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This article recounts the opening of Napoleon Bonaparte’s coffin in 1840 – 19 years after his death on the island of St. Helena – along with the shocking state of preservation, the artifacts found inside, and the enduring mysteries surrounding his remains. The content is based on historical sources and contemporary reports. This article is for educational purposes only and does not endorse any political or religious views.
Inside Napoleon’s Coffin: Remarkable Preservation and Enduring Mysteries
At midnight on October 15, 1840, in a remote valley on the island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic, a group of French and British officials began exhuming a grave. Beneath three stone slabs and two weeping willow trees lay the body of Napoleon Bonaparte – the emperor who once ruled Europe . Nearly two decades after his death in exile, the French were finally permitted to return their emperor’s remains to his homeland. When the multiple coffins were opened, witnesses were astonished: Napoleon’s body was extraordinarily well-preserved, his face barely changed after 19 years. But what else was found inside that coffin – beyond the mummy of a fallen giant? The answer includes poignant relics, strange inconsistencies, and mysteries about whether the body beneath the golden dome of Les Invalides is truly Napoleon’s.
1. “Le Retour des Cendres” (The Return of the Ashes)
After his defeat at Waterloo in 1815, Napoleon was exiled by the British to the isolated volcanic island of St. Helena. He died there on May 5, 1821, at age 51, and was buried in the “Geranium Valley” under British supervision . Nearly 20 years later, encouraged by King Louis-Philippe and historian Adolphe Thiers, France successfully negotiated with Britain for the repatriation of Napoleon’s remains. The mission, known as “Le Retour des Cendres” (The Return of the Ashes), began, with two French warships, the Belle Poule and the Favorite, dispatched to St. Helena .
2. The Exhumation Process and the Nested Coffins
The exhumation began at midnight on October 15, 1840, and lasted nine hours . Witnesses included Napoleon’s former generals Bertrand and Gourgaud, his loyal valet Marchand, Father Coquereau, and ship’s doctor Guillard .
It was discovered that Napoleon’s body was placed inside four nested coffins: an outer mahogany coffin, followed by a tin layer, a lead layer, and another mahogany coffin inside . The lead coffin was key to preserving the body, sealing it from air and moisture.
3. “The Countenance Very Little Altered”: Remarkable Preservation
When the white satin sheets were gently lifted by the doctor, the entire delegation was overcome with emotion. One witness wrote: “When they were opened, the body appeared perfect, the countenance very little altered to which it was when laid there 19 years since, the hand quite fine” . Napoleon’s uniform, hat, and orders were also remarkably well-preserved . Contemporary reports noted that his hands still looked “quite fine” .
This strange preservation immediately fueled rumors that Napoleon had been poisoned with arsenic, which acts as a natural preservative . (This theory was supported for a time by scientific analyses of Napoleon’s hair showing high arsenic levels, though more recent studies suggest he was exposed to arsenic from childhood due to environmental factors, and the cause of death remains widely accepted as stomach cancer .)
4. Artifacts Found Inside the Coffin
Inside the coffin, alongside Napoleon’s body, were several symbolic and practical items:
Uniform and Orders: Napoleon wore the green uniform of a colonel of the Chasseurs de la Garde, his iconic bicorne hat, and the Grand Cross of the Légion d’honneur .
Silver Coins: Some sources indicate coins were placed in the coffin, following custom.
Containers of Viscera: Two small urns containing Napoleon’s heart and stomach, removed during embalming, were also inside the coffin .
When the coffin was repatriated to France, fragments of the outer mahogany coffin were chipped off and distributed to members of the expedition as precious relics . Even stones from the grave and dry willow branches were taken as souvenirs, reflecting the peak of the Napoleonic cult at that time .
5. The Body-Swap Conspiracy
During the exhumation and repatriation, several strange details emerged, fueling a theory that the body beneath Les Invalides is not Napoleon’s.
Historians like Bruno Roy-Henry have pointed to inconsistencies in the reports and witness testimony :
The Légion d’honneur: In 1821, Napoleon’s order was worn outside his coat. In 1840, it was found inside .
The Teeth: Napoleon’s teeth were described during his life as “most villainous” (yellowed). In 1840, witnesses reported teeth that were “exceptionally white” .
The Silver Spur: A silver spur buried with him in 1821 had disappeared by 1840 .
The Viscera Urns: The urns were placed in one corner of the coffin in 1821 but were found between the corpse’s legs in 1840 .
These details have led to speculation that the British (or someone else) swapped Napoleon’s body before returning it to France. Some have suggested that the corpse at Les Invalides might be that of Napoleon’s loyal valet, Jean-Baptiste Cipriani, who reportedly bore a resemblance to the emperor .
French authorities have repeatedly denied requests to exhume the body for DNA testing, with the Ministry of Defense stating in 2002 that the evidence for such theories was “not sufficiently weighty” . Nevertheless, these mysteries continue to intrigue historians to this day.
6. The Journey to Paris and Final Interment
After exhumation, Napoleon’s coffin was transported aboard the Belle Poule to France . On December 15, 1840, nearly a million people lined the streets of Paris to witness the grand funeral procession. The coffin was carried from the Arc de Triomphe down the Champs-Élysées to Les Invalides, where it was temporarily placed in the St. Jérôme Chapel . In 1861, Napoleon’s remains were finally moved to the magnificent tomb beneath the golden dome of Les Invalides, where they rest to this day .
The opening of Napoleon’s coffin in 1840 revealed a miraculously preserved body, a collection of historical relics from uniforms to viscera urns, and ultimately, one of France’s most enduring historical mysteries. The inconsistencies – from the misplaced medal to the inexplicably white teeth – have never been satisfactorily explained. Though the mystery may never be fully resolved, one thing is certain: Napoleon – whether his true body or merely a symbol – finally returned to the banks of the Seine, among the French people he loved so much .
Primary Sources:
Fondation Napoléon – Napoleon.org
Museum Tot Zover, “Napoleon’s Last Trip”
Sotheby’s, Letter describing Napoleon’s exhumation (1840)
The Spectator Archive, December 5, 1840
The Guardian, “DNA test denied to solve Boney riddle” (2002)
National Geographic, “Napoleon’s legacy: ashes, tombs and DNA”