These items of Frederick the Great, along with a sizable majority of captured standards went up in flames on 31 March 1814 at Les Invalides. The governor of Les Invalides, Marshal Sérurier, had inquired to the War Ministry about these trophies, and the Ministry had assured him that there were provisions being made to evacuate the items, but the Allied advance on Paris forestalled these plans. Sérurier had the assistance of the various pensioners of Les Invalides, who after being informed by the Marshal that the occupation of the city was imminent, helped to set a massive bonfire where these trophies, including Frederick the Great's sword, were destroyed.