A Brief History
On August 2, 1343, Olivier Clisson, a French nobleman from Brittany, was convicted of treason in Paris and beheaded. He had been fighting the British in the Hundred Years War, and when his success tapered off, he was criticized and accused of treason, perhaps to deflect blame from French losses.
Digging Deeper
Olivier, miffed and sensing danger, then defected to the English for real and was later arrested. Taken to Paris for trial, he was beheaded, as was the fate of traitors in those days. His head was placed on display at Nantes, and his enraged wife (widow) Jeanne swore revenge against King Phillip VI and French nobles.
Jeanne Clisson sold her holdings and lands, bought 3 ships and had them painted black. She used leftover money to bribe key people in Brittany to guarantee her free movements. Her little “black fleet” terrorized French ships in the English Channel, capturing the ships and massacring the crews, usually leaving 1 or 2 crewmen alive to spread the word of the terror of “The Lioness of Brittany.” Particular attention was given to ships owned by French noblemen, and if any such nobles were on board, they were sure to be killed without exception, beheaded by Jeanne herself.
King Phillip VI died in 1350, but Jeanne continued her predatory ways for another 6 years, until quitting in 1356 to settle in England and marry Sir Walter Bentley. She is believed to have returned to France, but not to her previous home as that had been seized when Olivier was executed. She is said to have died in 1359, but her revenge on her upper class peers was apparently not complete, for she haunts the Clisson Castle as a menacing grey ghost.
Many women throughout history have taken up the sword of vengeance when they or their husbands have been wronged. Woe to those who foolishly get in their way! Question for students (and subscribers): What other scorned women do you think of when the subject comes up? Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below this article.
If you liked this article and would like to receive notification of new articles, please feel welcome to subscribe to History and Headlines by liking us on Facebook and becoming one of our patrons!
Your readership is much appreciated!
Historical Evidence
For more on bad-ass women of the era, please read…
Robbins, Trina. Wild Irish Roses: Tales of Brigits, Kathleens, and Warrior Queens. Conari Press, 2004.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="3341 http://www.crackedhistory.com/?p=3341">54 Comments
She sounds kinda like a bad ass
Interesting to learn that she continued for six years after the king had died. She sounds like a person who got a taste of power and enjoyed watching others suffer.
Never get in the way of a determined woman! — DAVID WARDLE
Angry Women, a few boats, a few crews, and vengeance. mix that all together and you have a lean mean killing machine.
interesting article! never get in the way of a power- hungry woman
women can be just as badass as men! don’t underestimate them when they have a mission!
this was a good article. I have never heard of this women before!
Nice!
Women are determined and want power…we just hide it better.
I haven’t heard of this woman before. She was determined to get revenge. I doubt that she felt better about herself. I personally feel that revenge is lowering yourself. Be a better person, allow vengeance to come about with time.
It must of have been terrifying for a fleet of all black ships to be sailing towards you.
I had never heard of this women before. I thought this article was very interesting. I always find it funny how historical figures like this turn into ghosts. I can not think of another example of a women exacting revenge.
Wow this woman is pretty kick butt. I love a good revenge story!
Never underestimate the power of revenge! — DAVID WARDLE
Don’t mess with an angry powerful woman!
Damn that is one pissed off woman. I can’t even think of any other women who has taken revenge to that level.
Revenge is best served cold! Very cool though! I love learning new stories from history.
seems to me like they had it coming for labeling him a traitor to divert attention away from the rest of the army
Pirates seemed to be the only true figures of justice in these times. Although did their share of crime.
The fact that she beheads them herself is a testament to why you should never get on the wrong side of a woman, if you can help it.
Great story. the title really says it all!
“She personally beheaded them with an axe.”
That is so metal. I’m in love.
Th…th…thank you for that story…(runs away)
Cool article, the Boo Streaks should think about taking a trip to the Clisson Castle, and look for this menacing grey ghost.
The concept of glory was on display here (like in Greek mythology) when she left 1 or 2 people alive to spread the word of her…she wanted it to be known she was coming for revenge.
Girl Power!
She seems crazy. great girl nice family
This girl was a serious badass
I probably would have done the same thing at this time!!
Wow very interesting. Love the girl stepping up taking the revenge into her own hands.
You go girl.
The best weapon in ancient times was an angry woman. It wasn’t ever the fact that they were incompetent, they were just highly looked down upon by society. Therefore, no one would ever be ready for a woman to lead any sort of attack.
It is crazy to see that there was such a powerful women back then! I honestly picture the women in France who killed her husband in a gruesome way is the only one comparable!
Wow! What a hardcore badass!
She must have been death incarnate to strike such fear into the hearts of men that they would follow her into battle. It was hard enough for a woman to command equality, let alone command a crew of cutthroats at the time.
That is pretty intense. I don’t really blame her, not sure what extremes I would go to if it were my husband.
I like the fact that e left one or two people alive to spread the word. She wanted all of France to live in fear.
Shows women can be just as (or some times more) dangerous as men. Also made me think of Anne Bonney and Mary Read.
wow she one pissed of woman feeding on revange if she cutting there heads off herself with an axe
I’d be pissed if someone tried to execute my husband but I don’t think that I would go ahead and seek that sort of revenge.
Woah, that is some serious revenge! It is really interesting how inventive she became in her quest for revenge, but she kind of took it maybe a little far?
Never get in the middle of a woman on the hunt for revenge. Girl Power!!!
This is a pretty bad-ass story, and with a happy ending for her to boot.
I do not know if I would say she was a fierce woman or a crazy lady. She for sure was out seeking revenge, which is not always a way to solve a problem, but it worked for her.
Woman can definitely be just as deadly as men, and this is just one example of that. Revenge does not always work out, but for her it did.
That should show men not to underestimate a woman’s power, especially when they’re angry!
While I don’t believe in ghosts or killing people out of revenge, I do believe in sticking up for the people you love and it is clear that Jeanne believe in this as well.
A woman is just as determined as a man, and can even be more dangerous when you choose to believe they won’t do anything if you piss them off.
Once again dont mess with an angry woman, brutal revenge!
I find it humorous that she used the “now go tell your friends” method.
Moral of the story: Don’t Mess with an angry woman.
women can be vicious and i love reading about powerful women, especially because they were demeaned for so much
When a woman is mad you see what can happen.
women and their revenge! don’t get in their way!