Souvenirs de Roustam, mamelouck de Napoléon Ier
Introduction et notes de Paul Cottin
"Souvenirs de Roustam, mamelouck de Napoléon Ier" by Roustam is a memoir written in the late 19th century. This autobiographical account follows Roustam, a Mameluck who served under Napoleon, detailing his life from his early years in Georgia through his journey to Egypt and eventual service to the French general. The narrative provides an intimate perspective on the life and times of a unique historical figure intertwined with the dramatic events of the Napoleonic era. At the start of the memoir, Roustam reflects on his tumultuous childhood, marked by the loss of his family during war and subsequent abduction, leading to a series of sales as a slave before ultimately becoming a Mameluck in Egypt. He recounts escaping his captors multiple times and navigating a perilous path that brought him into the service of Sala-Bey, and eventually to Napoleon’s camp in Egypt. Through these experiences, Roustam presents a vivid picture of the socio-political landscape he traversed, setting the stage for the further adventures and relationships he would develop while serving under one of history's most iconic leaders, Napoleon Bonaparte.