Brûlon, Angélique (1772–1859)
Brûlon, Angélique (1772–1859)
French woman who defended Corsica disguised as a man. Name variations: Angelique Brulon. Born Marie-Angélique Josephine Duchemin around 1772; died in 1859.
By the time Angélique Brûlon, fighting in male guise, had been identified as a woman, she was so valuable to the French army that she remained in service, known popularly as Liberté the Fusilier. Between 1792 and 1799, Brûlon fought in seven campaigns in defense of the island region of Corsica, displaying particular courage at Calvi and at the attack on Fort Gesco. Those at the garrison at Calvi attested to her acts of heroism, recounting that when her right arm was slashed with a sword she continued to fight with a dagger in her left hand. Brûlon retired in 1822, at the age of 51 and received the rank of lieutenant as well as the red ribbon of the French Legion of Honor from Napoleon III. Even as an old woman, she was said to have worn her lieutenant's uniform.