Jean Chastel

Jean Chastel (March 31, 1708 – 1790) was a farmer and inn-keeper from the province of Gévaudan in France, noted for killing the Beast of Gévaudan on June 19, 1767[1] at Mont Mouchet.

Chastel appeared as a character in the Brotherhood of the Wolf film.

Chastel is also a werewolf in Patricia Briggs' novel, Hunting Ground. In this he is both the Beast of Gévaudan and Jean Chastel. The werewolf known as Jean Chastel, after being threatened by the Marrok, stops hunting humans openly, and takes credit for the death of The Beast. Chastel continues to hunt humans, specifically women and children, but is more subtle. Jean Chastel is later killed by vampires.

Chastel's son, Antoine, was said to have possessed hyenas, animals matching the description of the beast, in his menagerie.[2]

References

  1. Canepa, Nancy L. (1997). Out of the Woods: The Origins of the Literary Fairy Tale in Italy and France. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 0-8143-2687-0.
  2. Coleman, Loren; Jerome Clark (1999). Cryptozoology A to Z. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-684-85602-6.