One of the most unexpected items within Dorset History Centre’s collections is a small black and white poster dating from 1796. It advertises a fencing match in Southampton by a woman; Mademoiselle Charlotte Genevieve Louis D’Eon, also known as the Chevalier D’Eon.
A life less ordinary
By current classification, Mademoiselle D’Eon would likely be considered Transgender; she was born outwardly male, although this was only confirmed after her death in 1810. Her life was truly extraordinary; aside from a military career which involved action in the Seven Years War, D’Eon served as a spy in the Russian Court, and at another point as an interim ambassador to England. The latter position enabled D’Eon to spy directly for the French King Louis XV, collecting information for a potential invasion.
Official recognition
In 1777 the Chevalier D’Eon managed to convince the French Court that she had been born female, and only brought up as a male so she could inherit. By a judgement of the Court of the King’s Bench and a special order of the King, she was legally recognised as a woman in 1777, after 14 months of negotiation. Her knowledge of French invasion plans obtained by spying for the King may well have provided a useful lever for negotiation!
She lived the last 33 years of her life as a woman, often performing fencing matches in female attire. She was known as an extraordinary sword-fighter, and only stopped after the injury mentioned on the above poster. Her extraordinary determination to live life true to herself displays astonishing courage. If further proof of her courage were required it is worth noting that she was 68 years old at the time of her last fencing match!
