Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

What Happened To Napoleon's "Boner Part"?

September 25, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

What Happened To Napoleon's "Boner Part"?

In 1977, a Parisian auction house sold what was claimed to be Napoleon Bonaparte's penis for $3,000 to an anonymous bidder. The specimen was said to measure just 1.5 inches. But as historian Dr. Zack White explains to host Kate Lister on Betwixt The Sheets, the story of Napoleon's supposed micropenis tells us far more about British propaganda and cultural mythology than it does about the man himself.

The Napoleon Complex That Wasn't

The idea that Napoleon was short—and by extension, sexually inadequate—is one of history's most persistent myths. The reality is more mundane. Napoleon stood five foot six and a half inches, which was half an inch above the average height for a soldier of his era. The confusion stems partly from French versus British inches, since French inches were slightly longer, making him appear five foot two in French measurements.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (02:10) **Welcome & Content Warning** - Kate Lister introduces the episode and gives a serious content warning for discussion of sexual assault.
  • 2 (03:47) **The Napoleon Penis Myth & Guest Introduction** - Kate introduces the legend of Napoleon's penis being auctioned in 1977 and brings on Dr. Zack White to investigate.
  • 3 (05:00) **The Napoleon Complex Myth Debunked** - Zack explains why the "Napoleon complex" is based on propaganda, not facts about Napoleon's height.
  • 4 (09:00) **Napoleon's Early Life & Rise to Power** - Zack provides a brief biography of Napoleon's origins, military education, and political ascent.
  • 5 (13:51) **Was Napoleon a Military Genius?** - Zack argues Napoleon was overhyped as a military innovator, though undeniably effective.
  • 6 (16:51) **Napoleon's Sex Life & Relationship with Josephine** - Zack describes Napoleon's clumsy, coercive, and emotionally manipulative sexual behavior.
  • 7 (18:10) **Napoleon's Love Letters: Love Bombing or Control?** - Zack reads excerpts from Napoleon's letters to Josephine, revealing emotional manipulation and obsession.

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Show Notes

Small. Shrivelled. Separated from its owner. What has been said about Napoleon Bonaparte's penis? And how much of it is true?


Dr Zack White joins Kate for this episode to discuss these rumours, and what kind of lover and partner Napoleon really was (hint: not great).


Zack is a research fellow at the University of Portsmouth, Chair of the Napoleonic & Revolutionary War Graves Charity, and host of 'The Napoleonic Wars Podcast'.


This episode was edited by Tim Arstall. The producer was Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Freddy Chick.


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All music from Epidemic Sounds.


Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.


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Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

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