The marriage contract signed by Napoleon and Josephine the day before their wedding in 1796 has realised $562,360 at Maison Osenat in Paris, beating an estimate of $102,831 by 337.5%.

The sale took place on September 21.

An early version of the pre-nuptial agreements favoured by celebrities and footballers, the document absolves each side from responsibility in the other's financial situation.

The couple divorced in 1810

The wedding came as something of a shock to Napoleon's family, considering that Josephine was both a widow and a good six years older than the future emperor.

In 1810, after a rocky 14 year marriage fraught with infidelities on both sides, the couple divorced - largely due to the empress' inability to provide Napoleon with an heir.

There has been a surge of interest in artefacts pertaining to the former emperor, particularly in France, in recent years.

In March last year Josephine's engagement ring sold for $1.2m, 5,900% above its $20,000 high estimate. A copy of Napoleon's will sold for $482,082 in November.

This is partly a result of Napoleon's place in French history and the significant role he played in shaping modern Europe.

It's also due to the relative scarcity of his memorabilia, given that he died in exile.

The contract was sold to the Paris Museum of Letters and Manuscripts, which also holds the couple's divorce documents.

We have this genuine strand of Napoleon's hair available.

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