Battle of Fougères

Battle context

The Battle of Fougères occurred during the Virée de Galerne, a critical phase of the War in the Vendée in which the Catholic and Royal Army operated north of the Loire. The engagement took place eight months into the Vendéan insurrection and amid the broader war between France and the First Coalition. The scale disparity between the Vendéan force of 30,000 and the Republican garrison of 6,000 at Fougères, combined with Republican casualties of between 200 and 800, reflects the continuing capacity of the Catholic and Royal Army to contest Republican-held positions during this mobile campaign. With commanders including La Rochejaquelein, Stofflet, and Talmont leading the Vendéan forces, the battle represents the insurrection at a moment of significant, if ultimately unsustainable, operational reach.