Understanding Napoleon’s Bunny Ambush: What is it?

The Furry Ambush of Napoleon Bonaparte

When we think of Napoleon Bonaparte, images of triumphant battles and grand strategies often come to mind. However, even this man of stature had a less glorifying moment of defeat. Enter the “Napoleon’s Bunny Ambush” — an incident or, let’s say, a huge embarrassment, when his hunting expedition turned into a farcical scene of being chased by a swarm of bunnies.

The Unexpected Battle

In 1807, after signing the Treaties of Tilsit, Napoleon was keen to celebrate with a rabbit hunt. And why not? The corridors of history are filled with decorated men doing odd things. His chief of staff, Marshal Alexandre Berthier, orchestrated the event, procuring what was expected to be the unsuspecting targets — reportedly, around 3000 rabbits.

But with a sense of irony thick enough to cut with a butterknife, these rabbits did not scurry away as planned. Instead, they counter-attacked, swarming over the flabbergasted Napoleon and his companions. The sheer scale of the onslaught was enough that the party ended up fleeing in carriages.

The “Fur”-ious Aftermath

The humiliation of being overrun by small, fluffy creatures was bad. Still, what followed was a laughter-filled explosion in the annals of historical side notes. Despite his many victories, Napoleon’s run-in with the furry insurgents has, over the decades, proved popular fodder for satirists, artists, and writers.

What’s the Upshot?

Besides a great anecdote to liven up any history lesson, Napoleon’s Bunny Ambush pokes holes in our perception of historical figures. The seemingly invincible conqueror of nations was not above being outwitted by a bunch of cottontails.

And there is a peculiar charm in knowing that beneath those stately portraits and grand narratives, history’s titans also had their downright ridiculous moments.

Sources

Smithsonian Magazine
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/napoleon-was-once-attacked-bunnies-heres-what-happened-180971110

ABC News
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-29/napoleon-rabbits-ambush-hunting-trip/9706560