unspeakablevice:

[Chevalière d’Éon, left, dueling with Saint Georges, right. Her sword can be seen striking her opponent.]

Chevalière d’Éon (born 1728) was assigned male at birth. She presented as a man for forty-nine years, and as a woman for thirty-three years. d’Eon held a variety of professions during her life including being a spy, a dragoon captain, and an author. When d’Éon demanded that the French government recognize her as female King Louis XVI and his court granted her request.

d’Éon was an avid fencer. She dueled throughout her life. For a time d’Éon toured England with another female fencer, actress and friend Mrs. Bateman, and made fencing her primary means of income. During 1787 the Prince of Wales arranged a match between d’Éon and Monsieur de Saint George, a master fencer acquainted with d’Éon, at Carlton House in London. While d’Éon did not win this match she did show off her skill by striking Saint George with a “coup de temps”, meaning she managed to hit Saint George during the preparation of his attack.

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