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 a long time after the author's death.
The character of Agnes was beaten by her father and almost forced into an arranged marriage. She avoids this 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.
Like the later character Red Sonja, who was based on another Howard character, Red Sonya of Rogatino, Agnes has red hair and a short temper. But while Red Sonja's skill in the handling of swords is a divine gift, Agnes's skill is a mixture of innate talent and training.
The character may be partially based on Novalyne Price.[1] Fictional prototypes include Jirel of Joiry, created by C. L. Moore. Moore was enthusiastic about the first of Howard's stories:[2]
| “ | My blessings! I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed “Sword-Woman”. It seemed such a pity to leave her just at the threshold of higher adventures. Your favorite trick of slamming the door on a burst of bugles! And leaving one to wonder what happened next and wanting so badly to know. Aren’t there any more stories about Agnes? | ” |
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Robert E. Howard wrote two complete Dark Agnes de Chastillon stories and part of the first draft for a third.
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 Finctioneer #2 (Summer 1975).[3]
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).[4]
Howard only wrote an incomplete first draft of "Mistress of Death". It was later completed by Gerald W. Page and first published in Witchcraft & Sorcery Volume 1 Number 5 (January–February 1971).[5] This story is the only one to include a fantasy element in the form of a sorcerer. It is not written to the same standard of the two complete stories and features some departures from the established character, making her more stereotypically feminine.[6]
It was later adapted into a Conan tale, with the pages of The Savage Sword of Conan no. 1, 1974, where the Cimmerian encounters again Red Sonja. Strangely enough, another story that followed this Tower of Blood by David A. English, was also featured in Witchcraft & Sorcery Volume 1 Number 5, was also adapted after this Conan version of the tale.It also featured Red Sonja.Conan the Barbarian (1970 Marvel) #43 Marvel: Oct 1974 Conan the Barbarian (1970 Marvel) #44 Marvel: Nov 1974 [7]
All three Agnes stories, together with "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:
The Zebra edition had cover art and illustrations by Stephen Fabian. The Berkley and Ace editions had cover art by Ken Kelly.