Background
Françoise de Cezelli was born in 1558 in Montpellier, France. She was the daughter of the director of the Bureau of Accounts of Montpellier and niece of the governor of Leucate.
Françoise de Cezelli was born in 1558 in Montpellier, France. She was the daughter of the director of the Bureau of Accounts of Montpellier and niece of the governor of Leucate.
In July 1589 Jean de Barry fell into the hands of the duke of Joyeuse, one of the leading members of the league. The league set siege to Leucate, but Françoise took over her husband's duties, and, according to Michaud, "dressed like an Amazon, with a pike in her hand, she drove back the besiegers and rendered all their efforts useless." Joyeuse then demanded the surrender of the town in exchange for her husband's life. Françoise refused; Jean de Barry was executed on August 1589, and his body was returned to Leucate. In retaliation, the garrison wanted to execute a prisoner of war, but Françoise refused. As a reward for her actions, the new king, Henry IV, offered her a pension and maintained her in the office of governor until her son was able to succeed her in 1610. Her son in his turn vigorously defended Leucate and refused to surrender it to the Spanish in 1632 and 1637.
When Leucate was under siege by members of the Catholic League, with Spanish support, Françoise de Cezelly took the place of her husband, the governor of the town, who had been taken prisoner by the enemy. She refused to surrender the town in exchange for the life of her husband.
In a square in Leucate, Françoise a monumental statue still recalls the memory of Françoise de Cezelly. She is shown standing erect, with a pike in her hand, as Michaud described her.
Quotations: "I will not redeem, through unworthy cowardice, a life that it would be shameful to enjoy."
In 1577 Françoise de Cezelli married Jean Boursier de Barry. They had had five children: Hercule, Anne-Françoise, Antoine, Paul, and Frances.
