Marengo - The Name

Napoleon Crossing the Alps,
painted by Jacques-Louis David
between 1801 and 1805.
The original hangs in the Louvre, Paris.

Many investors are curious as to how a company acquires its name.

In the case of Marengo Mining Limited it carries the name of a famous horse, Marengo, a long serving, faithful steed of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Captured by Napoleon's troops during the Battle of Aboukir in 1799, this iron grey Arabian stallion, of only 14 hands in height was added to the Emperor's stable.

Following the defeat of the Austrians at Marengo in Italy on 14 June 1800, Napoleon named the horse Marengo and he continued to serve the Emperor throughout his march through Europe, culminating in the Battle of Waterloo on 18 June 1815.

Sustaining a hip wound during this battle, Marengo was captured by the British and was taken back to England, where he was displayed along with other "spoils of war". He lived a long life, eventually dying at the age of 38.

Marengo's skeleton remains on display at the National Army Museum in London's Chelsea district. His hooves were removed and turned into snuff boxes with one of these remaining in the Officer's Mess of the Queen's Guard at St James's Palace, London. Engraved on its silver lid are the words "Hoof of Marengo, Barb charger of Napoleon, ridden by him at Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena, Wagram, in the campaign of Russia and lastly Waterloo".