Brigands of Orgères

From 1789 onwards, the disastrous economic situation in France put many small craftsmen and day labourers out on the streets. This idle population, driven by hunger, headed for the Beauce in the hope of finding bread.

Beauce : amazing for brigands

The woods bordering the Beauceron plain were ideal landmarks and the brigands appreciated this territory where there were many houses and isolated paths. The Orgères Band was formed in 1790. Composed of professional brigands, vagabonds, beggars and peddlers, it housed men, women and children.

Attacks

The Orgères gang primarily targeted isolated dwellings. Although money is their main motive, they are also interested in silverware, crockery, clothing, household linen, animals and foodstuffs. The attacks of the Orgères gang take place at night. Once inside, the bandits bound and gagged the occupants of the house. The gang terrorised the owner of the house into revealing the cache containing the house’s riches. In the rare cases where the victim resists, he is led to the fireplace and his feet are presented to the flames.

Tracking

The government of the Directory is concerned about the repeated attacks of the Orgères Band and decides to send two regiments of soldiers.

After another attack by the gang, the judge of Orgères entrusts the investigation to the Janville gendarmerie. The gendarmerie was able to find “the one eye”, one of the gang’s lieutenants. When questioned, he revealed the plan to attack the Château of Faronville (Toury). An ambush was set up by the army and the leader of the gang was arrested. The following days, the arrests follow one another.

Judge Fougeron interrogates the brigands in his chateau in Villeprévost. His work leads to the dismantling of the whole gang.

The guillotine of Chartres

October 3rd 1800, after four-month of trial, the verdict was reached. While 22 defendants were cleared, 35 were sentenced to prison and 21 brigands were guillotined in Chartres in a festive atmosphere. Beau-François, the leader of the gang, escaped.

Death mask

In the large room of the château de Villeprévost, Amand-François Fougeron, King’s Councillor and, at the time, judge of Orgères-en-Beauce, interrogated many of the bandits from January to May 1798. Today, the dovecote in the castle gardens houses reproductions of the death masks of those condemned to death. An unforgettable visit!