nations. So, this defeat isn’t as embarrassing as say if it were against rabbits. Which as the title explains, is exactly what happened.
One fateful day in July 1807, after signing the treaties ending conflicts between Russia and France, Napoleon asked his Chief of Staff to organise a rabbit hunt in celebration. 3000 rabbits were collected and caged so that they could be released later.
Ready for the hunt, Napoleon and other high-ranking members of the military took to the field where the bunnies were being held, eager for some rabbit stew later in the day. The rabbits were then released.
Napoleon quite rightly expected the rabbits to flee in all directions to escape the slaughter. Instead, the fluffy little rabbits decided to charge towards the leader of the world’s strongest empire at the time.
Others jokingly mocked the emperor, until it became clear that there was going to be no stopping this swarm of rabbits and that he was in serious danger. No amount of swatting the bunnies away would halt the offensive.
Napoleon finally managed to escape (with some rabbits still in his clothes), entering his carriage, which rode off immediately. But the fluffy horde still continued their pursuit, flanking each side of his carriage. Eventually, the carriage gained enough speed to outrun the rabbits.
But why did the rabbits do this?
It turns out that the Chief of Staff decided to buy domesticated rabbits, as it was easier than hunting and trapping that many. Napoleon just happened to resemble the man that used to feed them, and so they were just after a tasty snack, after being starved in a cage all day.