Imani Fencers Foundation

Fencing match between Chevalier Saint-Georges and Chevalier d'Éon

The Prince of Wales arranged a friendly fencing demonstration in London between Saint-Georges, who was 42, and a 59-year-old French woman, La chevalière d'Éon. Saint-Georges had broken an Achilles tendon at age 40, and was not as nimble as before. He could still parry and counterattack effectively. Gabriel Banat writes that on April 9, 1787 Saint-Georges was hit once by his opponent but still won the match. Pierre Bardin explains that La Chevalière hit Saint-Georges with what he calls a “coup de temps” which might be translated into English as a “time hit” or “counter time”. This action involves hitting one’s opponent on the preparation of his attack, thus reaching the target first. The chevalière was actually Charles d'Éon de Beaumont, a diplomat who dressed as a woman for many years to help him spy on foreign countries for the King of France. D'Éon was a multitalented man of letters, law, diplomacy and the military but had fallen out of favor with the royal court. He practiced fencing daily, in fear of his life.