DissociatedNewt t1_ish30hm wrote on October 15, 2022 at 10:57 PM

Reply to comment by Lemmonjello in TIL that Napoleon once gave an ornately decorated tiara (a crown) to the pope with 3345 precious jewels inlaid into it. This was actually intended to be an insult, as the tiara weighed 18 pounds and was too small to fit on a human head. by Specific_Success_875

Well, it’s practically nothing to an emperor.

HunterRoze t1_ishq4ya wrote on October 16, 2022 at 1:58 AM

Right, but there were how many of those on the planet at the time? This seems like the ultimate "baller" move - to say, I have so much money I can afford to blow it on this huge gaudy thing not fitted to be worn and far too heavy to be comfortable. But I so much money to me, I can do it as a "fuck you".

DissociatedNewt t1_ishwzt9 wrote on October 16, 2022 at 2:53 AM

That’s fair, but when the baller is also your head of state, one could consider it an expensive diplomatic gesture. It probably boosted the nation’s morale, especially since Napoleon’s reign was basically a “fuck you” to the feudalistic status quo.