This vivid history of late 18th century France chronicles the little-known counterrevolution that threatened the First Republic.
1793 was a year of great turmoil in France. With foreign invasion along its borders and a political war raging in Paris, a large-scale revolt suddenly erupted in the western Department of the Vendée, The Vendée Militaire almost brought the new-born French Republic to its knees.
The immediate trigger for this Great War of the Vendée was the attempted imposition of conscription. But the region seethed at the erosion of its traditional values and way of life. The persecution of the Catholic Church and killing of the king symbolized to the Vendéens how dangerous the new Republic had become. In a matter of weeks tens of thousands had flocked to fight for the 'Catholic and Royal' cause.
This is the story of the new Republic's ferocious military campaigns against the armies of the Vendée, which fought a dogged battle from March to December of 1793. Napoleon later called it 'The War of Giants' and it directly led to the implementation of some of the Republic's most extreme laws.
Sprache
Verlagsgruppe
Produkt-Hinweis
Dateigröße
ISBN-13
978-1-4738-6898-4 (9781473868984)
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Rob Harper has a degree in History and has worked for nearly thirty years as a specialist in the preservation of historic buildings. His particular passions are for the history of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic eras and Early Modern military buildings, which happily coincide with his current work on major heritage projects in the Portsmouth Harbour area, a locale closely linked with the Napoleonic wars. His deep interest in the counter revolution was sparked by a visit to the Vendée over twenty years ago and he has devoted much of his spare time to researching it ever since. He has written numerous articles for heritage magazines and wargaming magazines. He lives in Fareham, Hampshire.
