Marie Schellinck

Marie Schellinck ( born July 25, 1757 Ghent, † September 1, 1840 in Menen ) was a Belgian soldier during the French Revolution.

Life

She joined in 1792 in men's clothing the 2nd Belgian battalion of the French Army and took part in the same year at the Battle of Jemappes, where she was severely wounded. On November 10, 1792, four days after the battle, she was promoted to lieutenant. You receipted 1795/96, now unmasked, the service and married Lieutenant Louis -Joseph Decarmin. She followed her husband in the following years to the campaigns in Italy. She sat down with him after his retirement in January 1808 in Lille.

Legend of the Legion of Honour

There is no mention of a husband reported that she attended after Jemappes fourteen years in numerous other battles ( Arcola, Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena and Auerstedt and Polenkampgne 1807), was only in 1806 was promoted to lieutenant, and on 20 June 1808 was appointed by Napoleon on his entry into Ghent personally Knight of the Legion of Honor and received from him and the Empress gifts as well as a pension of 700 francs. It is a frequently rumored since the second half of the 19th century legend, to the 1890 an illustration was made; according to this legend, it was also the middle name Jeanne.

Napoleon held in June 1808 in Bayonne in the south of France and employed at the said date of the ratification of the Italian Constitution. 1909 replied Léonce Grabilier his colleague Louis Stroobant, which the legend was re-released, Napoleon never a woman awarded the Order, even if he had been asked in 1805. Also in 1816 and 1821 should have been answered prayers turned down for Schellinck, on the grounds of the former Grand Chancellor: No woman had known that was ever part of the Order; and not one ever had been awarded the Order.

The first Legion of Honor, which was awarded to a woman who was until 1851 to Marie- Angélique Duchemin.