Théroigne de Méricourt

Anne-Josèphe Théroigne de Méricourt (1762 – 1817), born Anne-Josèphe Terwagne, was a Belgian singer, orator, and political organizer active in Paris at the time of the French Revolution. During this tumultuous period, she became known as a defender of the poor and a fierce advocate for women's rights.
==Biography==
===Revolutionary beginnings===
Born in Marcourt in Luxembourg Province, Théroigne initially pursued an unsuccessful career as an opera singer. Following the storming of the Bastille, she became involved in the revolutionary movement. Théroigne fought to keep Paris' underprivileged fed by intercepting food convoys belonging to wealthy noblemen and also championed women's rights. She had a unique appearance for her time, preferring to wear a riding habit and a man's hat as well as wielding pistols.Assassin's Creed: Unity – Database: Anne-Josèphe Théroigne de Méricourt
When hunger and despair pushed market women to march on Versailles on 5 October 1789, Théroigne and one of her allies joined them in their protest. As Théroigne's reputation preceded her, several men attempted to deter her on her way to the city gates, though the Assassins ensured she and the march could proceed peacefully all the way to Versailles. As a result, King Louis XVI was forced to move to Paris along with his family and the National Assembly. Théroigne herself regularly attended the Assembly and thus moved from Versailles to Paris as well.Assassin's Creed: Unity – Women's March
However, Théroigne left Paris in 1790 and was arrested by Austrians back home. Following her release, she returned in 1792 and eagerly re-joined the revolutionary cause, with her imprisonment having only added to her notoriety. Consequently, Théroigne was invited to speak at the Jacobin Club.
===Disappearing food supplies===
In the summer of 1792, Théroigne uncovered a conspiracy orchestrated by Templars that intended to sow chaos by starving Paris' citizens, turning them against each other. Tracing the group's activities for over a month, she was led to Flavigny, a woman who had assumed the guise of a seamstress to carry out her operations. If Théroigne presented her findings to the National Assembly, they would not believe her, forcing the revolutionary to take action herself.Assassin's Creed: Unity – The Food Chain
Set on eliminating Flavigny's agents, Théroigne traveled to an address in the Hôtel-de-ville district that she had determined, but not before leaving a message for the Assassins, of whose presence she was also aware. Entering the building, she ended up being outnumbered, but was saved by the timely appearance of the Assassins. Together, they eliminated Flavigny's men and secured the stolen food, following which Théroigne told the Assassins of Flavigny's location, trusting them to take the Templar out.
Later, Théroigne found out about a gunsmith designing weapons for the Templars. In response, she asked the French Assassin Arno Dorian, who had previously aided her, to kill the gunsmith and retrieve the blueprints. In this way, her own Parisian militia would be able to manufacture more advanced weaponry for themselves. Desiring to establish an army of women, Théroigne would call on Arno once more in 1793, asking him to distribute recruitment handbills at various brothels.Assassin's Creed: Unity – Arm the PeopleAssassin's Creed: Unity – "Escort" Mission
===Jacobin raid===
Politically, Théroigne had begun to shift towards the more moderate Girondists, of whom she became a fervent supporter. Consequently, she was named an enemy of the French Republic by Maximilien de Robespierre, causing a group of Jacobin supporters to attack her in 1793 and whip her within an inch of her life.Assassin's Creed: Unity – 
On 29 July 1794, the day after the death of Robespierre in the Thermidorian Reaction, Théroigne led a rally outside of the Jacobin hideout against the last of the Jacobins, intent on taking revenge. Assisted by the Assassins, she took out many of the remaining Jacobins; the Jacobin leaders, who had been attempting to escape through the catacombs, were eliminated by Théroigne's Assassin allies.Assassin's Creed: Unity – Jacobin Raid
==Behind the scenes==
Théroigne de Méricourt is a historical figure who appears in the 2014 video game Assassin's Creed: Unity, where she is voiced by the Canadian actor Natalia Payne. Her portrayal in Unity appears to be partially based on the French press' rendition of her at the time, which was highly caricaturized and often included Théroigne in events she had played no part in, such as the Women's March on Versailles. Historically, Théroigne was instead assaulted by Jacobin women, who stripped and beat her. Jean-Paul Marat rescued her, but the attack caused her mental state to severely deteriorate, leading her to be institutionalized and eventually die at the Salpêtrière Hospital in 1817. As such, her reprisal against the Jacobins seen in the memory "Jacobin Raid" is entirely fictional.
==Gallery==
ACU Theroigne de Mericourt - Concept Art.jpg|Concept art of Théroigne
Theroigne de Mericourt - Sculpts.jpg|Sculpts of Théroigne
Theroigne de Mericourt - Head Renders.jpg|Head renders of Théroigne
Théroigne de Méricourt.jpg|A painting of Théroigne
Mericourt1879.jpg|An 1879 illustration of Théroigne
Women's March 1.png|Théroigne threatening a thug
Women's March 2.png|Théroigne holding a food cart's driver at gunpoint
Women's March 6.png|Théroigne rallying the citizens during the Women's March on Versailles
==Appearances==
*Assassin's Creed: Unity
==References==
es:Anne-Josèphe Théroigne de Méricourt
Category:1762 births
Category:1817 deaths
Category:Individuals
Category:Belgians
Category:French people
Category:Parisians
Category:Courtesans
Category:Cordeliers
Category:Singers
Category:Assassin allies
Category:Girondists
Category:Jacobins
fr:Théroigne de Méricourt