Fernig, Félicité de and Théophile de
Fernig, Félicité de and Théophile de
French soldiers.
Fernig, Félicité de (c. 1776–after 1831). Name variations: Felicite; Madame Van der Walen. Born at Montagne, Nord, France, around 1776; died after 1831; married M. Van der Walen, a Belgian officer.
Fernig, Théophile de (c. 1779–c. 1818). Name variations: Theophile. Born at Mortagne, Nord, France, around 1779; died in Brussels, Belgium, around 1818.
Known as the "Amazons of the Jemappes," Félicité and Théophile de Fernig were two French sisters who assumed male attire and enlisted in 1792 in a company of the National Guards commanded by their father. They distinguished themselves by their bravery in the battle of Jemappes which was fought in November between the victorious French, under Charles Dumouriez, and the Austrians, under Archduke Albert. Félicité rode in a charge by the side of the Duke of Chartres (afterward Louis-Philippe) and Théophile reputedly captured a Hungarian major. Félicité married M. Van der Walen, a Belgian officer, whose life she had saved. The sisters were celebrated by Lamartine in Histoires de Girondins.