The Case:
A magnificent sword that has been handed down for generations in a St. Martinville family has a mystery around it.
The sword belonged to their great-great-grandfather, Jean Julien Rousseau, who was a doctor and soldier in Napoleon Bonaparte's battle for Austria in Wagram.
Family lore has that Napoleon had ordered the Army to cross Danube River, and he soldier carrying one of the Division’s battle flags was killed. Colonel Rousseau picked up the flag and led the troops over the bridge. Napoleon personally rewarded him with this sword for his bravery.
The History Detectives investigate whether this sword really could have belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte.
Related Content
Technique:
Technique:
Related Links
Explore
-
Also in Season 1
Movie Palace
Is this small Wisconsin town theater the country's first great movie palace?
-
Also with Wes Cowan
Cleveland Electric Car
What happened to the electric street car network in Cleveland?
-
Also in Expansion: 1801-1861
Shipwreck Cannons
Are these the last remains of a navy schooner that fought in a border dispute with the mighty British Empire?
-
Also with Wes Cowan
King Kong Camera
Was this old movie camera used to film the original version of King Kong?
-
Also with Wes Cowan
Civil War Sabotage?
The steamship Sultana exploded one night in 1865, killing more than 1,800 people. Was the disaster a result of Civil War sabotage?
-
Also in Season 1
Ventriloquist Dummy
How did an African-American ventriloquist act become so successful in a time of racial unrest?
Comments
This is a place for opinions, comments, questions and discussion; a place where viewers of History Detectives can express their points of view and connect with others who value history. We ask that posters be polite and respectful of all opinions. History Detectives reserves the right to delete comments that don’t conform to this conduct. We will not respond to every post, but will do our best to answer specific questions, or address an error.