CHEVALIER D`EON

By He l`ne (converted to PDF by Petra) for the Trans History Group

THE CHEVALIER D`EON English This is a digest of the excellent book about the life of the Chevalier D'Eon. Some of the text is direct quotes from the book: The Chevalier D'Eon, The Story of the Strangest Spy of All Times. Edith Moreels, 1996, Collection Histoire ey Mysteres, Edition Marabout, 356 pages. If there is a character who intrigued the 18th century, it would most certainly be the Chevalier D'Eon, who would have delighted the media and tabloids, always watching for juicy stories and unnusual people. A precursor to James Bond, d'Eon surrounded himself with ambiguity and paradox to the point of getting himself lost in them, inspiring both hate and staunch support. His secret activities raised the craziest questions, creating a legend and mystery. French J`ai fait un re sume d`un excellent livre consacre au Chevalier d`Eon. Dans ce texte de nombreux passages sont tire s directement du livre. Le Chevalier d`Eon, L`histoire du plus e trange espion de tous les temps. Edith Moreels, 1996, Collection Histoires et Myst`res, Editions Marabout, 335 pages. S`il est un personnage a avoir intrigue le XVIII e si`cle, on ne se trompera nullement en citant le Chevalier d`Eon. Aujourd`hui , il aurait fait le bonheur des me dias et des journaux asensation, toujours al`affu t d`e ve nements croustillants et de gens extraordinaires. Sorte d`anctre de James Bond, d`Eon a cultive l`ambigu et le te paradoxe jusqu`as`y perdre lui-mme, soulevant ala fois haines et soutiens inde fectibles. Ses fonctions secr`tes ont entrane les questions les plus folles, puis la le gende et enfin le myst`re.

Man or woman, double agent or twice spy, demential or mythoman, d'Eon succeeded in terrorising the greats of his time and muddy his trail to these days. Man for 49 years, woman for 33. Why?

Homme ou femme, agent double ou double agent, de ment ou mythomane, d`Eon a re ussi aterroriser les plus grands de son temps et a brouiller les pistes jusqu`anos jours. 49 ans homme, 33 ans femme. Pourquoi?

Drawings depicting him sometimes as a woman, sometimes as a man, sometimes in between continue to raise doubt in the minds of the experts. Charles-Genevieve was born on October 5, 1728 in Tonnerre (Yonne, about 150 km south-east of Paris). "On October 7, of the year one thousand seven hundred and twenty eight, was baptized Charles-Genevieve-LouisAugust-Andre-Timothee, son of the noble Louis Deon de Beaumont, adviser to the King, elected in the poll in Tonnerre, property manager for His Majesty, and of dame Franc oise de Charenton, his father and mother in legitimate matrimony, born the 5th of this same month "

Des gravures le repre sentant tantot en femme, tantot en homme ou encore moitie -moitie continuent afaire vaciller les certitudes les mieux affirme es. Le 5 octobre 1728, nat aTonnerre (Yonne, environ 150 km au sud-est de Paris) CharlesGenevi`ve. `Le 7 octobre, l`an mil sept cent vingt-huit, a e te baptise Charles-Genevi`veLouis-Auguste-Andre -Timothe e, fils du noble Louis De on de Beaumont, conseiller du roy e lu en l`e lection de Tonnerre, directeur des domaines de Sa Majeste , et de dame Franc oise de Charanton, ses p`res et m`res de le gitime mariage, ne s le cinq du pre sent mois `

D`origines modestes, il va grandir dans cette He is raised in the heady Bourgogne, in Bourgogne enivrante, d`autant que ses parents modest conditions, his parents being in the sont commerc ants vinicoles. L`enfant est wine business. As a child, he is unruly but turbulent mais intelligent. Son p`re le fait intelligent. He goes to school in Paris and instruire aParis d`o il sort diplome en 1748. graduates in 1748. He distinguishes himself Il brille par sa me moire et ses grandes for his memory and great aptitudes, especially capacite s, notamment dans les langues.. De for languages. Furthermore, he turns out to be plus il se re v`le excellent escrimeur et a fine blade and horseman. cavalier e me rite. As a teenager, Charles-Genevieve has a Pub`re, Charles-Genevi`ve a le physique fin, delicate physique, no facial hair. Some say he le visage imberbe. Androgyne disent certains. is androgynous

De plus les choses de la nature et le sexe faible ne semble pas vraiment l`inte resser. On le taquine, on le traite de puceau. Aucune de People tease him and call him virgin. None of ses lettres ne de voile d`ailleurs le moindre his letters reveal a female interest, be it in an pre nom fe minin, la plus petite parcelle erotic sense, passionate or even platonic love. d`e rotisme, de passion charnelle ou mme d`amour platonique. Only one letter to Mayenne, a high school Seule une lettre aMayerne, un ami de lyce e, classmate, contains these puzzling words: "My blood is at your service.. In a word, my laisse pexplexe. Il y e crit : `Mon sang est a dear friend, I love you to the point that neither ton service En un mot, mon ami, je t`aime a ce point que la vie et l`inte rt ne pourront life nor interests will ever influence my jamais influer sur mes sentiments ` feelings " He is what is called an Epicurean. He likes parties, comfort and beautiful surroundings. And wine Il est ce qu`on appelle un e picurien. Il aime la fte, le luxe et les beaux de cors. Et le vin

He does not appear interested in nature and the opposite sex.

A 21 ans il s`inscrit comme avocat au At 21 he becomes lawyer in the Parliament in Parlement de Paris.Il se fait des realations aupr`s de la noblesse, princes, ducs et comtes Paris. He has ties with the nobility and gravitates around princes, dukes and counts. font partie de son entourage. Il fait la He meets Voltaire. Thanks to his talents as a connaissance de Voltaire. Grce ases fins talents de diplomate et d`opportuniste, il diplomat and an opportunist, both Catholics re ussit ase faire adopter ala fois par le camp and anti-clerics adopt him. des catholiques et par celui des anticle ricaux. Meanwhile, Louis XV has created the Secret, Pendant ce temps, Louis XV a cre e le Secret, a real spy agency, doubling the amount of ambassadors and officials in foreign capitals. ve ritable service d`espionnage, doublant ainsi At this point, d'Eon's career takes a significant les ambassadeurs et les officiels des grandes capitales e trang`res. Ici la carri`re d`Eon va turn. prendre un tournant. According to the legend, d'Eon had met the king when he was 27, during a costume ball. Selon la le gende, d`Eon aurait fait la connaissance du roi a27 ans lors d`un bal Disguised as a woman, he even fooled the king. We do not know if this anecdote is true, costume . De guise en femme, d`Eon aurait nevertheless the fact is that he was appointed trompe mme le roi. Cependant on ne sait si cette anecdote est ve ridique. Ne anmoins le as an agent by the king. fait demeure qu`il est alors nomme agent du roi. In order to counter the alliance between England and Austria, the king wanted to get A cette e poque, pour contrecarrer l`alliance close to Russia so that its support harm the expansionist policies of his long date enemies. entre l`Angleterre et l`Autriche, le roi de sire se rapprocher de la Russie pour que son appui nuise aux politiques expansionistes des D'Eon was assigned the task to attract the ennemis de toujours. favors of Elizabeth Empress of Russia. D`Eon aura pour tche de s`attirer les faveurs de la tsarine Elisabeth.

In July 1755, An elegant young lady by the name of Lia de Beaumont is on her way to St. Petersburg. It is suspected that under this feminine guise, d'Eon penetrated the closed circle of women who were close to the empress. D'Eon, aka Lia de Beaumont has no trouble entertaining the empress who is thirsty for French culture. But later on, d'Eon admitted that he destroyed all documents about this part of his life. The old Marquis de l'Hopital however, who became ambassador to St. Petersburg, likes calling d'Eon "My dear Lia" and even "My beautiful de Beaumont".

En juillet 1755, une e le gante jeune femme du nom de Lia de Beaumont se dirige vers StPe tersbourg. On soupc onne que sous cet habit fe minin, d`Eon serait entre dans les cercles ferme s des proches de la tsarine. D`Eon, alis Lia de Beaumont n`a aucune peine adivertir l`impe ratrice, avide de culture franc aise. Mais par la suite d`Eon avouera avoir de truit tout document permettant d`authentifier cet e pisode de sa vie. Cependant, le vieux Marquis de L`Hospital, devenu ambassadeur a St-Pe tersbourg se plat aappeler d`Eon Ma ch`re Lia et mme ma belle de Beaumont.

Enfin, le chevalier au sexe versatile a Eventually, the chevalier with the versatile gender fulfilled his mandate and brought back accomplit son mandat en rapportant au roi de France un e crit de la tsarine. to the king of France a written statement by the empress. S`ensuivra une deuxi`me mission en Russie A second mission to Russia followed, to pour convaincre Elisabeth arenoncer au convince Elizabeth to renounce the support of soutien anglais et a confier le commandement England and to place the Russian troops in des troupes russes en Courlande (aujourd`hui Cortland (today's Lettonie) under the Lettonie) aun franc ais du nom de Conti. Mais command of a French named Conti. But he il y va sous l`apparence du Chevalier d`Eon et went as Chevalier d'Eon and in case someone au cas o certains remarqueraient une would notice the resemblance with Lia, he ressemblance avec Lia de Beaumont il dira said that they were brother and sister. qu`ils sont fr`res et s urs. Malgre que son jeu Although his role as a spy was exposed, d`espion ait e te de couvert, Elisabeth le Elizabeth protected him. His mission finally prot`ge. Finalement, mission accomplie, accomplished, Elizabeth rallied with France Elisabeth se rallie ala France et l`Autriche and Austria, against England and Prussia. contre l`Angleterre et la Prusse. D'Eon became a star in the court of Versailles. The king gave him the rank of Lieutenant of the dragons (light cavalry soldiers) and showered him with sumptuous gifts. Then came the big surprise, as d'Eon gave to the king the secret testament of Peter the Great. The king was flabbergasted and delighted. Then there was a third trip to Russia. His talents allowed him to paralyze the opponents of the empress. The latter, was impressed and wanted to officially hire his services. He remained however faithful to the French crown. D`Eon devient la vedette ala cour de Versailles. Le roi lui accorde un brevet de lieutenant de dragons (soldat de cavalerie le g`re) et lui offre des cadeaux somptueux. Surprise de taille, d`Eon remet alors au roi le testament secret de Pierre le Grand. Le roi abasourdi exulte. Troisi`me voyage en Russie. Ses talents lui permettent de paralyser les opposants de la tsarine. Celle-ci est impressionne e et veut s`attacher officiellement les services de d`Eon. Cependant celui-ci demeure fid`le ala couronne de France.

He remained at his post for four years and upon his return, the king granted him a yearly pension and the rank of captain of the dragons. For a few months, he took part in some battles of the Seven Year War.

Il demeurera en poste en Russie pendant quatre ans et lorsqu`il reviendra le roi lui octroira une pension annuelle et le grade de capitaine de dragons. Pendant quelques mois il participera aquelques batailles de cette Guerre de Sept Ans. Cette guerre est sur le point de s`achever et d`Eon est choisit comme adjoint du ministre charge de ne gocier la paix avec l`Angleterre. Il aura comme mission secr`te d`informer le roi de France de tout ce qui se passe en Angleterre. Apr`s cinq mois de tractations, le traite de Paris est prt atre signe . Et c`est a d`Eon qu`on demande de le tranporter en France pour le remettre au roi. Mais la France dig`re mal ce traite de paix et ses dirigeants souhaitent avoir leur revanche, d`autant plus que l`Angleterre vient de conque rir de nouvelles possessions (Cuba, Philippines). La France voudrait envahir l`Angleterre et mettre un Stuart sur le trone. Qui pourrait diriger une telle folie? D`Eon bien su r! Le roi le nomme ministre-pre sident puis ministre ple nipotentiaire et l`envoit aupr`s du roi d`Angleterre. D`Eon et ses subordone s font bien leur travail d`espion et fournissent quantite de renseignement ala France.

This war was bout to end and d'Eon was chosen as deputy minister in charge of negotiating a peace with England. His secret mission was to inform the king of France about anything happening in England. After 5 months of deliberations, the Treaty of Paris was ready for signature. It is d'Eon who was asked to take it to France and remit it in the hands of the King. But that peace treaty did not go down well with France and the leaders wanted to have their revenge, this was compounded by the fact that England had just acquired new possessions (Cuba, Philippines). France wanted to invade England and put Stuart on the throne. Who was going to manage such a crazy plan? D'Eon of course! The king named him prime minister, then minister without portfolio and sent him to the king of England. D'Eon and his staff did a good spying job and supplied countless information to France. In London, he led a luxurious and expensive lifestyle. Would the state pay his expenses? And everyone was not his friend. His political adversaries, led by Mme. De Pompadour connived to destroy him, make him return to France, even tried to assassinate him.

Il m`ne aLondres une vie faste et luxueuse. L`E tat remboursera-t-elle ses dettes?. Et il n`a pas que des amis. Ses adversaires politiques, mene s par Mme de Pompadour jouent d`astuces et de traitrse pour le de truire, le faire retourner en France voire mme l`assassiner. D`Eon est habile et sait de jouer ses ennemis. Malgre cela il sera destitue par le D'Eon was clever and thwarted his enemies' plans. The king nevertheless divested him but roi de France qui souhaite cependant le conserver de son cote . wished to keep him at his side. People tried to pass him as crazy and to destroy him by exposing him as a transvestite. He received a note from Louis: "You served me equally well with women's clothes and those you now wear. Put them back on right away and retire to the city." On tente de le faire passer pour fou et de le de truire en avouant publiquement son travestissement. Il rec oit un billet d`un certain Louis : `Vous m`avez servi aussi utilement sous les habits de femme que sius ceux que vous portez actuellement. Reprenez les de suite et retirez-vous dans la cite .`

The fighting between d'Eon and his enemies was in the form of writings, letters and publications where they revealed or threatened to reveal his political and personal secrets. He was called an "alienated hermaphrodite". D'Eon kept a sense of showmanship and intrigue. He had many allies and the public was on his side. Even the British were on his side. His life was in danger, he had a be astute to survive. He was protected by a well-armed guard. He had to keep hiding. One day, the London police managed to locate him. "They broke doors, closets, suitcases, to find me but they only found my cousin d'Eon de Mouloize who was quietly keeping warming at the fireside, with Mme. Eldowes and another lady. This other lady was usually called the Chevalier d'Eon."

Le combat que se livrent d`Eon et ses ennemis se de roule sous forme d`e crits, lettres et publications ou chacun re v`lent ou menacent de re ve ler des secrets politiques et personnels. On y traite mme d`Eon `d`hermaphrodite alie ne `. D`Eon a le sens du spectacle et de la machination. Il a de nombreux alie s et la faveur du public. Mme les anglais penchent en sa faveur. Sa vie est en danger, il doit rivaliser d`astuces pour survivre. Des gardes arme s jusqu`aux dents le prot`ge. Il doit continuellement se cacher. Un jour la police londonienne parvient ale localiser. `Les agents cass`rent les portes, armoires, valises, pour me trouver, et ne trouv`rent que mon cousin d`Eon de Mouloize qui e tait tranquillement ase chauffer au coin du feu avec Mme Eldowes et une autre dame. Cette autre dame e tait celle qu`on appelle commune ment le chevalier d`Eon.`

Hugonnet, courrier de Louis XV a avoue Hugonnet, messenger for Louis XV, admitted apr`s avoir e te arrte aCalais que d`Eon se after his arrest in Calais that d'Eon dressed as travestissait pour e chapper ala police. Mademoiselle Dufour, matresse d`Hugonnet a woman to hide from the police. et prostitue e notoire racontera qu`elle-mme Mademoiselle Dufour, Hugonnet's mistress and notorious prostitute said that she supplied avait fourni ad`Eon des vtements de femme. to d'Eon women's clothes. Finalement la tempte se calme. D`Eon The storm finally passed. D'Eon remained in restera en Angleterre comme espion du roi de England as a spy for the king of France. He France. Apr`s tout il est toujours talentueux, was after all talented, very useful and less tr`s utile et puis, moins dangereux chez les harmful in England than in France. anglais qu`en France. But the Chevalier had a trump card. He was still in possession of France's plans to invade England. His life took a new twist in October 1770. The rumors started that he was not a hermaphrodite, but really a woman dressed in men's clothes. Mais le Chevalier garde dans sa manche un atout. Il est toujours en possession des plans d`invasion de l`Angleterre par la France. Sa vie prend un nouveau tournant en octobre 1770. On se met araconter qu`il ne serait pas hermaphrodite mais bien une femme travestie en homme.

En plus la princesse russe d`Askoff pre tend Furthermore, the Russian princess d'Askoff declared that she knew him a lady companion l`avoir connue en tant que demoiselle d`honneur puis de lectrice aupr`s de la tsarine and reader for the empress Elizabeth. Elisabeth. The news traveled quickly. D'Eon refused to La nouvelle se re pand vite. Eon refuse de confirm or deny. The newspapers were confirmer ou d`infirmer. Les journaux s`en delighted. donnent ac ur joie. In England, people were betting on the real En Angleterre les gens font des paris sur le gender of the Chevalier d'Eon, the bets sexe ve ritable du Chevalier d`Eon, paris qui reaching one hundred thousand pounds sterling! And to boot, what a pleasure it was atteindront cent mille livres sterling ! Quel plaisir en plus de pouvoir ridiculiser la France to ridicule France! ! Le Chevalier en est attriste : `J`ai le chagrin d`entendre et de lire mme, jusque dans les The Chevalier was saddened: " I am papiers anglais, tous les rapports chagrined to hear and even to read, even in the British newspapers, all those extraordinary extraordinaires qui viennent de Paris, de Londres et mme de St-Pe tersbourg, sur reports that come from France, London and even St. Petersburg, regarding the uncertainty l`incertitude de mon sexe ` about my gender.." Des gens vont mme jusqu`aTonnerre, sa ville natale pour faire parler sa vieille Some people even went to Tonnerre, his nourrice. Craignant pour sa se curite , d`Eon birthplace, to talk to his old nanny. Fearing for his life, d'Eon asked permission to return demande la permission de regagner la France. to France. Le comte de Broglie qui a envoye un The count of Broglie who sent his secretary, secre taire, Jean Drouet, aupr`s du Chevalier Jean Drouet, to the Chevalier writes: "(..) The e crit : `( ) Le S. Drouet, aqui j`avais S. Drouet, to whom I asked to do his best to recommande de faire de son mieux pour les verify, assured me upon his return that he had ve rifier, m`a assure ason retour qu`il y e tait in fact succeeded and could certify, after en effet parvenu et qu`il pouvait me certifier, careful examination and touching, that the apr`s avoir examine et palpe avec beaucoup said sir d'Eon was a girl, with all the attributes d`attention, que ledit sieur d`Eon e tait une and regular inconveniences.(..)" fille, qu`il en avait tous les attributs et toutes les incommodite s re guli`res. ( )` Louis XV died in 1774. D'Eon lost his protector. Louis XVI wished to reclaim the En 1774 Louis XV s`e teint. D`Eon perd alors secret papers from d'Eon. son protecteur. Louis XVI souhaite re cupe rer les papiers secrets que poss`de d`Eon. Il faut He had to return to France. The king was donc la faire revenir en France. Le roi est prt prepared to re-integrate her to her rank and ala re inte grer dans son grade et aabandonner call off all proceedings against her as long as les proce dure contre elle ala condition qu`elle she behaves. se tienne tranquille. D'Eon refused. Versailles ordered Beaumarchais to go to London and recover the papers. D`Eon refuse. Versailles charge Beaumarchais d`aller aLondres re cupe rer les papiers.

The negotiations were lengthy and had to do with monetary issues, political rehabilitation and a government decree recognizing her status as a woman. Louis XVI's planned to publicly recognize d'Eon's gender if she wore women's clothes immediately upon her arrival. This deal was officially signed on November 4, 1775. She was allowed to keep as souvenirs some relics of her military past: uniform, helmet, blade, pistol, bayonet and cross of St.. Louis. She wrote : "You only had as captain of dragons and attache , in war and politics, the appearance of a man. I am just a girl who would have perfectly fulfilled my duties till death, if politics and your enemies had not made me the most unfortunate of girls .."

Les ne gociations sont longues et tournent autour des questions mone taires, de la re habilitation politique et que le gouvernement devrait publier un de cret dans lequel son statut de femme serait reconnu. Le plan de Louis XVI pre voit la reconnaissance publique du sexe de d`Eon si elle porte les habits de femme d`s son retour. Cette transaction est officialise e et signe e le 4 novembre 1775. On lui permet de garder en souvenir quelques reliques de son passe militaire : uniforme, casque, sabre, pistolet, baionnette et croix de St-Louis.

Elle e crira : `Vous n`avez eu pour capitaine de dragons et aide de camp, en guerre et en politique que l`apparence d`un homme. Je ne suis qu`une fille qui aurait parfaitement soutenu mon role jusqu`ala mort, si la politique et vos ennemis ne m`avaient pas Finally, the secret documents went back in the rendu la plus infortune e des filles ` hands of the French royalty. Finalement les documents secrets reviennent Beaumarchais had the audacity to offer the aux mains de la royaute franc aise. "Chevaliere" eight thousand Louis if she would prove in public her gender. She was Beaumarchais a l`insolence de proposer ala humiliated and stayed in hiding for two Chevali`re huit mille louis si elle prouve publiquement son sexe. Elle est humillie e et months. se cachera pendant deux mois. Going even farther, Beaumarchais started the rumor that he was going to marry d'Eon. Poussant encore plus loin, Beaumarchais fait courir la rumeur qu`il va e pouser d`Eon. It was war between them. Now truly irate, d'Eon refused to wear the women's clothes Entre les deux c`est la guerre. De sormais, and insisted on her re-instatement as captain irrite e, d`Eon refuse de porter des vtements of the dragons and minister without portfolio. fe minins et exige sa re inte gration en tant que ministre ple nipotentiaire, capitaine de dragons. Disillusioned, she returned in France in January 1777. She had not been on her native soil for 17 years. Meanwhile, she had lost the C`est en janvier 1777 qu`elle rentre en France, de sabuse e. Cela faisait dix-sept ans qu`elle sympathy of the British people. n`avait pas remis les pieds sur son sol natal. Entretemps elle avait perdu la sympathie du peuple anglais.

On August 27, 1777, the king Louis XVI wrote: " It is an order of the king that CharlesGenevieve d'Eon stops wearing the dragon's uniform he usually wears, and take on the clothes of his gender with interdiction to appear in the kingdom with any other clothes than those befitting women."

Le 27 aou t 1777 le roi Louis XVI e crivit : `De par le Roi, Il est ordonne aCharles-Genevi`ve d`Eon de quitter l`habit uniforme de dragon qu`il a coutume de porter, et de reprendre les habits de son sexe, avec de fense de paratre dans le royaume sous d`autres habillements que ceux convenables aux femmes.`

She had no choice. She would have to dress as a woman from now on. "Since I lost my uniform and my sword, I am as dumb as a fox without its tail.! I try to walk with pointed shoes and high heels, but nearly broke my neck many times." Everybody rushed for a chance at a glimpse of this 'strange animal', this man become woman. The press made the best of it. The crowds looked on. She was paid respect, but in fact she was seen as a sad clown.

Le sort en est jete . Elle devra de sormais vivre en femme. `Depuis que j`ai quitte mon uniforme et mon sabre, je suis aussi sot qu`un renard sans sa queue ! Je tche de marcher avec des souliers pointus et de hauts talons, mais j`ai manque de me casser le col plus d`une fois.` Tout le monde se presse pour avoir la chance de voir cet `animal e trange`, cet homme devenu femme. La presse se re gale. La foule joue au voyeur. On lui te moigne aussi du respect, mais en fait elle a plutot le role du clown triste.

But, man or woman, her life could not remain Mais homme ou femme, sa vie ne peut rester calme. Nouveaux de mle s avec Beaumarchais quiet. News altercations with Beaumarchais et divers proc`s se succ`dent. and various law suits ensued. Her meeting with Benjamin Franklin made her feel like going to America, but the government prohibited her to get involved in this new war. After all, ladies are not supposed to concern themselves with military matters In 1779, she was thrown in jail but a luxury jail, with dinners in the company of nobles, etc. On her release, she was exiled to her city, Tonnerre, but forced to keep her women's clothes. Gradually, she adapted to her feminine life, modified her habits and behavior, but the natural always tended to come back. She missed adventure and the fascinating life style of back then. She missed London terribly. She finally returned to England in 1786. She regained her freedom. She sometimes wore masculine clothes, for fencing tournaments among other activities. But she lived her life as a woman almost permanently. She never went back to France. 1789. The French revolution. Heads fell, among them that of Louis XVI. Sa rencontre avec Benjamin Franklin lui donne le gou t de l`Ame rique mais le gouvernement franc ais lui interdit de se mler acette nouvelle guerre, apr`s tout une femme n`a pas ase mler aux affaires militaires Mars 1779, elle est emprisonne e mais prison de luxe avec dners avec les nobles etc. A sa sortie on l`exile dans sa ville de Tonnerre tout en l`obligeant aporter les vtements fe minins. Graduellement elle s`adapte asa vie fe minine, modifie ses habitudes et comportements mais le naturel tend toujours arefaire surface. L`aventure lui manque, elle regrette sa vie passionnante d`antan. Londres lui manque e norme ment. Elle pourra retourner vivre en Angleterre en 1786. Elle retrouve enfin la liberte . Parfois elle remet des vtements masculins, entre autre pour des tournois de fleuret. Mais elle vit sa vie de femme en quasi permanence. Elle ne remettra jamais les pieds en France. 1789. La re volution franc aise. Les ttes tombent. Entre autre celle de Louis XVI.

An engraving from 1787 "Lia d'Eon " engaged in exhibition swordplay with a Monsieur de Saint-George at Carlton House, London

The "Chevaliere" was living in poverty and was ill. Furthermore, a fencing wound was affecting her. She read and wrote profusely. We uncovered some 2000 manuscripts from her. She lived with Mary Cole, an old friend who shared her remaining years. At the age of 76, she served a five-month jail term because of finances. She died 82, on May 21, 1810. In 1796, she had written: " I do not regret having lost my stinking man title I do not regret any longer to appear in public without my uniform and in women's clothes: since I wear the spirit, it is natural that I wear the form " The revelation. Her autopsy. As written by Dr. Demalon: " Deposition justifying de gender of Chevalier d'Eon. ( ) By this, I certify having examined and autopsied the body of Chevalier d'Eon, in presence of M. Adair, M. Wilson, Father Elisee, and having found male reproductive organs, perfectly shaped in all aspects. Wilman Street, May 23 1810. Signed: Tho. COPELAND, Surgeon."

La Chevali`re vit dans la pauvrete et la maladie assombrit sa vie. De plus une blessure profonde au fleuret l`affectera beaucoup. Elle lit et e crit e norme ment. On a retrouve 2000 manuscrits e crits de sa main. Elle va vivre avec Mary Cole, une vieille amie qui partagera ses derni`res anne es. A 76 ans elle fera cinq mois de prisons acause de ses cre anciers. Le 21 mai 1810, elle s`e teint al`ge de 82 ans. En 1796 elle avait e crit : `Je ne regrette plus d`avoir perdu mon titre empuanti d`homme Je ne regrette plus de paratre en public de pouille e de l`uniforme et revtue de l`habit de femme : puisque j`en porte le fond, il est naturel que j`en porte la forme ` La re ve lation - Son autopsie Tel que re dige par le docteur Demalon : `Attestations justificatives du sexe du Chevalier d`Eon ( ) Je certifie par le pre sent que j`ai examine et disse que le corps du chevalier d`Eon, en pre sence de M. Adair, de M. Wilson, du P`re Elise e, et que j`ai trouve les organes mles de la ge ne ration, parfaitement forme s sous tous les rapports. Wilman Street, le 23 mai 1810. Signe : Tho. COPELAND, chirurgien. `

The people who had bet on his masculinity or Les personnes qui avaient parie sur la masculinite ou leurs descendants ont pu their descendents could finally get their finalement avoir leur argent money She (He) is buried in the churchyard of the parish Saint-Pancrace, in the county of Middlesex.
Converted into PDF by Petra Henderson

Elle (il) a e te enterre dans le cimeti`re de la paroisse Saint-Pancrace, dans le compte de Middlesex