Emperor Napoleon was once attacked by rabbits

The Emperor of France Napoleon Bonaparte was once attacked by a horde of rabbits. The Imperial Court had planned a rabbit shoot and hundreds of rabbits were specially imported for the occasion. However the organiser had accidentally ordered tame rabbits instead of wild ones. They were used to greeting their keeper who brought them lettuce. So when they were released for the hunt they mistook Napoleon for their keeper and ran towards him.

The horde of rabbits began to climb up Napoleon’s trousers and his men tried to hold them back with whips. In the end the event was called off as Napoleon retreated in his carriage, flinging rabbits out as he went.

Bonus fact: A group of rabbits is called a ‘colony’ or ‘nest’

Sources:

The Campaigns of Napoleon, By David G. Chandler

https://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/05/18/napoleon-and-the-battle-of-the-rabbits/