(1775-1819)
Patriotic women warriors during the French Revolution. The Fernig sisters were born in Mortague, a city near the Franco-Belgian border. Their family and especially their father, an old veteran, were concerned with the revolutionary war occurring during 1792. Felicite and Theophile, sharing their family concerns, were worried by the growing rumors of defections in the French army in the area. Consequently, in May 1792, the Fernig sisters decided to wear men’s clothing and joined the soldiers in Maulde. Quickly recognized as women, their courage and the significant role they played in battle made the soldiers overlook their gender. General Dumouriez, in charge of the Belgian campaign, upon hearing about these sisters and wishing to profit from their notoriety, invited them to join his force. In fact, the action of the Fernig sisters soon became known in Paris in the National Convention and among the public. As warriors, Felicite and Theophile also took part in the crucial battle of Valmy on September 20, 1792, and served under the command of Louis-Philippe d’Orleans, who was later to become King Louis-Philippe. Felicite and Theophile subsequently participated in the battles of Jemmapes, An-derecht, and Nerwinden.
On April 1793, however, the Fernig sisters followed the treasonous action of Dumouriez and joined the Austrian army with him. In her memoirs, Theophile, reports: "Accustomed to obeying him, to respecting him (he called us his children [...]), we believed what he was telling us" (Bonhomme 1873, 91). The sisters soon realized what was really happening and left Dumouriez’s side to fight for the revolutionary Republic. It was too late. The National Convention already considered them to be his accomplices. The Fer-nig sisters fled to Belgium and sought for many years to obtain the right to return to France, which was only granted in 1801. Nevertheless, they returned to Brussels, where they both died.
The notoriety the Fernig sisters acquired in France is impressive. They inspired many women to fight for the nation in different ways. The sisters were mentioned in a proposal for a women’s battalion project (Dupont 179[?], 2—3). Olympe de Gouges, the well-known revolutionary and feminist author, also celebrated Felicite and Theophile’s actions in her piece about Du-mouriez’s victories. One should note, however, that the Fernig sisters were female warriors among many others. In fact, thousands of women joined the revolutionary forces until a decree was promulgated on April 30, 1793, officially calling for women to leave the army. Disobeying the orders, many remained.
