Théroigne de Méricourt French Revolutionary Postcard

Telling Herstory: Théroigne de Méricourt - Rumor has it that an Amazon led the attack on the Bastille, July 14, 1789. Actually, if a woman did lead the attack, she was not dressed as a legendary Greek warrior; she was dressed in a riding habit of the period, or as the French would say “a l’Amazone”. The woman most famous for this manner of dress during the French Revolution was known as Théroigne de Méricourt. Whether or not Théroigne led the charge is a matter of opinion. Either way Théroigne was active in the revolution. Whether or not Théroigne was at the Bastille or any other specific event, she played an extraordinary role in this phase of the revolution. She founded her own club, ran a salon, and even on one occasion spoke at the Cordeliers Club. Théroigne encouraged and participated in the exchange of ideas and the push for “Liberté, égalité, fraternité.” She became a celebrity, and it was at this time that she began to be called Théroigne de Méricourt, an affection she never used herself.