A peddler and sacristan from Le Pin-en-Mauges, he took up arms in March 1793 over conscription and the clergy's civil constitution; the Vendéan chiefs elected him generalissimo at Saumur on 12 June 1793. Mortally wounded storming Nantes on 29 June, he died on 14 July.
A peddler from Anjou and devout Catholic, Cathelineau joined the anti-conscription rising of 1793. He helped unite peasant forces and was chosen as the first generalissimo of the Catholic and Royal Army. He died from a gunshot wound received during the attack on Nantes.
Career timeline
1793. 3. 12.After the rising at Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, he gathered neighbours and marched on Jallais, followed by twenty-seven men.
1793. 3. 13.He fought his first battle at Jallais, seizing the château and a cannon, then took Cholet with Stofflet.
1793. 4. 23. – 5. 5.He seized Beaupréau and won the Battle of Thouars.
1793. 5. 16. – 6. 9.Defeated at Fontenay-le-Comte, he retaliated by taking Montreuil-Bellay and Saumur.
1793. 6. 12.After the capture of Saumur, the assembly of Vendéan chiefs proclaimed him generalissimo of the Catholic and Royal Army.
1793. 6. 29.Leading some 40,000 men in the storming of Nantes, he was mortally wounded by a shot from a window.
1793. 7. 14.Carried to Saint-Florent-le-Vieil, he died of his wounds.
Royalist commander who led guerrilla war in the Lower Vendée
A royal navy officer of the Breton petty nobility, he became the emblematic commander of the Vendéan insurgency against the Republic. His choices and rivalries made him its most controversial general, even among royalists.
A former French naval officer, Charette became a commander of the Catholic and Royal Army in the War in the Vendée. He led guerrilla warfare in the Lower Vendée, signed the Treaty of La Jaunaye in 1795, and later resumed the revolt. Captured in 1796, he was executed by firing squad in Nantes.
Career timeline
1779–1790Entered the royal navy as a garde de la Marine at Brest in 1779; promoted lieutenant de vaisseau in 1787 and resigned in 1790.
1793Took command of the insurgents around Machecoul and was elected general of the Catholic and Royal Army of Bas-Poitou in December 1793.
1795Signed the Treaty of La Jaunaye in February, recognizing the Republic, but resumed fighting in May and was recognized as generalissimo by Louis XVIII in July.
1796Captured at La Chabotterie in March and executed by firing squad at Nantes.
Young noble officer elected generalissimo of the Vendéan army
Emerging as a Vendéan commander in 1793, he was elected royalist commander-in-chief at 21 after Cholet. He led the campaign north of the Loire in late 1793 and died fighting a guerrilla war in January 1794.
A former royal army officer, La Rochejaquelein joined the Vendéan rising in 1793 and led forces in its major battles. After the defeat at Cholet he was elected generalissimo of the Catholic and Royal Army at age twenty-one and took part in the campaign north of the Loire. He was killed in a skirmish in 1794.
Career timeline
1787Joined the Royal Polish Regiment, in which his father was colonel
1792As an officer of the Constitutional Guard, fought in the defence of the Tuileries on 10 August
1793After refusing conscription, joined the rising with Lescure and won at Fontenay-le-Comte and Saumur
1793-10Elected commander-in-chief of the Catholic and Royal Army after the defeat at Cholet
1793-11In the campaign north of the Loire, failed to take Granville and fell back on Angers
1793-12Defeated at Le Mans and Savenay, where his army was destroyed
1794-01-28Shot dead by a Republican soldier near Nuaillé while on reconnaissance
