Antoine de Beauterne announced he had killed the Beast of GTvaudan.

The story of the Beast of Gévaudan, a horrifying apparition that stoked fear across the land during the reign of King Louis XV, remains a fascinating piece of French folklore. It was on the 21st of September in 1765 when Antoine de Beauterne claimed he had slain the monstrous creature, bringing an end to the widespread terror it had caused. Yet, the tale still unfolds like the riveting suspense of an old-world mystery even today, leaving trails of intrigue and whispers of wolf, werewolf, or something more grotesque.

Step back into the 1760s, an era layered with folklore, superstition, and spine-chilling tales from the heart of France. The Beast of Gévaudan, or La Bête du Gévaudan, had the entire region of Gévaudan (modern-day Lozère and Haute-Loire in Southern France) in a grip of terror. Reports of gruesome attacks on humans, mostly women and children, by a large wolf-like creature circulated far and wide. The beast was described as extraordinarily large, with a wolf-like yet unusually reddish fur and a frighteningly wide chest. Its unique features, coupled with the brutality of the attacks, earned it the reputation of a monstrous figure, hovering between real and supernatural.

Enter Antoine de Beauterne, an experienced huntsman and the king’s Lieutenant of the Hunt. Tasked by King Louis XV himself to exterminate the Beast of Gévaudan, de Beauterne promised to bring down the terrorizing creature. His journey to Gévaudan began amidst high expectations, and he undertook a relentless pursuit, scouting the forests, the rugged landscapes, and the isolated farms.

The defining moment arrived on the 21st of September 1765 when de Beauterne reportedly shot the beast near the abbey of Chazes and presented this achievement to the French court. Reports suggest that de Beauterne used a large wolf of uncommon dimensions as evidence, the size of which coincided with the description of the beast. He was honored for his courage and rewarded handsomely by the king. With this event, a sense of relief was felt across Gévaudan, believing that the nightmare had ended.

However, the contrarian narratives suggest that the attacks didn’t stop immediately after de Beauterne’s supposed victory. They continued sporadically until 1767 when local farmer Jean Chastel reportedly killed another beast, purportedly the ‘real’ one. Yet, it was de Beauterne’s encounter with the beast that entered history and persists in popular storytelling.

The tale of the Beast of Gévaudan, and its killing by Antoine de Beauterne, is rich in the captivating charm of history. To this day, it stirs curiosity and speculations about what really lurked in the woods of Gévaudan. Was it a wolf, a pack of wolves, a mystical creature, or a manifestation of the region’s socio-political issues? The mystery remains, giving a haunting allure to Gévaudan even today.

As the story of Antoine de Beauterne and the Beast of Gévaudan continues to inspire interest and research, it illustrates the compelling power of historical mysteries. Such tales persist, like the enthralling legends told over a flickering campfire, captivating generations with their enigmatic charm.