Description:

BADGE OF THE PERSONAL GUARD OF "MADAME BESSON"
Intriguing French brass buckle, 3" x 2 1/2" with two loops on reverse, engraved in French: "LA LOI AU VRAY GARDE PARTICULIER de Mme. BESSON" ("THE LAW THE TRUE SPECIAL POLICE of Mrs. BESSON") One chip at lower left, else very good. We speculate that the "Besson" referred to may be Perrine Besson, a Catholic layperson and one of the "Martyrs of Anjou", 99 martyrs murdered by French Revolutionaries in 1794 for refusing to renounce their faith. Fierce repression was conducted in the whole region against the Royalists. In Angers, 290 prisoners were shot and 1, 020 died of illness in jail. Besson would be beatified by John Paul II.

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February 18, 2014 11:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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