The enigmatic figure of the Chevalier d’Eon has long fascinated historians and enthusiasts alike. An 18th-century French spy and diplomat, d’Eon became the center of a sensational legal dispute that not only questioned his loyalty and integrity but also his very identity. Was the Chevalier a man, as commonly believed, or was he the Chevalière, a woman masquerading in male attire? This intriguing question ignited a public frenzy, leading to a high-profile court case that captivated London’s society and exposed the complexities of gender and reputation in the Georgian era.
![‘Hail! Thou Production most uncommon. Woman half man and man half Woman!’, frontispiece to An Epistle from Mademoiselle D’Eon to the Right Honorable L[or]d M[ansfiel]d, 1778](https://i0.wp.com/historyaffairs.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/deon_spy_history_today.jpeg?resize=808%2C1024&ssl=1)
The Unfolding of a Scandal
On November 27, 1776, the esteemed Lord Mansfield, Chief Justice of the Court of King’s Bench, presided over a case that would become the talk of 18th-century London. The Morning Chronicle reported that the courtroom was filled with laughter and mirth as letters written by the Chevalier d’Eon were read aloud. These letters were central to a libel case that had captured the public’s imagination, intertwining espionage, gender ambiguity, and scandal.
D’Eon was no stranger to the English legal system. In 1764, he had already been tried and found guilty of libel for publishing Lettres, Mémoires & Négociations Particulières du Chevalier d’Eon, a controversial work that criticized the French ambassador to Britain, the Comte de Guerchy. However, by 1776, d’Eon was more infamous for the tantalizing rumor that he was, in fact, the Chevalière—a woman living as a man. This rumor had ignited widespread speculation and gambling in London, with gamblers wagering vast sums on whether d’Eon was truly female.

The Catalyst: Morande’s Accusation
The immediate spark for the 1776 case came from Charles Théveneau de Morande, a French blackmailer and spy. On September 10, Morande published a letter in the Public Ledger asserting that d’Eon was a woman and that he had a financial stake in the insurance policies placed on d’Eon’s sex. Morande boldly declared:
I declared on oath that Miss D’Eon was a woman, and I now acquaint the world that I shall prove it. Let her contradict me, if she can.
In response to these allegations, d’Eon filed a libel action against Morande, seeking to defend his reputation and counter the damaging claims. The ensuing legal battle was not merely a personal vendetta but a public spectacle that highlighted the intersection of gender, reputation, and legal proceedings in the 18th century.
The Courtroom Drama
In the weeks leading up to the November 27 hearing, both d’Eon and Morande, along with their respective witnesses, presented their cases. D’Eon’s witnesses attested that Morande had authored the defamatory letter and had implicitly suggested that d’Eon was male. They emphasized that terms like “Miss D’Eon” and “She” were deliberately used to misrepresent the Chevalier’s gender. D’Eon also submitted a copy of the Public Ledger containing Morande’s libelous letter as evidence.
Morande’s defense centered on challenging the validity of d’Eon’s libel action. His counsel argued that the Court of King’s Bench should not entertain cases where the plaintiff (d’Eon) was as culpable as the defendant (Morande). They invoked the legal principle that complainants must approach the court with “clean hands,” implying that d’Eon was equally guilty of slander and libel.
To support this claim, Morande’s side introduced three letters purportedly written by d’Eon, suggesting that the Chevalier was equally guilty of libel against Morande. These letters were authenticated by William Claudius d’Aubarede, a colonel in the French service, who confirmed that they were in d’Eon’s handwriting. To ensure accurate interpretation, John Goy, a fluent speaker of both French and English, was summoned to provide translations of these letters.
The Content of the Letters
The first letter was a copy of the sauf-conduit (safe conduct) certificate granted to d’Eon by King Louis XVI in August 1775. Morande claimed that d’Eon had requested to be referred to as a woman in this document to avoid potential dangers associated with being identified as male. This certificate, which acknowledged d’Eon as female in the eyes of the French court, was not publicly known until it was presented as evidence in the case.
The second letter, dated August 3, 1776, was sent to Morande by d’Eon. In this correspondence, d’Eon, addressing herself as “Mademoiselle d’Eon,” challenged Morande to a duel, expressing frustration over Morande’s perceived profiteering from the wagers on her sex. She implored Morande to either cease his accusations or face the consequences of a duel. This letter underscored the personal animosity and the high stakes involved in the dispute over d’Eon’s gender.
The final letter, dated August 8, continued this confrontational tone. D’Eon vehemently denounced Morande, using strong language to express disdain and frustration. The letters collectively painted a picture of a man embroiled in a bitter conflict over his identity, with significant personal and financial implications.
The Verdict and Its Aftermath
When Lord Mansfield read the translations of these letters in court, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. The courtroom erupted in laughter and disbelief as it became evident that d’Eon was, in fact, as guilty of libel as Morande. Convinced by the evidence, Lord Mansfield dismissed d’Eon’s libel case, effectively ending the legal battle between the two men.
Despite the dismissal, the revelations in court had lasting repercussions. The evidence of d’Eon’s letters written as “Mademoiselle d’Eon” and the sauf-conduit certificate had already fueled the rumors about his true gender. As a result, those who had wagered on d’Eon being female sought to enforce their bets. In 1777, three additional cases were brought before the King’s Bench concerning these insurance policies. In each instance, the juries upheld the validity of the wagers, ruling in favor of the gamblers who had bet on d’Eon’s female identity.
By this time, d’Eon had returned to France, now publicly identified as a woman under the sauf-conduit certificate. However, the saga did not end there. In January 1778, a meeting of leading judges, including Lord Mansfield, concluded that any wagers negatively affecting third parties, such as those on d’Eon’s sex, were invalid. They referenced the letters produced in the November 1776 case, suggesting that without this evidence, the subsequent wager cases might never have occurred.
Rediscovery of the Letters
Centuries later, the letters from the 1776 case were rediscovered in the King’s Bench collections at the National Archives, enclosed within John Goy’s translations. These documents offer a rare and invaluable glimpse into the life of the Chevalier d’Eon during a pivotal period. They not only shed light on the legal strategies employed by both d’Eon and Morande but also highlight the societal attitudes towards gender and reputation in 18th-century Europe.
The letters reveal the complexities of d’Eon’s identity and the lengths to which both sides went to protect or tarnish it. D’Eon’s use of “Mademoiselle d’Eon” in his correspondence and the official recognition of his female identity by the French king illustrate a sophisticated navigation of gender norms and political necessity. Meanwhile, Morande’s accusations and the resulting legal battles underscore the precarious nature of reputation and the potential for personal vendettas to escalate into public spectacles.
Conclusion
The libellous letters of the Chevalier d’Eon represent more than just a legal dispute between two French spies; they encapsulate a broader narrative about identity, reputation, and societal norms in the 18th century. D’Eon’s ability to navigate and manipulate his public persona amidst allegations and legal challenges demonstrates a remarkable resilience and strategic acumen. The public’s fascination with his gender and the legal outcomes of the cases reflect the enduring complexities surrounding gender identity and personal integrity.
Today, the story of d’Eon serves as a historical case study on the interplay between gender, law, and society. It invites reflection on how far we have come in terms of understanding and accepting diverse gender identities and how societal perceptions continue to influence personal narratives. The Chevalier d’Eon’s legacy remains a testament to the enduring human struggle for identity and recognition amidst societal constraints and prejudices.