The ''Habits Noirs'' (The Blackcoats) are a powerful international crime syndicate.  They began as the ''Camorra'' in southern Italy and the ''Veste Nere'' in Corsica, the ''Brothers of Mercy'', ''The Companions of Silence,'' and in England, ''The Gentlemen of The Night''. 

Notorious members include (In the actual Habits Noirs series):

* Colonel Bozzo-Corona, The ''Il Padre Diogni/P''ere-''A-Tous ''(The Allfather):  The seemingly immortal ruler.
* Lecos de la Periera (aka Toulonnias L'Amitie): The Colonel's right hand man, who also runs a corrupt detective agency.
* Margurite Sadalous la Comtesse DeClare: A notorious Femme Fatale.
* Coyatier, The Marchef: The order's top Assassin, whose hand even other criminals are afraid to shake.
* Saladin, The Sword Swallower: Son of Simolor (and also raised by Echolat) who took over the order in 1866.
* From other earlier Paul Feval Novels retroactively made in the same continuity:
* Tom Brown, alias John Devil The Quaker (in German, Hans Teufel):  He may or may not be the same person as Henri de Belcamp, or just his half brother.
* Thomas Paddock: The original John Devil.
* Helen Brown: A jewel thief and the mother of Tom Brown/Henri Belcamp.
* Sarah O'Neil (born Sarah O'Brien): A femme fatale who is Tom Brown's most trusted ally, and a patriotic Irish national.
* Ned Knob: A short, artful Dodger.
* Mr. Wood: An elderly man who first lead Helen into a life of crime.
* Fergus O'Breanne (alias The Marquis de Rio-Santo): The ''Lord of The Night'' who ruled the ''Gentlemen of the Night''.  Crime was just a means to an end for him however, as his goal was to destroy the British Empire and liberate Ireland.

Novels by Paul Feval:

* ''Les Mysteries de Londres'' 1843-1844
* ''Bel Demonio'' 1850
* ''Les Compagnons du Silence'' 1857
* ''Jean Diable ''1862
* ''Les Habits Noirs'' 1863
* ''Coeur d'Acier'' 1865
* ''L'Avaleur de Sabres'' 1867
* ''La Rue de Jerusalem ''1867-1868
* ''L'Arme de Invisible ''1869
* ''Les Compagnons du Tresor'' 1870, 1871-1872
* ''La Bande Cadet'' 1874-1875
* English Translations:

* ''The Mysteries of London, or Revelations of the British Metropolis'' 1847
* ''The Woman of Mystery ''(A very Abridged Translation of ''Bel Demonio)''

*Stage plays by Paul Feval:

* ''Les Mysteries de Lodnres'' 184?
* Novels by Jules Cardoze:
* ''Les Batards de Rocomboles'' 1886

* [http://www.coolfrenchcomics.com/habitsnoirs.htm CoolFrenchComics/LesHabitsNoirs]

* [http://www.blackcoatpress.com/feval.htm BlackCoatPress/PaulFeval]

* [http://archive.org/details/mysteriesoflondo00step Mysteries of London 1847 Abridged Translation]

* [http://books.google.com/books?id=Uz9WAAAAcAAJ&pg=PP9&dq=Paul+Feval+date:0-1923&num=8&as_brr=1&client=internal-uds&cd=4&source=uds#v=onepage&q=Paul%20Feval%20date%3A0-1923&f=false Woman of Mystery]
* Category:French Characters
Category:Criminal Masterminds
Category:Teams
Category:Paul Féval, père - Creator
Category:Villains
Category:Comic Book Characters
Category:Literary Characters
Category:1843 Debuts
Category:Television Characters
Category:Black Themed Characters
Category:Wold Newton universe Characters
Category:Tales of the Shadowmen characters