Companions of Jehu
Preserved but no longer current.
The Chouans (q.v.) were so called, from a fanciful analogy between their self-imposed task and that appointed to Jehu, on being set over the kingdom of Israel. Jehu was to cut off Ahab and Jezebel, with all their house, and all the priests of Baal. The Chouans were to cut off all who assassinated Louis XVI, and see that his brother (Jehu} was placed on the throne.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Companions of Jehu” mean?
The Chouans (q.v.) were so called, from a fanciful analogy between their self-imposed task and that appointed to Jehu, on being set over the kingdom of Israel. Jehu was to cut off Ahab and Jezebel, with all their house, and all the priests of Baal. The Chouans were to cut off all who assassinated Louis XVI, and see that his brother (Jehu} was placed on the throne.
Is “Companions of Jehu” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.