For three years in the mid-1760s, inhabitants of Gevaudan in Southern France were terrorized by a mysterious beast.
Victims were found with their throats ripped and their bodies lacerated.
Judging from the ferocity of the attacks, the killer was thought to be a huge animal.
Some thought it was a wolf or a hyena.
Others believed it was something more sinister and supernatural.
The Beast of Gevaudan.
However, the bulls she was herding, protected her by charging at the beast and driving it off.
A few weeks later, the beast had its first killa 14-year-old shepherdess named Jeanne Boulet.
As the number of attacks mounted, terror gripped the populace and local officials decided to take action.
Thousands of men volunteered.
The reward for killing the beast eventually reached a year’s salary for working men.
The news of the attack reached King Louis XV.
He also decreed that the French state would help find and kill the beast.
However, when the attacks continued, the D’Ennevals were replaced by Francois Antoine, the king’s gun-bearer.
It appeared that the Beast of Gevaudan was finally conquered.
The wolfs corpse was stuffed and sent to the royal court in Versailles.
Antoine stayed behind to continue the hunt for the beasts female partner and her two grown pups.
Antoine returned to Paris a hero and was awarded with money and titles.
The slain beast displayed at the court of Louis XV.
Image:Gallica Digital Library/Wikimedia
After a brief pause of two months, the attacks started again in December.
This time, the beast seemed behaviorally different.
Earlier, the creature appeared to be afraid of cattle, but this time it showed no fear.
These attacks continued for the next 18 months, during which some 30 to 35 kills were reported.
The king was not interested in these fresh rounds of attacks.
For him, the beast was already slain.
With no assistance coming from the king, locals took matters into their own hands and organized a hunt.
Finally, on June 19, 1767, a local hunter named Jean Chastel killed a second large wolf.
The stomach of the wolf was cut open, and inside they found remains of its last victim.
The killing of this creature eventually marked the end of the attacks.
18th century print depicting Francois Antoine slaying the Beast of Gevaudan.
As a result, the surgeon was unable to conclusively identify the animal.
The identity of the beast of Gevaudan continues to be debated.
Attack by wolves were not uncommon during the era, not only in France but throughout Europe.
Similar occurrences were common in rural areas of western and central Europe.
Despite historical evidences, some scholars refuse to believe that the beast was a wolf.
Even today, many believe they were the work of a werewolf.
