Angelique Brulon
Encyclopedia
Angelique Brulon, or Marie Angélique Duchemin (1772-1859), was a French soldier.
Brulon served from 1792–1799 in the defence of Corsica
. She initially fought disguised as a man, but was eventually discovered to be a woman. Despite this, she had shown such valour in battle that she was allowed to remain in service. She was proficient with sword and dagger in hand-to-hand combat, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant
in 1822. She retired the same year.
Napoleon III decorated her as a Knight of the French Legion of Honour, the first of her gender to receive that honor.
Brulon served from 1792–1799 in the defence of Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
. She initially fought disguised as a man, but was eventually discovered to be a woman. Despite this, she had shown such valour in battle that she was allowed to remain in service. She was proficient with sword and dagger in hand-to-hand combat, and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1822. She retired the same year.
Napoleon III decorated her as a Knight of the French Legion of Honour, the first of her gender to receive that honor.