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Chouannery:
Chouannery was a rising against the government of the Revolution which took place periodically between 1791 and 1799. It spread in the west of France to Mayenne, Bretagne, and Normandie. Its name comes from the nickname "Chouan" credited to Jean Cottereau, old "faux-saulnier" (salt smuggler) who used the French owl cry "chat-huant" (cat hooting) as a signal. Jean Chouan with Jean Louis Tréton called "silver leg" were the instigators of the first risings as of 1791. The chouannery can be distinguished from the Vendée Militaire because even though they were the followers of the same authorities emigrated to London, they were organized differently. The first preferred to use small groups being the forerunners of the guerrilla warfare technique, whereas the second delivered pitched battles in the purest military tradition. The nobility was far from playing the role which it exerted in the Vendée for the military command. Besides there was no army, but small almost imperceptible bands. The Chouan chiefs were for the most part commoners. Contrary to the Vendée, the chouannery did not have a territory, the cities and certain villages having remained republican, while certain districts changed over to revolt.
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