The Amazing Life Of Julie D’Aubigny, The Bisexual, Sword-Fighting 17th-Century Opera Star
Julie d’Aubigny, better known as La Maupin, was a woman of remarkable contradictions. In an era when women’s roles were sharply defined by societal norms, she transcended expectations, living a life filled with adventure, passion, and rebellion. Yet, despite the wealth of stories surrounding her, there is much we still do not know. Her birthdate, place of death, and even the veracity of many of her infamous escapades remain shrouded in uncertainty. What we do know, however, paints a vivid portrait of a woman whose life was nothing short of extraordinary.
A Mysterious Beginning
Born around 1673, Julie was the daughter of Gaston d’Aubigny, secretary to the Count of Armagnac, King Louis XIV’s Master of Horse. It is believed that she spent her youth in the royal riding school at the Tuileries Palace in Paris before the court moved to Versailles in 1682. Raised amidst the horses and swordplay of the Grande Écurie, Julie’s upbringing was unusual for a girl of her time. Her father, an accomplished swordsman, trained the court pages in fencing, and Julie, dressing as a boy, joined in these lessons, becoming an exceptional fencer.
At the age of 14, Julie’s life took a turn that was characteristic of her future adventures. She became the mistress of her father’s employer, the Count of Armagnac, a relationship that led to her arranged marriage to Sieur de Maupin. However, her husband was swiftly dispatched to the provinces for a government post, a separation that would mark the beginning of Julie’s free-spirited and unconventional life.
The Fencing Master and the Fairs
Julie soon left her comfortable life behind, fleeing with a fencing master named Séranne. Together, they roamed the countryside, performing fencing demonstrations in taverns and fairs to make a living. One legendary account recalls how, after defeating a man in a duel, the astonished audience refused to believe she was a woman—until she bared her chest in front of the crowd, silencing any further doubts.
Her talents extended beyond fencing. In Marseille, Julie began her singing career with the local opera company. Her voice and charisma on stage quickly gained her admirers, one of whom was a young woman whose name has not survived in historical records. When the girl’s family, disapproving of the relationship, sent her to a convent in Avignon, Julie’s response was nothing short of dramatic.
Escaping the Convent
Determined to rescue her lover, Julie infiltrated the convent, posing as a novice. After some time, she hatched an audacious plan to escape with her beloved. One night, after an elderly nun died, Julie placed the nun’s body in the girl’s cell, set fire to the convent, and fled with her companion. The authorities pursued her, and she was sentenced to death in absentia by the Parliament of Provence. In keeping with the court’s confusion over her gender, she was charged under the name “sieur de Maupin.”
This episode, however, did not mark the end of her romantic escapades or her defiance of societal norms. The girl eventually returned to her family, but Julie continued her adventures, dressing as a man and wandering through the countryside. It was during this time that she crossed paths with the Comte d’Albert, a nobleman who unknowingly challenged her to a duel. After she bested him and then nursed him back to health, the two became lifelong friends, and some accounts suggest that their relationship was one of deep affection.
Paris, the Opera, and Stardom
Julie eventually made her way to Paris, accompanied by her new lover, Gabriel-Vincent Thévenard, an aspiring singer. Upon their arrival, Julie sought out her former lover, the Count of Armagnac, who used his influence to secure her a pardon for her crimes in Provence. She was now free to pursue a more legitimate career, and at the age of 17, she joined the Paris Opéra, one of the most prestigious musical companies in Europe.
Her talent and boldness quickly made her a star. Over the next four years, she performed in many of the Opéra’s major productions, captivating audiences with her powerful contralto voice and dramatic flair. It was during this time that she adopted her stage name, La Maupin, and became a celebrated figure in Parisian society.
Yet Julie’s personal life was no less tumultuous than her stage career. At a court ball, she attended dressed as a man and boldly kissed a young woman in full view of the crowd. This act enraged three noblemen, who challenged her to a duel. True to her reputation, she fought and defeated all three. However, given that duelling was illegal, she once again had to flee, this time to Brussels, where she became the lover of the Elector of Bavaria.
Further Escapades and the Final Act
Julie’s time in Brussels was marked by more scandal. She famously stabbed herself on stage with a real dagger during a performance, much to the dismay of the Elector. When he attempted to pay her off with 40,000 francs to leave him in peace, she threw the coins at his emissary’s feet in disgust and departed for Madrid.
In Spain, she briefly worked as a maid for a countess, but her irreverence led to further trouble. She famously dressed the countess’s hair with radishes before a grand ball, an act of mischief that sent her fleeing once again, this time back to Paris. There, she resumed her career at the Opéra, performing for the court at Versailles and introducing the contralto voice to French opera, a style she had embraced during her time abroad.
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