I think it happened because most eagles were destroyed after the Bourbon Restoration, by the Royal order. Outside France, almost all of them survived, which were captured in battles as trophies. Now they are the national treasure of France and those countries against which France fought.
I don’t know how in other countries, but in Russia before the revolution, three eagle (or about that) was in private collections. They were found on the battlefields of the war of 1812 on private land holdings and belonged to landlords-owners of these possessions. After 1917 they were confiscated by Bolsheviks. One of them (106th Infantry) was sold abroad in 1930s.
I don’t know how in other countries, but in Russia before the revolution, three eagle (or about that) was in private collections. They were found on the battlefields of the war of 1812 on private land holdings and belonged to landlords-owners of these possessions. After 1917 they were confiscated by Bolsheviks. One of them (106th Infantry) was sold abroad in 1930s.
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