Fighting the French Revolution: The Great Vendée Rising of 1793

"In 1793 France was facing foreign invasion along its borders and a fierce political war was raging in Paris when a large-scale revolt, centred on the western Department of the Vendée, suddenly erupted, almost bringing the new-born French Republic to its knees. The immediate trigger for this Great War of the Vendée, barely known outside of France, 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 fiercely defied them between March and December 1793, tying down hundreds of thousands of troops desperately needed on the frontiers. Napoleon later called it 'The War of Giants' and it directly led to the implementation of some of the Republic's most extreme laws"--Back cover. In 1793 France Was Facing Foreign Invasion Along Its Borders And A Fierce Political War Was Raging In Paris When A Large-scale Revolt, Centred On The Western Department Of The Vendée, Suddenly Erupted, Almost Bringing The New-born French Republic To Its Knees. The Immediate Trigger For This Great War Of The Vendée, Barely Known Outside Of France, 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 Fiercely Defied Them Between March And December 1793, Tying Down Hundreds Of Thousands Of Troops Desperately Needed On The Frontiers. Napoleon Later Called It 'the War Of Giants' And It Directly Led To The Implementation Of Some Of The Republic's Most Extreme Laws--back Cover. By Rob Harper. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 363-367) And Index.

In 1793 France was facing foreign invasion along its borders and a fierce political war was raging in Paris when a large-scale revolt, centred on the western Department of the Vendée, suddenly erupted, almost bringing the new-born French Republic to its knees. The immediate trigger for this Great War of the Vendée, barely known outside of France, 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 fiercely defied them between March and December 1793, tying down hundreds of thousands of troops desperately needed on the frontiers. Napoleon later called it ‘The War of Giants’ and it directly led to the implementation of some of the Republic’s most extreme laws.

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. In 1793 France was facing foreign invasion along its borders and a fierce political war was raging in Paris when a large-scale revolt, centered on the western Department of the Vendée, suddenly erupted, almost bringing the new-born French Republic to its knees.The immediate trigger for this Great War of the Vendée, barely known outside of France, 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 fiercely defied them between March and December 1793, tying down hundreds of thousands of troops desperately needed on the frontiers. Napoleon later called it ‘The War of Giants’ and it directly led to the implementation of some of the Republic’s most extreme laws. HISTORY / Modern / 18th Century "In 1793 France was facing foreign invasion along its borders and a fierce political war was raging in Paris when a large-scale revolt, centred on the western Department of the Vende e, suddenly erupted, almost bringing the new-born French Republic to its knees. The immediate trigger for this Great War of the Vende e, barely known outside of France, 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 Vende ens 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 Vende e, which fiercely defied them between March and December 1793, tying down hundreds of thousands of troops desperately needed on the frontiers. Napoleon later called it 'The War of Giants' and it directly led to the implementation of some of the Republic's most extreme laws"--Back cover. First English account of this brutal conflict in forty years, with a fast-paced narrative of the campaigns and battles based on meticulous research and French sources.