<P> The Women's March on Versailles is but one example of feminist militant activism during the French Revolution . While largely left out of the thrust for increasing rights of citizens, as the question was left indeterminate in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, activists such as Pauline Léon and Théroigne de Méricourt agitated for full citizenship for women . Women were, nonetheless, "denied political rights of' active citizenship' (1791) and democratic citizenship (1793)." </P> <P> Pauline Léon, on 6 March 1792, submitted a petition signed by 319 women to the National Assembly requesting permission to form a garde national in order to defend Paris in case of military invasion . Léon requested permission be granted to women to arm themselves with pikes, pistols, sabers and rifles, as well as the privilege of drilling under the French Guards . Her request was denied . Later in 1792, Théroigne de Méricourt made a call for the creation of "legions of amazons" in order to protect the revolution . As part of her call, she claimed that the right to bear arm would transform women into citizens . </P> <P> On 20 June 1792 a number of armed women took part in a procession that "passed through the halls of the Legislative Assembly, into the Tuileries Gardens, and then through the King's residence ." Militant women also assumed a special role in the funeral of Marat, following his murder on 13 July 1793 . As part of the funeral procession, they carried the bathtub in which Marat had been murdered as well as a shirt stained with Marat's blood . </P> <P> The most radical militant feminist activism was practiced by the Society of Revolutionary Republican Women, which was founded by Léon and her colleague, Claire Lacombe on 10 May 1793 . The goal of the club was "to deliberate on the means of frustrating the projects of the enemies of the Republic ." Up to 180 women attended the meetings of the Society . Of special interest to the Society was "combating hoarding (of grain and other staples) and inflation ." On 20 May 1793, women were at the fore of a crowd that demanded "bread and the Constitution of 1793 ." When their cries went unnoticed, the women went on a rampage, "sacking shops, seizing grain and kidnapping officials ." </P>

What role did women play in the french revolution