Isn’t it intriguing how a street can echo the tumultuous life of a revolutionary figure? This is Rue Théroigne de Méricourt. It is nestled in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. This street bears the name of Anne-Josèphe Théroigne de Méricourt. She was a prominent figure during the French Revolution.
Rue Théroigne de Méricourt begins at the intersection of Rue Maryse Bastié and Rue Franc-Nohain. It ends as a dead end. The street serves the Maison Internationale de Séjour. It also provides access to green spaces and sports facilities.
Anne-Josèphe Théroigne de Méricourt was born in 1762. She became known as a political woman during the revolution. Her life took a tragic turn. In 1793, she was publicly flogged at the National Assembly. This marked the beginning of her descent into madness.
Théroigne de Méricourt was eventually confined to the Salpêtrière Hospital. Her brother requested her internment. She spent 20 years there. She lived nude. She became an object of curiosity during Sunday visits to the hospital. Théroigne de Méricourt was buried in the hospital cemetery on June 23, 1817.
The royalist press demonized Théroigne. They portrayed her as debauched and bloodthirsty. They said she was a prostitute of the people. They falsely accused her of leading women to Versailles in October 1789.
Despite the slander, she fervently embraced the Revolution’s promise of liberty. She frequented the Palais Royal. She gained political education from the gossip there. To avoid humiliation, she dressed like a man. She wore a riding habit and a round hat.
Théroigne de Méricourt founded political clubs. She advocated for women’s rights. She called for women to arm themselves. She wanted them to break their chains. She declared that ignorance and injustice had enslaved them for too long.
Her courage during the insurrection of August 10, 1792, earned her a civic crown. But she was later whipped in public by Jacobin women. They accused her of being a Girondin.
Arrested and declared insane, she spent her final days in asylums. She vilified moderates. She repeated words of revolution and liberty. Théroigne’s story is a reminder of the revolution’s impact. It is a story of a woman who fought for equality. The revolution eventually consumed her.
Rue Théroigne de Méricourt was named in 2015. It stands as a memorial to her complex legacy. It marks her fight for women’s rights. It also shows her tragic end. As you walk this street, remember the woman. Remember her passion. Consider her place in history.