La Fille du régiment

Marie was found as a baby on a battlefield, and raised by the 21st Regiment as their ‘daughter’. Her foster-father Sulpice has decreed she must marry a soldier from the Regiment. However, Marie has fallen in love with the  Tyrolean peasant Tonio. When she tells Tonio about Sulpice’s decree, he determines to do whatever it takes to become Marie’s husband.

The Marquise de Berkenfield and her steward Hortensius have been caught in the conflict between French and Austrians. Sulpice recognizes the Marquise’s name from papers found near the infant Marie on the battlefield. The Marquise claims to be Marie’s aunt. She determines to take Marie away with her to give her a proper education. Marie has to leave behind her Regiment – and Tonio, who has enlisted in order to marry her.

The Marquise plans to marry Marie to Duke Scipio of Crakentorp. Marie is not happy about this, or about her aunt’s attempts to train her to be a lady. She longs for the Regiment. To her joy, they rush in to see her. 

Tonio pleads with the Marquise to be allowed to marry Marie. When she refuses, he reveals that he knows that Marie is the Marquise’s illegitimate daughter. The Marquise and the formidable Duchesse de Crakentorp try to force Marie to sign her marriage contract. 

When Marie learns that the Marquise is her mother she prepares to sign the papers, but is stopped by the Regiment, who come crashing in, led by Tonio. The Marquise decides she cannot make her daughter unhappy and gives Marie permission to marry Tonio after all. Everyone celebrates.