# Napoleon died of cancer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [May 6, 2005, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napoleon-died-of-cancer/302630 "2005-05-06T01:17:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brindlepit76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@brindlepit76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brindlepit76)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napoleon-died-of-cancer/302630/1 "2005-05-06T01:17:09Z")
I read in a book I used to have that Napoleon went mad and died because he had syphyllis, and he went untreated, not that they hed a cure for that back then, I’m assuming they didn’t. I was just reading the answer to a reader’s question about his penis(what happened to it) and you replied something about him having cancer? So what exactly did he die from?\>\>\>Mya ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napoleon-died-of-cancer/302630/2 "2005-05-06T04:34:32Z")
[Here is Napolean’s penis](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040102.html) (or at least Cecil’s column about it). It keeps everyone on the same page. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napoleon-died-of-cancer/302630/3 "2005-05-06T04:57:14Z")
It \*was \*stomach cancer, as has again been confirmed [just recently](http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Trousers-fit-cancer-theory-of-how-Napoleon-met-his-end/2005/05/05/1115092628889.html) by rigorous peering into his trousers. ---
**Author:** ![oliverar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dbc845/32.png) [@oliverar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliverar)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napoleon-died-of-cancer/302630/4 "2005-05-06T08:05:32Z")
> [@Askance](#): > > It \*was \*stomach cancer, as has again been confirmed [just recently](http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Trousers-fit-cancer-theory-of-how-Napoleon-met-his-end/2005/05/05/1115092628889.html) by rigorous peering into his trousers. So not correct that he ‘broke his heart’ then, as related in an old sea shanty… Boney was a warrior, Away, ay-yah! A warrior and a terrior, John Franswah! Boney beat the Prooshians, Away, ay-yah! Boney beat the Prooshians, John Franswah! Boney went to Moscow, Away, ay-yah! Moscow was a-blazing, John Franswah! Boney went to Elbow, Away, ay-yah! Boney he came back, John Franswah! Boney went to Waterloo, Away, ay-yah! There he got his overthrow, John Franswah! They took Boney off again, Away, ay-yah! 'Board the Billy Ruffian, John Franswah! Boney he was sent away, Away, ay-yah! 'Way to St. Helena, John Franswah! Boney broke his heart and died, Away, ay-yah! Boney broke his heart and died, John Franswah! ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napoleon-died-of-cancer/302630/5 "2005-06-05T06:07:18Z")
[This new report](http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050604/lf_afp/francehistorynapoleon_050604231558) claims that Napoleon was subjected to long-term arsenic poisoning. > [@](#): > > Dr Kintz in his latest study used sophisticated new chemical techniques to analyse hair samples, taken by Napoleon’s servant Abraham Noverraz and General Bertrand, who was deported to St Helena with the emperor. > > …The toxic form of arsenic, used for centuries as rat poison, was found in Napoleon’s hair samples at 37 to 42 times above the normal level in the new study. > > …“The arsenic was in the ‘spinal cord’ of the hair, which implies that it came from the blood and food ingested,” he said. > > …“Somebody in his circle gave him arsenic in small doses to poison him little by little to avoid another violent uprising by those who still supported the emperor in France,” Damamme said. ---
**Author:** ![Leviosaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Leviosaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leviosaurus)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2005, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/napoleon-died-of-cancer/302630/6 "2005-06-05T20:20:46Z")
Or perhaps he was killed by his [wallpaper](http://www.grand-illusions.com/napoleon/napol1.htm).