What was the name of Napoleon's personal Mameluke bodyguard?
Answer
Roustam Raza
Answer
Roustam Raza
Napoleon's personal Mameluke bodyguard was Roustam Raza, also spelled Roustan or Rustam.
Born in Tiflis in 1783 to an Armenian family, Roustam was kidnapped as a teenager and sold into slavery in Cairo. In 1798, during Napoleon's Egyptian campaign, he was presented to General Bonaparte by the Sheikh of Cairo. Roustam soon became part of Napoleon's household and remained with him for roughly fifteen years.
His duties extended beyond guarding the emperor. He cared for Napoleon's weapons and clothing, supervised meals, and slept nearby as a personal attendant and bodyguard. At ceremonies, he appeared in an elaborate Mameluke-style costume, helping create the exotic imperial image Napoleon cultivated after the Egyptian expedition.
Roustam left Napoleon's service in 1814 and declined to follow him to Elba. When Napoleon returned during the Hundred Days, he did not restore Roustam to his household. The names Ibrahim, Yusuf, and Ali Pasha can sound plausible because they are associated with Ottoman or Middle Eastern history, but they were not Napoleon's famous personal Mameluke.
Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026