How the 18th-Century French Media Stoked a Werewolf Panic
France's 18th-century werewolf panic, triggered by "the Beast" in Gévaudan, led to 300 deaths. King Louis XV offered a reward for capture. The creature's identity sparked theories, inspiring modern culture.
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In the 18th century, France experienced a werewolf panic fueled by media reports of a mysterious beast known as "the Beast" in the Gévaudan region. Nearly 300 people were killed, leading to a national frenzy and King Louis XV offering a substantial reward for its capture. Despite efforts to stop the killings, the creature continued its attacks until 1767 when the last beast was slain. Posthumous examinations revealed the beast's stomach contained human remains, sparking various theories about its identity, ranging from a large wolf to a hyena or even a lion. The werewolf panic of that time has since inspired literature, film, television, and games, perpetuating the myth and fascination with these creatures in French popular culture. The historical events surrounding the French werewolf epidemic have left a lasting impact on the country's folklore and storytelling traditions.
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7 commentshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brotherhood_of_the_Wolf
Worth watching for some of that cultural milieu.
(whereas in pre-modern games, there seems to be be a huge amount of frenchess everywhere. I guess that's still a consequence of the idleness enforced at Versailles and Europe's near-universal scramble to replicate?)
Also, nowhere is it said people believed the beast to be a werewolf.
A reminder that headlines that start with an interrogative pronoun usually have little substance.
There is not one mention of werewolf in how it describes the happenings of the time, only when talking about the game.
Very clickbaity title trying to get the attention of those that like to blame “the media” for everything
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