The Chevalier d'Éon: biography of Louis XV's spy

He is known as Chevalier d'Éon, but also as Mademoiselle d'Éon. He could be seen wearing a military uniform, but also dressed in the most refined feminine attire. Tall, lean, and smooth-featured, the Chevalier d'Éon commanded equal parts admiration and loathing. The mystery about his biological sex was a hot topic in European society at the time: in England, bookmakers came to use the issue for profit. Londoners went crazy betting on what they considered the “real” sex. And the Chevalier d'Éon (or Mademoiselle d'Éon) laughed at them all.

If you have been surprised and wanting to know more about this fascinating character, keep reading. In this short biography of Chevalier d'Éon You will enter one of the most exciting lives of the 18th century.

• Related article: "The 5 ages of History (and their characteristics)"

Biography of the Knight d'Éon

The names that were imposed on him in the baptismal font already augured his enigmatic future. Because our character was called Charles-Geneviève-Louise-Auguste-Andrée-Thimotée. That is, he had feminine and masculine names.

It is known that he was born in Tonnerre, France, into a noble family., and that in 1743, at the age of 15, he settled in the house of an uncle, in Paris, to pursue university studies. At the age of 21 he graduated in Civil and Canon Law and began to practice in Parliament.

Knight d'Éon or Mademoiselle?

In those years he was not yet a knight d'Éon, and was known simply as Charles. Extremely cultured and highly refined, the young man soon displayed a privileged mind that dazzled King Louis XV. Legend has it that the monarch met d'Éon at a party where Charles attended dressed as a woman. Louis XV believed this female identity, and when he found out that she was actually talking to a boy, he was pleasantly surprised.

It was then that he sent it to Russia with the identity of Mademoiselle Lia de Beaumont, with the aim of getting closer to the then sovereign of the country, Elizabeth I, and convince her to accept an alliance with France. War against Britain and Prussia seemed imminent, and France wanted Russia to side with her in the fight.

The reality is more prosaic. Enthusiastic about Charles' intelligence and savoir faire, Louis XV sent him as ambassador (and as a man) to the court of Elizabeth I. There, Charles' charm and diplomacy do his job: when he returns from the Slavic country, Russia is on the side of France in the Seven Years War. This represents the first of many successes to be achieved by the Chevalier d'Éon during his career as ambassador.

• You may be interested in: "The 8 branches of the Humanities (and what each of them studies)"

French ambassador... and king's spy

The success obtained in the Russian court opens the doors of the so-called Secret du roi. This cabinet, led by the Prince de Conti, was the first truly organized secret service in history. It served the interests of Louis XV, sometimes going against it and disobeying the directives of the councils of state, which, by the way, were unaware of its existence. Conti deeply admired Charles's ability to suggest, as well as his manner and his ease. Without hesitation, he proposed that she join the secret cabinet.

This is where Charles' career as a spy begins., an obviously secret trade that combines with official diplomatic work. At the same time, he enlists in the army as a dragoon captain and participates in various campaigns of the Seven Years' War.

When the war ends, he is sent to London to negotiate peace with England. Once again, the success of d'Éon is withering: he obtains for France a more than favorable peace treaty, which is initialed in February 1763. Grateful for the services rendered, Louis XV awarded him the Cross of Saint Louis and named him, now, Chevalier d'Éon, knight of Éon.

bets are allowed

As a member of the French embassy in London, Charles remains in the capital. There he began to be known by London society for his luxurious and eccentric parties, but also for his charm, his charisma and his people skills. All the people who associate with the knight d'Éon fall exhausted at his feet. Charles is charming and possesses a magnificent culture, which makes him an unbeatable speaker at society gatherings.

In 1770 the first rumors began to spread about the sex of the Chevalier. Some are absolutely convinced that she is a woman who dresses in men's clothes; they base his theory on his beardless face and her graceful forms. However, others say no, that the Chevalier is a man: otherwise, he would not have been able to show so much courage in battle... Little by little, the discussion takes on the overtones of a soap opera. Libels and satire appear in the newspapers, and even London bookmakers make a killing calling on citizens to bet on the illustrious character's sex.

In 1774, the rumors cross the English Channel and reach Paris, where the new king, Louis XVI, asks for explanations. The Chevalier has no choice but to clarify the situation: he claims that she was born a woman, but since her father had not produced any male heirs, he raised him as if he were a man. It seems that the mystery, in principle, is solved.

Mademoiselle d'Éon

But, before putting an end to the discussions about her sex, the king dismisses d'Éon and appoints de Gerchy, her staunch enemy, as the new ambassador. The reason: the crazy parties and the way of life that the Chevalier leads in London have struck down the budget of the French embassy. D'Éon is deeply humiliated. When Louis XV demands that he return to France, he refuses and remains in London, but not before blackmailing the king. Let's not forget that d'Éon, as a former member of the Secret du roi, is in possession of very compromising documents.

We have already commented how, once on the throne, the new King Louis XVI asks d'Éon for explanations about her sex. After getting confirmation of the female sex from her, the king requires the Chevalier to always wear women's clothes. In other words, she d'Éon will no longer be able to wear her dragon uniform or her military decorations. And when d'Éon protests, Louis XVI is very clear: if she doesn't wear women's clothes for the rest of her life, she will receive no pension from the French state. Finally, d'Éon gives up. From now on, and for the remaining 33 years of his life, Charles will be Mademoiselle d'Éon.

The last years

True to his promise, d'Éon wears exquisite feminine clothing and receives all of her visits dressed as a woman. Disputes about her sex have been hushed up. There is no mystery anymore: d'Éon has always been a woman who wore men's clothes.

However, d'Éon does not like her new situation. She wants to wear her military uniform and her decorations, and she finds it inconceivable that she, being a woman, would not be allowed to wear them. It is known that, on one occasion, he dressed as a man again, and that for this he was taken to prison. People shook their heads and blamed his stubbornness on the masculine upbringing he had received.

In 1789, the situation changed for Mademoiselle. The new French state born after the French Revolution withdraws her pension, like all French nobles. Mademoiselle d'Éon, accustomed to living in the midst of all kinds of luxuries, she is forced to subsist on barely 200 pounds a year. Her situation is desperate, but her prodigious mind devises a solution. She knows that the public has not forgotten her. She knows that deep down, people still look up to her. So she starts giving fencing exhibitions (one of the sports in which she has always excelled)…dressed as a woman.

However, despite the fact that these exhibitions enjoy some popularity, the financial situation of d'Éon is increasingly critical. She spends her last years in near poverty, sharing a modest flat with a widow, Mrs. Cole, who becomes her inseparable friend. Mademoiselle d'Éon died in 1810, at the age of 81. When her faithful companion undresses her to prepare for her burial, she is shocked to see that Mademoiselle…has male genitalia.

So incredulous is Mrs. Cole that she summons several doctors and anatomists to confirm what she does not want to believe. A careful examination of the corpse is then practiced and the artist Charles Turner is called in to leave graphic testimony of d'Éon's intimate anatomy. The drawing in question is printed and made public, although the number of prints that were made is unknown. London society then realizes that the story they believed... is actually the other way around.

transgender symbol

The figure of Charles d'Éon/Mademoiselle d'Éon, despite being still quite unknown, she is one of the historical symbols of the transgender community. However, historians have serious doubts about whether d'Éon really contemplated this option. the result of personal convictions or if, on the contrary, it was simply a way of staying on the lips of all.

So the question is: did the Chevalier d'Éon feel like a woman? It is clear, from the autopsy carried out and the study of her genitals, that his biological sex was male. But what gender did he identify with? Or did she identify with both?

It seems quite probable that d'Éon, after being removed as ambassador, maintained his feminine dress and demeanor in order to continue enjoying the pension that the king had promised him. However, this royal status had derived from a previous statement, in which d'Éon himself claimed to be biologically female. Why did she claim such a thing, if she had male genitalia? Was it all a calculated strategy not to fall into oblivion? Or perhaps by affirming his feminine condition, d'Éon was confirming the gender with which he felt identified? Let's remember that, in the eighteenth century, he did not differentiate between the concepts "sex" and "gender".

Be that as it may, the truth is that the Chevalier d'Éon/Mademoiselle d'Éon was an overwhelming personality, with lively intelligence and a strong character as well as charming. Not surprisingly, Voltaire himself said that he was "the most brilliant man of his century."