Napoleon vs. the Rabbits: History’s Strangest Ambush
.jpg "Napoleon Bonaparte retreating as a swarm of rabbits charges during the 1807 rabbit hunt ambush")
Introduction: A General, A Hunt, and a Humiliation
Napoleon Bonaparte is remembered as one of history’s most brilliant and ambitious military commanders. His campaigns reshaped Europe, his strategies are still studied in military academies, and his charisma inspired loyalty and fear in equal measure. Yet, amidst the victories and grandeur lies one of the most bizarre—and often overlooked—incidents of his career: the infamous Rabbit Ambush of 1807.
This peculiar episode did not unfold on the battlefield of Austerlitz, nor on the sweeping plains of Russia, but during what was meant to be a leisurely rabbit hunt. Instead of rabbits scattering in fear, they charged straight at the emperor and his men—reducing the conqueror of Europe to retreat in disarray.
Was it an elaborate prank gone wrong? A simple mistake with a comical outcome? Or perhaps a story exaggerated by Napoleon’s enemies to tarnish his legend? Let us dive into this strange event, peeling back the layers of history, rumor, and humor.
Setting the Stage: Napoleon After Victory
By 1807, Napoleon was at the height of his power. He had defeated Austria, humbled Prussia, and signed the Treaty of Tilsit with Russia, effectively making him master of continental Europe. His prestige was unrivaled, and his men admired him not only as a commander but also as a symbol of destiny.
After such exhausting campaigns, even the greatest generals needed a respite. For Napoleon, one favored pastime was hunting. Hunting was more than sport—it was a symbol of dominance over nature, a recreation enjoyed by European monarchs and nobility for centuries. For a man who prided himself on mastery, a rabbit hunt was an opportunity to display control in a more leisurely setting.
But unlike battle, where every move was calculated, the stage for the rabbit hunt was set by others. And therein lies the root of the fiasco.
The Organizer: Alexandre Berthier’s Fatal Miscalculation
The hunt was organized by Alexandre Berthier, Napoleon’s loyal chief of staff and marshal of France. Berthier was a man of precision, a military mind who translated Napoleon’s bold visions into detailed logistics. However, when it came to hunting, his organizational genius went awry.
To guarantee an abundant hunt for the emperor and his entourage, Berthier arranged for hundreds—some accounts say as many as 3,000 rabbits—to be released onto the hunting grounds. But instead of securing wild hares, which would have bolted at the sight of men, Berthier purchased domesticated rabbits from local farmers.
And domesticated rabbits, unlike their wild cousins, had been raised to associate humans not with danger—but with food.
The Ambush: When Rabbits Charged Napoleon
The scene must have been surreal. Napoleon, mounted and armed for sport, stood with his marshals ready for a royal hunt. The cages were opened, and instead of a mad dash for freedom, the rabbits did something utterly unexpected: they charged straight at the hunters.
At first, Napoleon might have laughed at the sight. But laughter quickly turned to confusion, and then to embarrassment, as wave after wave of rabbits hopped toward the emperor, not scattering, but swarming. Some leapt onto his boots, others scurried up his legs, and the fields filled with a furry tide advancing relentlessly.
Napoleon, who had faced cavalry charges, artillery bombardments, and bayonet thrusts without flinching, now found himself besieged by an army of rabbits.
The great conqueror retreated to his carriage. His men tried shooing the animals away, but the rabbits—accustomed to being fed by humans—pursued them in comical determination. Accounts suggest they even followed the emperor’s carriage wheels, as if trying to reclaim the treats they believed were owed.
Why Did the Rabbits Attack?
The explanation is simple, though hilarious in hindsight:
- Domestication – These rabbits were raised in captivity and were tame, not wild.
- Conditioning – Farmers had fed them regularly, so they associated humans with meals, not threats.
- Quantity – With hundreds (possibly thousands) of rabbits released simultaneously, their collective behavior seemed like an organized assault.
Instead of a noble hunt, Napoleon found himself at the center of an unintended feeding frenzy.
Napoleon’s Image and the Mockery That Followed
For a man who carefully cultivated his public image as a fearless leader and near-mythical figure, the rabbit incident was disastrous. Word of the ambush spread quickly, carried by both amused allies and gleeful enemies.
Cartoonists and satirists seized upon the story. In Britain especially—Napoleon’s staunchest enemy—pamphlets mocked the emperor as a man undone not by generals or kings, but by rabbits. The image of Napoleon, the scourge of Europe, retreating before fluffy creatures, was irresistible propaganda.
Though the incident never overshadowed his major achievements, it became one of those anecdotes that clung to his legend, resurfacing whenever his reputation needed deflating.
Humor in History: Why the Story Endures
So why does the rabbit ambush continue to capture imaginations more than two centuries later?
- The Contrast – Napoleon, often portrayed as larger than life, was humbled by creatures associated with innocence and fragility.
- The Irony – The master of battlefields, undone by a logistical error in something as simple as a hunt.
- The Humanity – It shows Napoleon not as a godlike figure, but as a man who could be embarrassed by circumstances beyond his control.
It reminds us that history is not only made of treaties and wars but also of strange, comical episodes that make great leaders unexpectedly relatable.
Was It True or Just a Legend?
Historians agree that the incident likely happened, though details vary. Some say there were hundreds of rabbits, others claim thousands. Some accounts suggest Napoleon laughed off the event, while others imply he was furious with Berthier for the blunder.
Primary sources are limited, and much of the tale comes from memoirs and secondhand accounts. But given Berthier’s role, the logistics of the hunt, and the nature of domesticated rabbits, the story is entirely plausible.
Whether exaggerated or not, the episode fits perfectly into the folklore surrounding Napoleon—a man who inspired both awe and ridicule in equal measure.
Legacy of the Rabbit Ambush
Though rarely discussed in military history, the rabbit ambush endures in popular culture. It is retold in books, articles, and even comedy sketches. For historians, it is a reminder that great figures are still subject to absurdities. For the public, it is simply too funny to forget.
And perhaps, for Napoleon himself, it was a lesson: that no matter how great the victories, there are some battles best left unfought.
Conclusion: The Emperor and the Rabbits
The story of Napoleon vs. the Rabbits is more than just a curious footnote—it is a lens through which we see the humanity behind the myth. It shows how even the most commanding figures in history could be caught off guard, not by armies or emperors, but by a horde of hungry bunnies.
In the grand scale of history, it may be a small event, but it lingers because it humanizes one of the most formidable figures of the past. Napoleon once said, “Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools.” Yet in 1807, the impossible happened: the conqueror of Europe was conquered—by rabbits.
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Reviewed by Sagar B
on
June 18, 2025
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