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Napoleon's DoublesIsn't it amazing what you can learn on the Internet? Historical Fact: Napoleon died, in exile on St.Helena, on 5th
May 1821 - probably of cancer. Napoleon employed at least four doubles of himself during his reign as Emperor. One of these was killed by a stray bullet, one was crippled in a riding accident, and another died from poison just before Waterloo. The fourth double, Francois Robeaud, "retires" after Waterloo. Autumn 1818, Robeaud disappears, along with his sister, from his home village of Baleycourt. His sister turns up later in Tours, living a comfortable life supported by a mysterious benefactor who pays all her bills by mail. Her brother, she claims, has gone away to sea. He never reappears. Winter of 1818, the wife of General Bertrand, a member of Naploeon's court-in-exile, writes to a friend, "Success is ours! Napoleon has left the island!" Also, a merchant named Revard, a widower from northern France, arrives in Verona. He sets up business as an optician with a sideline in diamond dealing and acquires a partner named Petrucci who actually runs the venture. Revard is nicknamed "The Emperor" due to his remarkable likeness to Napoleon. 23rd August 1823, Revard leaves Verona in haste on receipt of a courier message. He leaves with his partner a sealed letter with instructions to deliver it to the King of France if he, Revard, does not return within three months. 4th September 1823, Schonbrunn Castle in Austria, where Napoleon's son lies critically ill with scarlet fever. A mysterious intruder is shot by a sentry. The intruder's body is claimed by the French Embassy and handed over to Napoleon's widow, who has it buried in their family plot. Back in Verona, Petrucci waits for three months and then delivers the sealed letter to the French King, who rewards him very well. Revard never returns. A faded page of the town records of Baleycourt states "Francois Eugene Robeaud, born in this village 1771, died on St Helena..". The date of his death is illegible. So, was Robeaud the man who died of cancer on St.Helena in 1821. Who knows? (Who cares?) |