Uniforms of Empire: The Intersection of Race, Religion, and Sartorial Politics in Napoleon’s Egyptian Campaign

This article examines the ideological significance of the Kashmir shawl during Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign (1798–1801), focusing on depictions in Antoine-Jean Gros’ Bonaparte Visits the Plague-stricken in Jaffa and Andre Duterte’s portrayals of French soldiers for Descriptions de l’Egypte. Tracing the shawl’s transformation from an Islamic artefact to a French military accessory and later a symbol of domestic luxury, this study highlights its dual role as a site of cultural negotiation and a tool of colonial domination. Through its exploration of the Kashmir shawl, this article contributes to a deeper understanding of the intersections of race, religion, and ethnicity, demonstrating how material culture both mediated and reinforced power dynamics within Napoleon’s imperial project.