On Sunday, a two-cornered hat believed to have belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte was sold for a record 1.9 million euros at an auction by the Parisian auction house Drouot. Initially estimated to cost between 600,000 and 800,000 euros, the hat exceeded its highest bid of 1,884,000 euros set in 2014. The auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat stated that Napoleon’s second hat was paid for in this amount.

Napoleon was known for his love of hats and had many made for him during his reign. Two-cornered hats were extremely popular in the 18th century and were originally designed for riders. However, Napoleon wore them differently than others by positioning his horns sideways. It is estimated that he owned around 120 two-horned hats during his rule.

These hats are often sold at auctions and buyers are frequently offered ones believed to have belonged to Napoleon. In October 2021, DNA testing revealed that a hat offered at Bonhams auction house in London had hair that matched Napoleon’s DNA on it. The application of an electron microscope helped determine this result. The hat sold for more than £200,00