Jacques Portefaix, a child in the time of the Beast
Roger Lagrave
Because of the Beast of Gévaudan, the life of Jacques Portefaix took a course very different from that of the young friends who had fought alongside him.
The bravery which he demonstrated at La Coustasseyre on 12th January 1765 not only brought him fame which spread far beyond the boundaries of Margeride; it also brought him an annual award of three hundred pounds paid to him at regular intervals throughout his studies from the King's purse. Thanks to this, he received a proper education, and embarked on a satisfying career. He met the most important figures of the day, including the King himself.
While his friends remained in Margeride and became peasants or labourers like their parents before them, Jacques Portefaix enjoyed a rise in social status quite extraordinary for the son of a farmer at that time.
When he died at the age of 32, on 14th August 1785, the Beast had been dead for 18 years.
Jacques Portefaix, a son of Margeride, was a credit to his little part of France.
Year of publication of the presented edition: 2000 (32 pages)
Editor: Cévennes-Gévaudan
Book purchased from the tourist office in Aumont-Aubrac. Street Prieure, 48130 Aumont Aubrac - France
Phone : +33(0)4 66 42 88 70
The author:
Roger Lagrave (1923-2021) wanted to introduce the wealth of his department to as many people as possible. He became a local editor, from his home in La Salle-Prunet. Artisan of the Gévaudan-Cévennes editions, he published magazines that dealt with the history, geography, geology, tales and legends of Lozère and Gévaudan.
