Napoleon Attacked by Rabbits

In July 1807, following the signing of the Treaties of Tilsit, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte sought a leisurely rabbit hunt as a celebratory diversion. His chief of staff, Alexandre Berthier, meticulously arranged the event, gathering anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand rabbits for the occasion. However, what was intended as a grand display of imperial sport quickly devolved into an unexpectedly chaotic scene. Upon their release, the rabbits, instead of scattering in fear as wild game would, converged into a determined mass and charged directly towards Napoleon and his entourage (Review).

The initial amusement of the hunting party soon gave way to bewilderment and then concern as the fluffy horde relentlessly pressed its advance. The creatures swarmed around the men's legs, refusing to be driven off by riding crops or sticks, and some accounts even suggest they attempted to climb into Napoleon's carriage as he retreated. The surprising behavior of these seemingly aggressive bunnies stemmed from a crucial oversight: Berthier's men had procured domesticated rabbits from local farmers rather than trapping wild ones.

Unlike their wild counterparts, domesticated rabbits often associate humans with food. Having likely been accustomed to being fed by people and possibly hungry that day, they perceived Napoleon and his staff not as hunters, but as the providers of their next meal. This amusing historical incident highlights a fascinating aspect of animal behavior and the distinctions between wild and domesticated species, where ingrained habits and expectations can dramatically alter their reactions to human presence. The domestication of rabbits itself is a long process, with early forms of captivity recorded by the Romans and further development through practices like those of medieval French monks.