Françoise Marie Antoinette Saucerotte (1756-1815), also known as Madamoiselle Raucourt, was an incredibly beautiful and talented actress and singer, from an early age in Spain, and in the court of Marie Antoinette in France, which made her famous. What made her infamous were her entirely un-hidden love affairs with women and men, most notably with French opera-soprano Sophie Arnould. The relationship ended badly, and two male friends represented the women in a duel to the death.
Whilst able to live happily as a lesbian in court and theatrical circles, hostile and libellous pamphlets were published against her, claiming she was the head of the 'Sect of Anandryne', a Parisian society of man-hating lesbians which may or may not have even existed. After the French Revolution, Saucerotte became Napoleon's director of imperial theatres in Italy.
When she died, the rector of Saint-Roch church refused to admit her body. A riot erupted among the amassed crowd of fifteen thousand people and the doors to the church were forced to carry Françoise in for her requiem mass, accompanied by an order from the King directing the priest to perform it.
After Saucerotte's funeral, her brother helped to organise a lifetime income for her partner, Henriette Simonnot de Ponty, and she assumed the lease of the couple's house.
Monday, 8 February 2010
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1 comments:
Loved today's LGBTQ History Month Post! What a woman; her name is new to me. How interesting that she was a singer, and so bold in her affairs. I had no idea that one could commission men to fight one's duels! Cool, must try it some time!
It has many resonances with today's attitudes towards lesbians. The concept of man-hating was clearly not original amongst Radical Revolutionary Lesbian Feminists in the second half of the 20th century.
Francoise was a woman of status who was respected and given office despite her 'transgressions.' The thought of a riot, following her death, demanding access to the church is extraordinary , supported as it was by the King, such high profile support is unimaginable today. And as for 'Partnership Rights' for her bereaved love, I am in awe. Thankyou Mark, for such an interesting example for LGBTQ History Month! Sandra.
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