Wonder Woman of the Week: Julie D'Aubigny, La Maupin

Julie d’Aubigny, also known as La Maupin, was a legendary 17th-century French opera singer, duelist, and gender-defying icon whose life blended artistry with audacity. Born around 1670, she was the daughter of a fencing master at the court of Louis XIV, which gave her early access to swordplay and courtly education—skills highly unusual for a girl of her time. At a young age, she ran off with her fencing instructor and began performing duels and singing in taverns while dressed in men’s clothing, captivating audiences with both her swordsmanship and her beauty. Her charisma, fearlessness, and defiance of societal norms quickly made her a scandalous figure, but one whose talent could not be ignored.