Paris — The Louvre Museum is facing a €27 million lawsuit filed by descendants of Napoleon Bonaparte, claiming the museum holds several artefacts belonging to Napoleon III. The legal action was initiated this week in the Paris Administrative Court. According to the family’s lawyer, the disputed items include a gold travel compass, a silver inkwell, and a ceremonial sword. These pieces were reportedly removed from private imperial collections during museum reorganizations in the early 20th century.
The Louvre’s administration confirmed awareness of the case but declined to comment on ongoing legal matters. However, officials stated that all artefacts were acquired through “documented and lawful transfers” following the fall of the Second Empire in 1870. The museum emphasized its compliance with French cultural property law, citing oversight from the Ministry of Culture.
The Bonaparte family argues that several pieces were “temporarily loaned” to public institutions and never returned. They claim new archival evidence, uncovered at the National Archives, supports their ownership. Historians say similar disputes have arisen in recent years involving aristocratic families and national museums.
The lawsuit seeks both restitution of the items and financial compensation for decades of alleged misuse. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture confirmed it is reviewing documentation related to imperial-era acquisitions.
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