The Musée Napoléonien: objects, performance and encountering the 'spectacular past' in the long nineteenth century.

This article examines the unique intersection of Napoleonic material culture and theatrical performance in early 20th-century France, focusing on the 1903 play *La Chute de l'Aigle* at the Théâtre du Château-d'Eau in Paris, which featured a 'Musée Napoléonien' displaying authentic Napoleonic objects alongside the drama. It situates this phenomenon within the broader 19th-century French and European trend of the "spectacular past," where historical narratives were mediated through entertainment forms such as theatre, exhibitions, and memorabilia displays, emphasizing experiential and affective engagement with history. The study highlights how such displays of "association objects"—personal belongings of historical figures—functioned as "secular relics," fostering intimate, emotional connections that complemented theatrical portrayals and shaped public historical understanding. It also contextualizes this within earlier and contemporary Napoleonic exhibitions, including the Musée des Souverains (1853–1872) and British displays like Madame Tussaud's, illustrating how authenticity, celebrity, and spectacle combined to create immersive historical experiences. Ultimately, the article argues that the interplay of performance and material culture in Napoleonic spectacle reveals the central role of imagination and affect in acquiring historical knowledge, a dynamic that continues to influence contemporary presentations of Napoléon's legacy.