This summer, the Grimaldi Forum will explore the fascinating yet largely untold and unknown story of how the Principality’s own history is intricately entwined with that of the First and Second Empires of Napoleon Bonaparte in Monaco and the Napoleons: Intertwined Destinies.

Set to be one of the season’s most anticipated events, Monaco and the Napoleons: Intertwined Destinies at the Grimaldi Forum will offer a deep dive into the intersecting journeys of Napoleon I, Napoleon III, Empress Joséphine and Empress Eugénie as they crossed paths with the interests of the Grimaldi family.

Held under the High Patronage of Prince Albert II, the exhibition is ambitious in its historical scope and scholarly foundation. Conceived and curated by Thomas Fouilleron and Thomas Blanchy from the Archives and Library of the Prince’s Palace, along with Pierre Branda, Scientific Director of the Napoleon Foundation, the show offers a re-examination of the Napoleonic legacy through the lens of Monaco’s past.

Visitors can expect to see a remarkable array of rare artworks, historical documents and prized artefacts. Amongst the most striking features of the show is the inclusion of items from the private collection of Monaco residents David and Mikhail Yakobachvili. The father–son duo, renowned collectors of decorative and mechanical arts, have amassed nearly 25,000 pieces spanning four centuries, and some of their Napoleonic collection will be included in this exhibit.

See more: ‘Colours!’: Grimaldi Forum’s summer exhibition for 2025

Adding a contemporary voice to this journey into the past, Louis Ducruet, Princess Stéphanie’s eldest child, will serve as ambassador of the exhibition, offering his own perspective on the era.

Running from 11th July to 31st August, the exhibition follows the rousing success of the recent Artcurial Paris auction Napoleon(s): Imperial Collections from a Great Connoisseur, which featured numerous pieces from a collection amassed by Prince Albert II’s great-grandfather, Prince Louis II, and has sparked renewed interest in all things Napoleonic within the Principality.

More details on the programme and featured works will be announced in the lead-up to the exhibition’s grand opening.

Read related:

Napoleon auction stuns in Paris as treasures from Monaco’s Grimaldi collection fetch top prices

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Photo of Jacques-Louis David’s ‘Napoleon Crossing the Alps’, 1801