Rose-Alexandrine Barreau

Rose-Alexandrine Barreau
Born May 1773
Tarn, France
Died January 24, 1843(1843-01-24) (aged 69)
Avignon, France
Allegiance French First Republic
Service/branch Army
Years of service 1792–1793
Unit 2nd Battalion of the Tarn
63rd Demi-Brigade
Spouse(s) Francois Leyrac

Rose-Alexandrine Barreau (1773–1843), also known as "Liberte" Barreau, was a female soldier of the Army of the French First Republic. She became best known for her actions fighting against the Spanish Empire during an incursion near Biriatou in July 1793.

Biography

Rose-Alexandrine Barreau was born in May 1773 in the Tarn area of France. She married Francois Leyrac on 5 March 1792, and signed up alongside her brother Cyprien Barreau and her new husband for the 2nd Battalion of the Tarn in the Army of the French First Republic. She was listed in records as "Liberte" Barreau, a "son of Jacques and Jeanne Barreau". Barreau and the rest of the Battalion were subsequently amalgamated into the 63rd Demi-Brigade.[1]

It was against a Spanish Empire incursion into France at Biriatou in July 1793 that she would become known. Under the command of Théophile Corret de la Tour d'Auvergne, they were engaged by the Spanish forces. First, Barreau witnessed the death of her brother, and then her husband was seriously injured.[2] Barreau moved further forward with the other infantry, before rushing into enemy fire where she fired her musket until she ran out of ammunition. At that point, she charged the enemy with her saber.[1]

Following the end of the battle, she went to her husband's side and tended his wounds. Follow a year and two months of service, Barreau was discharged from the infantry, as she had been experiencing complications from being six months pregnant. The National Convention granted her 300 livre tournois in recognition of her service, and in the following years she remained in the train following the army as her husband continued to serve. She was written of as a national hero in the 1793 Annales du Civisme et de la Vertu. Barreau received a military pension in 1806, and by 1809 she had five children. After falling ill, she petitioned for treatment as per a veteran, however it was not until 1832 that she and her husband were admitted to the veterans' hospital in Avignon. She died there on 24 January 1843.[1][3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Pennington, Reina; Higham, Robin (2003). Amazons to Fighter Pilots: A Biographical Dictionary of Military Women. 1. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. pp. 45–46. ISBN 978-0-313327-070.
  2. ↑ "Les Deniers Invalid". Le Petit Journal (in French). 26 April 1908. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  3. ↑ "Le Moderne Grenadier". Le Petit Journal (in French). 15 August 1915. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
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