>On 12 October 1809, a German university student named Friedrich Staps attempted to assassinate Napoleon during a military parade at Schönbrunn Palace. Staps was arrested and found to be carrying a large carving knife. When Rapp asked whether he had planned to assassinate Napoleon, Staps answered in the affirmative.
>Napoleon wanted to speak to Staps directly, so he was brought to the Emperor.
>‘Where were you born?’ – ‘In Naumburgh.’
>‘What is your father?’ – ‘A Protestant minister.’
>‘How old are you?’ – ‘I am 18.’
>‘What did you intend to do?’ – ‘To kill you.’
>‘You are mad, young man; you are an illuminato.’ – ‘I am not mad; and I know not what is meant by an illuminato.’
>‘You are sick, then.’ – ‘I am not sick; I am healthy.’
>‘Why did you wish to assassinate me?’ – ‘Because you have caused the misfortunes of my country.’
>‘Have I done you any harm?’ – ‘You have done harm to me and all Germans.’
>‘By whom were you sent? Who instigated you?’ – ‘Nobody. I determined to take your life from the conviction that I should thereby render the highest service to my country and to Europe.’
>‘I tell you, you are mad or sick.’ – ‘Neither.’[13]
>After a doctor examined Staps and pronounced him in good health, Napoleon twice offered Stapps a pardon:
>‘You will ruin your family', said Napoleon. 'If you ask pardon for the crime you intended to commit, I will grant it.’
>‘I want no pardon,’ replied Staps, ‘I feel the deepest regret for not having executed my design.’
>‘You seem to think very lightly of the commission of a crime!’
>‘Killing you is a duty, not a crime.’
>‘Would you not be grateful if I pardoned you?’
>‘I would still seize the first opportunity of taking your life.’[14]
>Staps was executed by a firing squad on October 17, 1809. His last words were: “Liberty forever! Germany forever! Death to the tyrant!”