Key Insights
Why was Francois Antoine chosen to hunt the Beast of Gévaudan?
Francois Antoine was King Louis XV's most trusted hunter and a sharp tracker.
What was the initial reaction to the first encounter with the beast in 1764?
The incident was not widely reported, and the people of Gévaudan chalked it up to a rabid wolf or a girl's imagination.
Why did the Bishop of Monde blame the victims for the beast's attacks?
The Bishop suggested the victims' parents had incurred God's wrath through religious disobedience, making the beast a punishment from the Lord.
How did the Beast of Gévaudan become an international sensation?
The regional newspaper Courrier d'Avignon published sensational stories about the beast, which were picked up by other newspapers, making the creature an international sensation.
Why did Captain Duhamel lose favor with his superiors and the locals?
Captain Duhamel was seen as more interested in the PR opportunity than in stopping the beast, and his troop was accused of stealing food and destroying crops.
What made Marie-Jeanne Vallée a local celebrity?
Marie-Jeanne fought off the beast with a spear, injuring it and making it easier to track, which earned her comparisons to Joan of Arc.
Why did the people of Gévaudan resume their normal activities after Francois Antoine claimed to have killed the beast?
Life returned to normal as there were no recorded attacks for a month, leading people to believe the threat was over.
Why did the hunt for the Beast of Gévaudan become more difficult over time?
The beast expanded its territory to an area about 60 miles long and 50 miles wide, making it harder to track and hunt due to difficult terrain and volatile weather.
Chapters
- The Beast of Gévaudan killed about 100 villagers from 1764 to 1767.
- The creature's identity remains unknown to this day.
- King Louis XV's trusted hunter, Francois Antoine, was tasked with slaying the beast.
Shownotes Transcript