Legacy of Julio Lobo

Julio Lobo, one of Cuba’s most influential sugar magnates and a key figure in the nation's economic history, left behind not only a vast business empire but also the largest collection of Napoleonic artifacts outside France. Married into the Montalvo family (Lobo married my paternal grandmother’s sister, Maria Esperanza). Lobo was a beloved patriarch whose legacy extended deeply into his relatives’ lives and memories.

In 1960, following a meeting with Che Guevara that would have required surrendering his holdings and wealth, Lobo chose exile, leaving behind his businesses and priceless collection. In his collection, nearly 8,000 objects and over 200,000 documents, was later moved by the Cuban government into a grand Florentine-style mansion near the University of Havana, now the Museo Napoleónico.

The museum features rare artifacts spanning the French Revolution to the Second Empire, including Napoleon’s death mask, military regalia, and a remarkable library. One notable painting, Planning Napoleon’s Coronation by Jehan-Georges Vibert, reflects themes of power and pageantry, offering insight into both history and the collector’s vision.

Visiting the museum offered a powerful link to both Cuba’s rich cultural history and the personal heritage of families shaped by its legacy. Through the objects Lobo once treasured, a connection endures—between past and present, homeland and diaspora.

More information about Lobo and his life in Cuba can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Sugar-King-Havana-Julio-Tycoon/dp/1594202583