Claire Lacombe
Encyclopedia
Claire Lacombe nicknamed "Red Rosa," was an actress in her early life, but is best known for her contributions during the French Revolution
. Though it was only for a few years, Lacombe was a female revolutionary and a founding member of the Society of Revolutionary Republican Women
.
in southwestern France
. She became an actress at a young age and appeared in theatrical productions in the provinces before arriving in Paris in 1792. She was not an outstanding success in the theater, and she was not entirely happy with her life. The acting company that Lacombe worked for moved from town to town and sometimes went to castles and the country houses of aristocrats. This probably had an influence in her decision to quit the company to become a revolutionary.
In the insurrection of 10 August, Lacombe fought with the rebels during the storming of the Tuileries. She was shot through the arm but kept fighting on, earning herself the lifelong sobriquet, "Heroine of August Tenth." For her bravery, she was awarded a civic crown by the victorious fédérés
.
Lacombe became a frequent attendee at meetings of the Cordeliers Club
through which she became involved with the most radical elements of the Revolution. In February, 1793, Lacombe and another female revolutionary, Pauline Léon
, founded the militant Society of Revolutionary Republican Women. This group – also known as the Republican Revolutionary Society, or Société des Républicaines-Révolutionnaires – was composed chiefly of working-class women, and associated with the most militant sans-culottes
and enragés
. Despite the deeply entrenched chauvinism of the time, Lacombe met a few revolutionary men who fought for women's rights. One of these men was Theophile Leclerc
, with whom she lived for a while – until he left her to marry Pauline Léon.
In the Reign of Terror
, the enragés were suppressed along with most other extremist groups, including Lacombe's. Barred in 1794 from any political activity, she considered returning to the theater. In April, on the night she was supposed to leave for a theater in Dunkirk, Lacombe was arrested. For the next sixteen months she was moved from prison to prison.
Lacombe was finally released on 18 August 1795. She went back to the theater but quit again after three months. Lacombe disappeared without a trace after 1798.
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. Though it was only for a few years, Lacombe was a female revolutionary and a founding member of the Society of Revolutionary Republican Women
Society of Revolutionary Republican Women
The Society of Revolutionary Republican Women was a political club during the French Revolution formed July 9 1793, lasting less than five months...
.
Life and career
Lacombe was born in the provincial town of PamiersPamiers
Pamiers is a commune in the Ariège department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department. Although Pamiers is the largest city in Ariège, the capital is the smaller town of Foix...
in southwestern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. She became an actress at a young age and appeared in theatrical productions in the provinces before arriving in Paris in 1792. She was not an outstanding success in the theater, and she was not entirely happy with her life. The acting company that Lacombe worked for moved from town to town and sometimes went to castles and the country houses of aristocrats. This probably had an influence in her decision to quit the company to become a revolutionary.
In the insurrection of 10 August, Lacombe fought with the rebels during the storming of the Tuileries. She was shot through the arm but kept fighting on, earning herself the lifelong sobriquet, "Heroine of August Tenth." For her bravery, she was awarded a civic crown by the victorious fédérés
Fédéré
The term "fédérés" most commonly refers to the troops who volunteered for the French National Guard in the summer of 1792 during the French Revolution...
.
Lacombe became a frequent attendee at meetings of the Cordeliers Club
Cordeliers
The Cordeliers, also known as the Club of the Cordeliers, Cordeliers Club, or Club des Cordeliers and formally as the Society of the Friends of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen , was a populist club during the French Revolution.-History:The club had its origins in the Cordeliers district, a...
through which she became involved with the most radical elements of the Revolution. In February, 1793, Lacombe and another female revolutionary, Pauline Léon
Pauline Léon
Pauline Léon , was a radical organizer and feminist during the French Revolution.-Biography:Léon was born to chocolate makers Pierre-Paul Léon and Mathrine Telohan in Paris on 28 September 1768, one of six children...
, founded the militant Society of Revolutionary Republican Women. This group – also known as the Republican Revolutionary Society, or Société des Républicaines-Révolutionnaires – was composed chiefly of working-class women, and associated with the most militant sans-culottes
Sans-culottes
In the French Revolution, the sans-culottes were the radical militants of the lower classes, typically urban laborers. Though ill-clad and ill-equipped, they made up the bulk of the Revolutionary army during the early years of the French Revolutionary Wars...
and enragés
Enragés
Les Enragés were a loose amalgam of radicals active during the French Revolution. Politically they stood to the left of the Jacobins. Represented by Jacques Roux, Théophile Leclerc, Jean Varlet and others, they believed that liberty for all meant more than mere constitutional rights...
. Despite the deeply entrenched chauvinism of the time, Lacombe met a few revolutionary men who fought for women's rights. One of these men was Theophile Leclerc
Jean Theophile Victor Leclerc
Jean Théophile Victor Leclerc, aka Jean-Theophilus Leclerc and Theophilus Leclerc d'Oze , was a radical French revolutionist and publicist...
, with whom she lived for a while – until he left her to marry Pauline Léon.
In the Reign of Terror
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror , also known simply as The Terror , was a period of violence that occurred after the onset of the French Revolution, incited by conflict between rival political factions, the Girondins and the Jacobins, and marked by mass executions of "enemies of...
, the enragés were suppressed along with most other extremist groups, including Lacombe's. Barred in 1794 from any political activity, she considered returning to the theater. In April, on the night she was supposed to leave for a theater in Dunkirk, Lacombe was arrested. For the next sixteen months she was moved from prison to prison.
Lacombe was finally released on 18 August 1795. She went back to the theater but quit again after three months. Lacombe disappeared without a trace after 1798.