A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Cezelli, Constance
CEZELLI, CONSTANCE,
A heroine of the 16th. century, was a native of Montpellier. In 1590, her husband, Barri de St. Annez, who was Governor of Leucate, for Henry the Fourth of France, fell into the hands of the Spaniards. They threatened Constance that they would put him to death, if she did not surrender the fortress. She refused, but offered all her property to ransom him. After having been foiled in two assaults, the Spaniards raised the siege, but barbarously murdered their prisoner. Constance magnanimously prevented her garrison from retaliating on a Spanish officer of rank. As a reward for her patriotism, Henry the Fourth allowed her to retain the government of Leucate till her son came of age.