Dark Agnes de Chastillon (also known as Agnes de Chastillon, Dark Agnes, Agnes de la Fere and The Sword Woman) is a fictional character created by Robert E. Howard and the protagonist of three stories set in 16th century France, which were not printed until long after the author's death.
The character of Agnes was beaten by her father and almost forced into an arranged marriage. She escapes by killing the bridegroom and running away. She meets Etienne Villiers, who at first attempts to sell her to a brothel, and Guiscard de Clisson, a mercenary captain who trains her as a swordswoman. When de Clisson is killed, Agnes heads for Italy with Villiers.
Agnes has red hair and a short temper, and her skill with swords is a mixture of innate talent and training.
The character may be partially based on Novalyne Price, an American schoolteacher and writer who became close friends with, and occasionally dated, Robert E. Howard.A Short Biography of Robert E. Howard by Rusty Burke, retrieved 19 December 2007 Fictional prototypes include Jirel of Joiry, created by C. L. Moore. Moore was enthusiastic about the first of Howard's "Dark Agnes" stories:Quoted by Glenn Lord in his introduction to The Second Book of Robert E. Howard (Zebra, May 1976)
Stories
Robert E. Howard wrote two complete Dark Agnes de Chastillon stories and a partial first draft for a third story.
"Sword Woman" This is the origin story for Agnes. It features her abortive arranged marriage and subsequent training. "Sword Woman" was first published in REH: Lone Star Fictioneer #2 (Summer 1975).Works of Robert E. Howard: Sword Woman retrieved 19 December 2007
"Blades for France" Agnes, still with her sidekick Etienne Villiers, faces international intrigue with Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. "Blades for France" was first published in Blades for France (1975).Works of Robert E. Howard: Blades for France retrieved 19 December 2007
"Mistress of Death" Howard only wrote two drafts of "Mistress of Death", both incomplete. The second of the two drafts was later completed by Gerald W. Page and it was this version that was first published in Witchcraft & Sorcery Volume 1 Number 5 (January–February 1971).Works of Robert E. Howard: Mistress of Death retrieved 9 July 2017 This is the only Dark Agnes story to include a fantasy element, in the form of a sorcerer. It is not written to the same standard of the two stories Howard completed, and features some departures from the established character, making her more stereotypically feminine.
It was later adapted into a Conan tale, "Curse of the Undead-Man", appearing in The Savage Sword of Conan no. 1, 1974, where the Cimmerian encounters Red Sonja (in place of Dark Agnes).
Collections
All three Agnes stories, together with the unrelated "The King's Service" and "The Shadow of the Hun" (a Turlogh Dubh O'Brien story), and an introduction by Leigh Brackett, were collected in:
Works of Robert E. Howard: Sword Woman - Zebra Works of Robert E. Howard: Sword Woman - Berkley Works of Robert E. Howard: Sword Woman - Ace
The Zebra edition had cover art and illustrations by Stephen Fabian. The Berkley and Ace editions had cover art by Ken Kelly.
Other media In February 2020, Marvel Comics launched a comic book series titled Dark Agnes, featuring an original story written by Becky Cloonan with art by Luca Pizzari. The series ran for two issues before being cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conan rights holders Heroic Signatures have announced plans for additional comic books featuring Dark Agnes
References
External links Pulp & Dagger review of Sword Woman Fire & Sword review of Sword Woman Robert E. Howard's Dark Agnes de la Fere Robert E. Howard: Historical Adventures