Declaration Project
A closer look into the French Revolution
Introduction
Born in 1768 to Pierre-Paul Léon and Mathrine Telohan, Anne Pauline Léon’s life would take her far away from her fortunate beginnings. Taking up arms to combat the institutions of injustice that were bringing France to its demise, Léon is one of the many courageous individuals that were not idly complicit in the abuses perpetrated by the monarchy. Unfortunately, despite our unlimited access to information in the modern world, there is still little to tell of her story as she is one of many female leaders who history has wrongfully silenced.
“Let us arm ourselves. Let us show the men that we are not their inferiors in courage or virtue. Let us rise to the level of our destinies and break our chains. It is high time that women emerged from the shameful state of nullity and ignorance, to which the arrogance and injustice of men have so long condemned us.”
Théorigne de Méricourt
Image source: Wikimedia Commons Public Domain
