Roustam Raza, Napoleon’s bodyguard

Few people know that Napoleon Bonaparte’s personal bodyguard and confidant was an Armenian, Roustam Raza. He was born in 1783 in Tiflis (Tbilisi) into an Armenian family. At the age of 13 Roustam was kidnapped and sold in Egypt, where he became a Mamluk, a soldier-servant raised in the traditions of that military caste.

During the Egyptian campaign of 1798 Roustam came into Napoleon’s service and became his personal bodyguard and valet. He accompanied the emperor on all his campaigns, attended official ceremonies and was present at the coronation of 1804.

The painting shows him in a white turban, a green shawl and a red embroidered waistcoat, holding a sheathed weapon.