Summary

Medal Attempt on Life of Napoleon, 24 December 1800, Issued by France, 1800
Artist: H. Auguste
Minted by Paris Mint

Also known as: Attempted Assassination of Bonaparte and Attentat du Trois Nivose

Obverse Description

Uniformed bust of Napoleon facing left; around; AMOUR DU PEUPLE FRANCAIS POUR LE PREMIER CONSUL. (Translation: THE LOVE OF THE FRENCH PEOPLE FOR THE FIRST CONSUL.). below the bust, ATTENTAT / A LA VIE BONAPARTE / 3 NIVOSE AN 9 / DE LA REP. (Translation: THE ATTEMPT ON THE LIFE OF BONAPARTE, 24 DECEMBER 1800); on the bust truncation, H. AUGUST

Reverse Description

Reverse: Legend in ten lines, LES CITOYENS / VOLENT EN FOULE VERSLUI. / AMIS / CE N'EST PAS A MOI / QU'IL FAUT VENIR: / QU'ON AILLE / QU'ON AILLE AU SECOURS / DES MALHEUREUX / QUE LA MACHINE INFERNALE / A PU FRAPPER. (Translation: A CROWD OF CITIZENS RUSH TO HIM. 'FRIENDS, IT IS NOT I TO WHOM YOU SHOULD COME; GO AND HELP THOSE UNFORTUNATES WHOM THE INFERNAL MACHINE WAS ABLE TO HIT'.)

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

The plotters loaded horse-drawn cart with barrels of gunpowder and iron scraps planning to have the device first block the First Consul's carriage as he went to the theatre, then explode. It failed only because his coachman (reported to have been half drunken) whipped up the horses and crowded past the obstruction. His party was far enough away when the cart exploded that he was safe but several innocent bystanders, including a young girl holding the horse pulling the explosive device, were killed.

More Information