Théroigne de Méricourt

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"We declared the Rights of Man - but what of women!"

―Théroigne de Mericourt, 1793.

Théroigne de Méricourt
Biographical information
Born	13 August 1762 Marcourt, Austrian Netherlands
Died	9 June 1817 (aged 55) Paris, Kingdom of France
Political information
Affiliations	Assassins

Anne-Josèphe Théroigne de Méricourt (13 August 1762 – 9 June 1817), born Anne-Josèphe Terwagne, was a Belgian singer, orator and organizer during the French Revolution.

Biography

Revolutionary beginnings

"We rally to be heard by the King! We do not want violence, we want the King to see how his citizens live! We speak for the hungry! We speak for the shivering! We speak for Paris!"

―Théroigne at the Women's March on Versailles, 1789.

Born in Marcourt in Luxembourg Province, Théroigne initially pursued a career as an opera singer. Following the storming of the Bastille, she became involved in the revolutionary movement, regularly attending the National Assembly and following it when it moved from Versailles to Paris. As well as being a champion of women's rights, Théroigne fought to keep Paris' underprivileged fed by stealing food from the wealthy.

When hunger and despair pushed market women to march on Versailles on 5 October 1789, Théroigne and one of her allies joined them in their protest. At the same time, Templars who sought to sow chaos infiltrated the march and attempted to turn it violent. As Théroigne's reputation preceded her, several men attempted to deter her on her way to the Paris City Hall, though the Assassins ensured she could proceed and that the march remained peaceful. Cheering on the crowds, she would lead the march all the way to Versailles.

Théroigne left France in 1790, but she ended up being arrested by Austrians back home. Following her release, she returned to Paris in 1792 and eagerly re-joined the revolutionary cause, with her imprisonment having only added to her notoriety. As a result, Théroigne was invited to speak at the Jacobin Club.

Disappearing food supplies

"People are saying the farmers are hoarding food and fixing prices, but it's not them."

―Théroigne on the disappearing food convoys, 1792.

In the summer of 1792, Théroigne uncovered a conspiracy orchestrated by Templars that intended to sow chaos by starving the Paris' citizens, turning them against each other. Tracing the group's activities for over a month, she was led to Flavigny, a woman who had assumed the guise of a couturiere to carry out her operations. Théroigne presented her findings to the National Assembly, but they did not believe her, forcing the revolutionary to take action herself.

Set on eliminating Flavigny's agents, Théroigne traveled to an address in the Hôtel-de-ville district that she had determined; prior to her departure, she left a message for the Assassins, of whose presence she was also aware. Entering the building, she ended up being outnumbered, but was saved by the timely appearance of the Assassins. Together, they eliminated Flavigny's men and secured the stolen food, following which Théroigne told the Assassins of Flavigny's location, trusting them to take the Templar out.

Later, Théroigne found out about a gunsmith designing weapons for the Templars. In response, she asked the Assassin Arno Dorian, who had previously aided her, to kill the gunsmith and retrieve the blueprints. In this way, her own Parisian militia would be able to manufacture more advanced weaponry for themselves. After coming up with the idea of establishing an army of women, Théroigne would call on Arno once more, asking him to distribute recruitment handbills at various brothels.

Jacobin raid

"Jacobins! It is your turn to bleed! The Terror ends tonight!"

―Théroigne prior to her attack on the Jacobins' hideout, 1794.

Politically, Théroigne had begun to shift towards the more moderate Girondists, of whom she became a fervent supporter. Consequently, she was named an enemy of the Republic by Maximilien de Robespierre, causing a group of Jacobin supporters to attack her in 1793 and whip her within an inch of her life.

On 29 July 1794, the day after the death of Robespierre in the Thermidorian Reaction, Théroigne led a rally outside of the Jacobin hideout against the last of the Jacobins. Assisted by the Assassins, she prevented the Jacobins from escaping into the catacombs of Paris, and the last of the Jacobins were killed.

Gallery

Concept art of Théroigne

A painting of Théroigne

An 1879 illustration of Théroigne

Reference

• Assassin's Creed: Unity