Something like Peace
Like the exhausted Vendeans, the Republicans had no longer the means to continue the fighting, and withdrew to camps on the edges of the Vendée. The region breathed again. Unfortunately rivalities between the various Vendean leaders continued. On 10 July 1794 Marigny was shot by two of Stofflet's men.In the autumn, Charette captured two Republican camps: Les Moutiers and Fréligné.The Convention tired first of this endless struggle. Emissaries were send to Charette to propose a peace treaty, and talks were held at La Jaunaye, near Nantes. On 17 February 1795 peace was signed. After stipulating, and receiving, religious freedom for the Vendée, Charette submitted to the Republic. On 26 February he made a triumphal entry into Nantes. But the Treaty included secret clauses concerning the young king Louis XVII... The Convention was in its death throes, and many expected an early restoration of the monarchy. Republican soldiers who had not been too deeply implicated hoped they would be able to switch sides without too much difficulty.
In Paris the atrocities committed in the Vendée became known for the first time - or, at least, people pretended to have only just become aware of them. Stupefaction soon gave way to indignation. As one would expect, the most zealous undertakers of the extermination policy were made scapegoats. Turreau and Carrier were tried; the latter was condemned to death. Interestingly, one of the most vehement accusers of Carrier was Gracchus Babeuf, the "father" of Communism. Two centuries later, his work "The system of depopulation, or the life and crimes of Carrier" provides us with a highly important account. carrier.jpg (20624 octets)

" The system of dépopulation or the life
and crimes of Carrier " by Gracchus Babeuf

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Chronicle of a Genocide
Letter to the Great Turk
The Vendée Wars retold for the grandchildren of the Republic
Alain Decaux: a turncoat
The Vendée Wars - 1998
A comic-strip about the Vendée Wars
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