One can only agree that the Lizzy Bennet of the Victorian Vagaries is a bold and active sort of woman. But sword fighting? A female mistress of arms? What’s that about? In all truth, most Regency and Victorian women were exactly as we imagined them. But there were some ladies of high rank who practised swordplay. And even more shocking, occasionally they even duelled. Would a woman like Lizzy have learned to use a sword? Let’s look at the evidence.
When one thinks of duels and swordsmanship in Historical England and Europe, images of noblemen in breeches and waistcoats, or soldiers in red coats come to mind. However, during the Regency and Victorian eras, existed a lesser known but equally fascinating followers of swordplay: women. These brave and skilled swordswomen defied expectations, and challenged the notion that duelling was a man’s endeavour.
Duelling in England reached its peak during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Governed by a strict code of honour, duels were fought to resolve matters of personal insult, honour, and reputation. Despite being illegal, these encounters were common among the aristocracy and military officers. The idea of women engaging in such activities was scandalous, yet history records several instances of female dualists.
One of the most famous accounts of female duelling involved Lady Almeria Braddock and Mrs. Elphinstone in 1792, in what was famously known as “The Petticoat Duel.” The dispute began over an insult to Lady Almeria’s age and escalated to a duel in London’s Hyde Park. The duel started with pistols, and ended with swords when both ladies missed their shots. Though neither was seriously injured, the event captured the public’s imagination, and demonstrated that women were willing to defend their honour just as fiercely as men.
Duelling aside, the Regency and Victorian eras saw women embracing swordsmanship as an outlet for physical exercise. Fencing masters, recognizing the interest among women, began to offer lessons designed to female students. One notable instructor was Domenico Angelo, who published The School of Fencing in 1763, including sections specifically for women. He belaboured grace, poise, and agility as merits traditionally associated with womanhood, and explained how they could be applied to swordsmanship.
During the Victorian era, fencing schools and societies began to open their doors to women. These institutions played an amazing role in promoting fencing as a suitable activity for females. Manuals and treatises from fencing masters of the time began to include instructions designed for female students, emphasising the elegance and grace that fencing could teach.
Victorian literature and art often reflected growing interest in swordswomen. Characters in novels and plays depicted women in thrilling scenarios, who were skilled with a sword, and brave enough to defend themselves. It is true that there are more documented instances of swordswomen from earlier periods, such as the Renaissance, and that female fencers and dualists in Victorian England are less prominently recorded. Here are some notable women in history who broke society’s expectations to practise swordsmanship in their eras:
Julie d’Aubigny (La Maupin)
Though her prime years were in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, the legend of Julie d’Aubigny inspired later generations, including those in the Victorian era. Known for her skills in both opera and swordsmanship, her daring duels and flamboyant lifestyle captivated imaginations. Victorian writers and enthusiasts often referenced her as a symbol of female empowerment, and martial prowess. She was known to have killed at least three men in duels.
Marie-Paule Alice Courbe, (27 March 1845 – 8 May 1894)
Marie-Paule was a French writer, sculptor, and feminist under the stage name Gisèle d’Estoc. She was also a famous dualist and cross dresser. Madame Paule Parent Des Barres was either her married name or another pseudonym
Agnes Hotot
Agnes was an early English noblewoman known for besting a man in a lance fight. According to Arthur Collins, writing in 1741 from old documents, an unspecified monk recorded that Hotot took her father’s place in a joust when he was ill, disguising herself as a man. Her identity was revealed only after knocked her opponent off his horse. When Hotot later married into the Dudley family of Northamptonshire, they commemorated her fame with a new crest depicting a woman wearing a helmet.
Armande Félice de La Porte Mazarin, Marquise de Nesle, (1691–1729)
Armande was a French noblewoman, courtier and dualist. She is immortalised for the famous duel she fought over her lover with another woman. She was a notoriously scandalous figure during the Regency period.
Pauline Clémentine Marie Walburga, Princess of Metternich-Winneburg zu Beilstein (1836–1921)
Pauline was an Austrian socialite, mainly active in Vienna and Paris. Famous in society for her elegance and commitment to society and the arts, she was also instrumental to the creation of the haute couture industry. She introduced Charles Frederick Worth to The Empress Eugenie at the court of Napoleon III. In 1892, she allegedly participated in the famous Topless Flower Arrangement Duel over a disagreement over floral arrangements. Persuaded by Baroness Lubinska, a rare female doctor, that a wound could become infected if fabric was caught in it, Princess Walburga and Countess Kilmannsegg stripped to the waist, and proceeded to duel to first blood. Though the account was printed in newspapers across Europe, the Princess declared the story was a ridiculous invention and never confirmed the rumours. True or not, the story inspires one’s imagination.
Mary Read
Mary was an 18th century British pirate for whom there is little confirmed evidence, but the stories about her and Anne Bonny during the Golden Age of Piracy were legendary. She began dressing as a boy in her adolescence, at her mother’s insistence, in order to receive an inheritance, then as an older teen, dressed as a man to join the military. She was arrested for piracy in 1720 and she died while imprisoned in 1721.
The tales of female dualists and swordswomen throughout Regency and Victorian Europe provide an incredible window into a hidden aspect of history. These women, who defied social expectations to defend their honour, and master the art of the sword, deserve recognition for their contributions to the rich tapestry of history. Their stories remind us that the pursuit of skill and honour transcends gender and continues to inspire those who challenge the status quo. While the historical record of swordswomen in Victorian England may not be as rich as in other periods, the women who did engage in fencing and duelling were trailblazers. They helped to lay the groundwork for future generations of women in sports and martial arts.
So maybe Lizzy the swordswoman isn’t quite as far-fetched as it sounds.
To find out more about the life of Lizzy Bennett, and whether or not she gets a chance to demonstrate her skills as a swordswoman, check out the new book by Caroline Cartier, (aff link, see end of post for more details) The Victorian Vagaries. Here is a brief synopsis of the book:
The Victorian Vagaries are a bit of a fairy tale; have you ever read Pride and Prejudice, a variation, a sequel, or any other book, and just wish it could go on for years? The Victorian Vagaries is the story of the Bennet women over twelve years of life and love. The men and heroes we love are ever present of course, but this is the story of the Bennet women in a slightly more modern setting, while keeping to the historical fiction theme that we all crave.
Moving the story forward thirty-six years brings us to a time where more women were working, and the industrial revolution was taking over. Times and opportunities are changing for men and women alike, and Lady Elizabeth Astley, a society widow, and the eldest of her siblings, must protect herself and her vast fortune earned by investing with her uncle from fortune hunters and heiress snatchers, as well as support her step mother and four half-sisters as they each break free from the fates laid down before them and meet their destinies. Some characters deviate from canon, others remain charmingly as we know them, and friends from other Jane Austen worlds join us, but never how you might expect, though everyone we love finds their happy ending, and when Elizabeth and Darcy find their happiness, their bond is as strong and beautiful as any of us could hope.
In Volume One of our Victorian Vagaries, Lady Elizabeth Astley, three years widowed, has returned to Meryton to enjoy the country with her young daughter. The eldest of Mr Bennet’s daughters, Elizabeth is an outcast among her sisters and step-mother, but she does her best to help her sisters find themselves – and to help Jane when Caroline and Mrs Bennet’s behaviour causes catastrophe.
Will Netherfield’s impressive guest Mr Darcy recognize Elizabeth’s worth, or will he continue in his typical prideful behaviour? Follow Elizabeth as she narrowly evades the aggressive pursuit of our favourite wastrel – who is a true villain – assists Rosings Park and her cousin Charlotte Collins when disaster strikes Hunsford and teaches a proud and foolish man the art of pleasing a woman worthy of being pleased.
Grab your copy of the book here.
And to keep up with Caroline Cartier and her new releases, you can follow her Facebook, Instagram and her blog.
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