Napoleonic Era Room
This room, as its name suggests, is dedicated to miniatures from the era of the First French Empire and the Spanish War of Independence. On display are dioramas, vignettes, and individual figures depicting various types of French troops, scenes from the daily lives of French soldiers, and battles such as Waterloo, Austerlitz, and Quatre Bras, among others, alongside Spanish troops who fought against the French during the Spanish War of Independence. The room is complemented by visual materials providing visitors with information about the turbulent context of early 19th-century Spain and Europe. On display are uniforms and military equipment, as well as modern replicas provided by museum collaborator Alejandro Mohorte.
In the room, we also find some truly remarkable pieces: figurines representing Napoleon’s grenadiers. These were so highly regarded by Emperor Napoleon that they became part of his personal guard. They are significant pieces dating from the early 19th century, crafted by a French manufacturer named Lucotte. Why is he known? For being the first manufacturer of three-dimensional lead soldiers. On the bases of these figures, you can see an engraving of a “little bee.” This detail, along with their distinctive shape, suggests that these pieces most likely belonged to Napoleon’s son, the future King of Rome, but Napoleon chose the bee as his imperial emblem.
The main diorama depicts the famous Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, which took place on December 2, 1805, and pitted the French army of Emperor Napoleon I against the combined forces of the Russians, led by Tsar Alexander I, and the Austrians, led by Emperor Francis I.
One of Napoleon’s greatest victories was when the First French Empire crushed the Third Coalition’s armies after a gruelling nine-hour battle. Following the battle, the Treaty of Pressburg was signed. The battle is regarded as a tactical masterpiece by Napoleon, comparable to the battles of Cannae and Gaugamela in antiquity.
