Catholic and Royal Army

Quick Facts: Who was Catholic and Royal Army?

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Catholic and Royal Army

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Royalist armies opposing the French Revolution in Western France.

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Origins & Early Life

The Catholic and Royal Armies (French: Armées catholiques et royales) is the name given to the royalist armies in western France composed of insurgents during the War in the Vendée and the Chouannerie, who opposed the French Revolution, and later both the French Empire and the July Monarchy. The Catholic and Royal Army of Vendée was composed of the three Vendéen armies although that of lower Poitou joined only occasionally. During the year 1793, the Vendéen army was distinguished into sub-armies: The army of Charette in the Marais breton, the Catholic and Royal Army of Anjou and Haut-Poitou, and that of Bas-Poitou and Retz country, south of the Loire. The Chouans of the north of the Loire who joined the Vendéens during the Virée de Galerne were named Catholic and Royal Army of Bas-Anjou and of Haute-Bretagne. In reality, those armies were simply groups of fluctuating insurgents led by a chief who had authority over people following his beliefs.

Career & Major Achievements

The only units with a quasi-permanent existence and organization are the "compagnies de paroisse" which grouped together members of the rural community who elected their captains. Although two-thirds of the insurgents were peasants, they only represented half of the men in these units, the rest being artisans and shopkeepers.The flaws of this army were its few health services and its lack of permanent fighters, even considering their reinforcements of republican deserters, gabelous, Germans or Swiss. Their weaponry and provisions were also poor. The cavalry was only composed of noble chiefs, a few game wardens and peasants mounted on farm horses. The artillery was composed only of old culverin taken from castles and a few cannons taken from the republicans, making it impossible for the Catholic and Royal Army to oppose a strong Republican army on open field, or to break the fortifications of a town like at Granville.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

After the Battle of Savenay, the army was reconstructed on paper but its actual existence was insignificant; the insurrection became a chouannerie. The royalist insurgents who take the name of Vendéens, and that the Republicans named Brigands, originated from four departments, southern Maine-et-Loire, northern Vendée, northern Deux-Sèvres, et southern Loire-Atlantique in the provinces of Poitou, Anjou and Brittany. The insurgent territory took the name of military Vendée. The great majority of Vendéen insurgents were peasants, armed with scythes if they did not have rifles, but there were also a great number of artisans, especially in the Mauges region of Anjou. The mobilisation in the insurgent territories was massive.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1793: 1793 Milestone — During the year 1793, the Vendéen army was distinguished into sub-armies: The army of Charette in the Marais breton, the Catholic and Royal Army of Anjou and Haut-Poitou, and that of Bas-Poitou and Retz country, south of the Loire.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Catholic and Royal Army

True or False: “The Catholic and Royal Army was consistently able to hold major fortified towns like Angers against Republican forces.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Due to their lack of permanent fighters and inability to sustain long sieges, the Vendéens were often forced to abandon conquered towns.

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