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, 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 t...