American Toby Jug Museum 

Jeanne Fourquet majolica character jug produced by Longchamp circa 1912. Jeanne Fourquet (1454-??) was a French heroine nicknamed Jeanne Hachette, or Joan the Hatchet. She is known for her act of heroism on June 27, 1472 when she prevented the capture of Beauvais by the troops of Charles the Bold, the Duke of Burgundy. The town was defended by only 300 men under the command of Louis de Balagny. The Burgundians were making an assault and one of them planted a flag upon the battlements, when Jeanne, axe in hand, flung herself upon him, hurled him into the moat, tore down the flag, and revived the drooping courage of the garrison . In gratitude for this heroic deed, Louis XI instituted a procession in Beauvais called the "Procession of the Assault." This has become an annual religious procession on the last weekend in June through the streets of Beauvais to commemorate Jeanne's deed.