Week 23- Rising in the Vendée Flashcards
What was the Vendée?
An area in central-west France, close to the sites of the Chouan uprisings.
It was a conservative and strongly Catholic area with a large number of refractory priests.
What had caused the rising?
Strong religious resentment, the sale of church lands in the area brought in new bourgeoisie land-owners who raised rents, inflation, poor food supplies, local noblemen were also willing to use their military experience against the National Convention.
How did the risings begin?
Started as a protest against the levy for 300,000 men in March 1793.
The ‘Catholic and Royal Army of the Vendée’ formed on 14th March 1793.
There were massacres of local officials, juring priests and National Guards throughout the countryside.
How did the National Convention respond to the risings?
They sent 30,000 men from the front in May to control the rebellion.
However, it continued to spread.
By June they had seized a number of bridges and towns and were heading towards Paris.
Why were the Convention under pressure?
The spread of the risings was in same month as the spread of ‘federalist revolts’.
Therefore, on 1st August, they decreed the destruction of the Vendée.
What did the National Convention do after the decree of the destruction of the Vendée?
They sent an army of 100,000 that arrived in Nantes on 6th September.
They failed to get the upper hand until October.
By December, the core of the Vendéean army was destroyed.
