Mind-Blowing History! Napoleon Was Attacked By a HORDE of Rabbits!

In July of 1807, following the signing of the Treaties of Tilsit which brought a victorious end to the war between France and Russia, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte sought to celebrate his diplomatic success with a traditional rabbit hunt. His chief of staff, Alexandre Berthier, was tasked with organizing the event, gathering a substantial number of rabbits—reports vary from hundreds to as many as 3,000—for the imperial party. The expectation was that when released, the rabbits would scatter, providing a lively chase for the hunters.

However, the hunt took an unexpected turn due to a crucial oversight. Berthier, unfamiliar with the nuances of rabbit procurement, acquired domesticated rabbits from local farmers instead of wild hares. Unlike their wild counterparts, these tame bunnies were accustomed to human interaction and, having been kept in cages and likely unfed, perceived the approaching group not as a threat, but as a source of food. When the cages were opened, instead of fleeing in terror, the hungry horde charged directly towards Napoleon and his entourage (Review).

What began as an amusing spectacle quickly escalated into a bewildering assault. The rabbits swarmed the emperor and his men, climbing their legs, nibbling at their boots, and refusing to retreat. General Paul Thiébault, a witness to the event, recounted how the "intrepid rabbits" flanked Napoleon, attacking him "frantically in the rear" and forcing him to stagger. Despite attempts to repel them with riding crops and sticks, the relentless bunnies pressed their attack, even pursuing Napoleon as he sought refuge in his carriage. The extraordinary scene only concluded when the carriage managed to roll away, leaving the world's most powerful man in an undignified retreat from a fluffy, famished army.