Fighting the French Revolution: The Great Vendée Rising of 1793

by Rob Harper

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.

Genres: France, European History

400 pages, Hardcover

Published March 15, 2019

About the author

Seasoned executive Rob Harper has over 16 years of experience in the banking industry and journalism. His career in the finance industry started in Citibank, where he held various managerial positions, including deciding who to hire and who to layoff. He was laid off on his 15th anniversary with the company. Harper’s articles have been featured on CNN, CNNiReport and The Huffington Post, where he writes on employment and politics. He resides in New York City and is originally from Camden, Arkansas.

Reviews

[Steve Switzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent military history

Truly comprehensive account of these terrible campaigns waged between Frenchmen a war long neglected but here covered well. A really good read on all the manoeuvre and fighting

[Tekken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Käisime naabri juures „Vaincre ou mourir'i“ (mais oui!) vaatamas ja siis mulle meenus, et kodus on vist mingi Charette’i pildiga raamat. Oligi.

Rob Harper keskendub Vendée’ mässu sõjalisele küljele (pole vist ühtegi suurtükki, mille käekäik oleks tal kahe silma vahele jäänud). Aga lisaks prantslastele mainitakse ka sakslaste ja inglaste panust (viimaste oma jäi sakslastele tublisti alla). Kurval kombel selgub ka see, et Charette on väepealikuna kõvasti ülehinnatud.

Peategelaste register oli väga kasulik. Mulle jättis väga sügava mulje vabariiklaste kindral Westermann, kes suurendas vastase kaotusi ei rohkem ega vähem kui sada korda ja lõpuks maandus koos oma kamraadi Dantoniga giljotiini all.

Ainsa puudusena tuleks märkida kasinat pildimaterjali, nii nagu see on Pen ja Swordi puhul traditsiooniks kujunenud. Võtke kasvõi „For Altar and Throne: The Rising in the Vendee“ (Michael Davies) – neid tolle aja pilte leidub küll.