This shadowy internation organization seeks to control civilization; their nefarious schemes are likely the 'public' actions of even more secretive groups. Do Les Habits Noir acutally work for the Templars, the Assassins, the Illuminati, the Masons, the Rosicrucians, the Comte Saint-Germain ... only a few men know the truth, and they do not speak of it.

Blackmail, fraud, bribery, and other methods which depend upon human weakness are the favorite methods of the Les Habits Noir.

• 1795: Count Mario de Monteleone forms the 'Companions of Silence' in the Kingdom of Naples, supposedly as a part of the vast Rosicrucian-Illuminati plot to control Europe through Napoleon.
• 1799: Count Mario de Monteleone is jailed, and is murdered while in jail. The 'Companions' swear to avenge him.
• 1800: The 'Companions' suffer major defeats, and many are executed or imprisoned.
• 1802: The son of the Count de Monteleone takes control of the remaining 'Companions', using various pseudonyms.
• 1806: As the Kingdom of Naples is absorbed by Napoleon's empire, the 'Companions' are transformed into a more sinister and ambitious organization -- Les Habits Noir ('The Black Coats'). Based in a monastery of the Freres de la Merci at Sartene in Corsica, they begin meddling in politics all over Europe.
• 1825: Death of the first leader of the 'Black Coats'.
• 1835: For several years from this date, there is much internal struggle within the 'Black Coats' -- the lack of a single strong leader weakens the organization.
• 1835: The attempt by the 'Black Coats' to establish an imposter as the (long-dead) Louis XVII are foiled; Colonel Bozzo-Corona is cashiered from the French Army.
• 1843: Colonel Bozzo-Corona establishes himself as the leader of the 'Black Coats'. His chief assistant is the mysterious Msr. Lecoq, a cold, careful and intellectual villain, and master of many magics.

Masterminds

Colonel Louis Bozzo-Corona (b. 1785?), a Corsican by birth, first came to prominence during the 'Black Coats' plan to create a double of Louis XVII (who actually died in June 1795 at the age of ten, imprisoned in the Temple by revolutionaries). He was compelled to leave the French army after that scheme collapsed, but became the leader of the 'Black Coats' soon after. While the records of the French army and government would seem to indicate his age to be about ninety, in person he possesses the appearance and vitality of a man less than half that age. He is a skilled swordsman and a master of le boxe francaise, and also wears the Scapulary de la Pitié ('Scapulary of Mercy'), which is believed by his henchmen to grant him invulnerability (and lately, immortality). For the leader of a covert organization, the Colonel is notably brash and overt. Tall and muscular, with black hair and a very broad mustache; he dresses in colorful suits when in 'mufti', and garish military costumes of his own design when 'on the job'.

Msr. Jean Lecoq (b. ˜1830?), chief assistant to Col. Bozzo-Corona. Little is known about the origins of this man. He is an ascetic, careful and unemotional man, with great deductive powers and an amazing memory. He is as unexceptional in appearance and life as the Colonel is bold and flamboyant. Trim and dapper, always impeccably dressed and groomed; his hair is parted in the middle, and his mustache is carefully trimmed to follow his upper lip. He is a powerful sorcerer, of an unknown order (and undoubtedly possesses the secrets of many orders which would rather he did not).

Agents

The minions of Les Habits Noir range from smooth aristocrats to the crudest of foreign thugs. Seductresses, poisoners, forgers, burglars, and other deceitful criminals all have their place within the organization. Their most trusted guards and couriers, however, tend to be Corsicans. Any unimportant thugs are likely to be unaware of who or what actually employs them.

Useful Sources: the excellent web site Fantastic, Mysterious, and Adventurous Victoriana maintained by Jess Nevins, and (as he recommends) the Habits Noir site of Jean-Marc Lofficier.