The oppressive weight of the looming October 8, 1789 deadline for my tax debt bore down on me. If our rebellion faltered, it wouldn't just be my title at risk, but my life. Driven by this urgent need, I rallied the farmers of my domain, roughly 1,200 strong souls, to stand by my side.
By the pre-dawn hours of October 5, 1789, the dimly lit cobblestone streets before the grandeur of the Palace of Versailles felt my footsteps. The crisp morning air carried murmurs as informants trickled in, providing updates on the number of supporters for our impending assault. One bit of news left me staggered - part of my funds had been used to recruit and arm women, an unconventional strategy aimed at swelling our ranks.
"They agreed to join?" I queried one of the revolutionary leaders, my eyebrows knitted in confusion. The battleground wasn't a familiar place for most women.
