Angélique Brûlon

Marie- Angélique Duchemin, widowed Brûlon ( born January 20, 1772 in Dinan, † July 13, 1859 in Paris) was the first woman who was admitted to the French Legion of Honour.

Life

Duchemin was the daughter and sister of revolution soldiers, married a soldier named André Brûlon and followed him into the service of the 42nd Infantry Regiment to Corsica. After the death of her husband and father, she remained with the regiment and rose to the rank of corporal, and finally Furiers Sergent - Major. Because of their proven prowess in battle, she was never excluded from the regiment and promoted, even though she was a woman.

They excelled especially at the siege of Calvi and was seriously wounded, so 1797 begged to be included in the Hôtel des Invalides. This wish was fulfilled only her 1804. In the same year the entry of Marshal Jean Sérurier was dismissed, they excel with the Order. Instead, she was elevated to the rank of second lieutenant and was officer.

The Invalidin received the appointment of Knight of the Legion of Honour only after Napoleon III. on August 15, 1851 in recognition of their contributions during the revolutionary period, she died eight years later.

Controversy surrounding the Legion of Honour

Also by Marie Schellinck is reported that she was the first recipient of the award of the Legion of Honor have been, and indeed already awarded by Napoleon in person. It is a frequently voiced legend. 1909 replied to the journalist Louis Léonce Grabilier Stroobant look at the publication whose article: Napoleon I have never awarded the Order of a woman, even if he and his successors had been asked several times about it.