Charles-Genevieve-Louis-Auguste-André-Timothy d'Eon de Beaumont, or for short – Chevalier d'Eon: spymaster, warrior, diplomat, adventurer, traitor, madwoman (ugh, I'm tired!) and exile, man or woman or...
Born in 1728 in Burgundy, into a poor noble family, D'Aion excelled in his studies and was sent to continue his education in Paris. After completing his studies, he worked in several high-ranking and quite interesting positions, including censorship, but in 1756 he began his real career – joining Louis XV's private spy service, the Secret du Roi, which operated, more than once, without the government's knowledge and even against its policy.
Between a spy and a diplomat
His first mission was to damage the relations between the Russian and Habsburg Empires. D'Aeon arrived in Russia as, note, Lady of the Court of Lea de Beaumont, and became a companion to Empress Elizabeth. We do not know how successful she was in this mission, but after her return to France she was awarded a grant for her services.
Upon returning to her homeland in 1760, she became a captain in the cavalry and was able to participate in several final battles of the Seven Years' War. The daring officer was recognized for his courage in battle.
In 1762 he was sent to London as part of a diplomatic mission to negotiate an end to the fighting. He helped draft the peace treaty and eventually became France 's temporary ambassador in London. At the same time, he continued to spy for the king, his mission being to investigate possible landing sites in Wales for a potential French invasion . When the permanent ambassador arrived, d'Eon refused to vacate the post, engaging in a public spat with him and even accusing him of attempted poisoning.
After the French government tried to pressure him, he published a shockingly incriminating and scandalous memoir, but avoided mentioning the French preparations for the invasion. The French got the hint, returned the ambassador, and reached an understanding with D'Aeon: he would continue to spy and receive French money, but he was forbidden to return to France.
D'Aion, as can be understood from his publicized quarrel with the French ambassador, was a very famous figure in London, and speculation about his sexual identity spread quickly. It even reached the London Stock Exchange, where bets were placed on the subject.
Between a man and a woman
After the death of Louis XV, his spy service was disbanded, and d'Aeon asked to return home. The person entrusted with the negotiations with him was none other than Pierre Beaumarchais, author of "The Book of Seville" and later the architect of the logistical supply to the rebellious British colonies in the New World. The final settlement included continued payments from the government, the return of incriminating documents from d'Aeon, and a softened exile within France.
In addition, the Chevalier decided to come out of the closet: D'Aeon demanded official recognition of his femininity. He claimed that in practice – he was born a woman and raised as a boy only so that his family could receive inheritance money (which was promised only on the condition of male sons). The government was ready to comply, but demanded that Mademoiselle D'Aeon start dressing accordingly (she was allowed to wear her insignia on dresses as well).
Life in her homeland proved disappointing (she was not allowed, for example, to join the French volunteers in the American Revolution), and in 1785 she returned to London. The French Revolution brought her financial disaster – her pension was cut off, and the family estate was confiscated. D'Avon tried to offer her services to the Republic, as founder and commander of the "Amazon Regiment", but the revolutionaries were not advanced enough for that.
The twilight of her life was rather bleak – D’Aeon, in her days as a man, was considered one of the top fencers in Europe, and as a woman she continued to compete, until in 1796 she was seriously injured in a competition in Southampton. Her financial situation was dire and even included a brief imprisonment for debt. For the last four years of her life she was bedridden, paralyzed from a fall. She breathed her last in London.
Then came another surprise: the doctor who was called in to examine the body firmly determined that it was undoubtedly a man, with completely male reproductive organs. However, he also mentioned female characteristics, such as full breasts, the absence of a larynx, and the refinement of the limbs.
So go and understand.
Want to know more?
The character of Chevalier d'Aun was pretty much forgotten after his death, but during the 1980s, Japanese manga artists decided to create an animated series based on his character. Here is the opening of that series, which can be found on YouTube:
And if you know French at a reasonable level, you are welcome to watch an entire episode about Chevalier d'Aun in Stephane Bern's brilliant documentary program Secrets d'Histoire:
https://youtu.be/L2Zjbm0QgG8
Was Chevalier d'Aun the only androgynous man in the service of France?
You might be surprised, but he wasn't the first, and about a hundred years before him, the Abbot de Choisy astonished the world by managing to live as both a man and a woman. You can read about him in the article The Adventures of Mr./Mrs. de Choisy.
And speaking of Chevalier d'Aun, it's worth mentioning Chevalier de Saint-Georges.
He may not have been androgynous, but he was certainly one of the most fascinating figures of the 18th century. He was a musician and a swordsman, and even fought against the Chevalier d'Aun in a famous duel in England. You can read about him in the article The Disappearance of the “Black Mozart” or the Story of the Knight de Saint-Georges.
If you come to Burgundy, it's worth stopping atToner, the town where Chevalier d'Aune was born. The house where he was born, Hôtel d'Auzes, still stands there on the main street.
A few words about Yigal Liberant
Yigal Libernet is a doctoral student in the Department of History at Tel Aviv University but is better known to the wider public as the translator of the excellent book series “Pandorin’s Box.” You are welcome to continue following him on his Facebook page or support him through his Patreon page.
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