General Discussions

Just listened to the very worthwhile - The Napoleonic Quarterly - and among some other myth, alas, one find the général vendèmaire story again.

anchor.fm

1795. October. November. December. Three months in which Napoleon Bonaparte takes on tens of thousands of armed Parisians amidst the blood and gore of Vendemiare… Austrian, Prussian, and Russian representatives meet on 24 October 1795 to dissolve the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth… And in north Italy the French perform a real comeback by sending the Austrians packing at the Battle of Loano. This is episode 16 of the Napoleonic Quarterly – covering three months in which the whiff of grapeshot hangs over Paris. [04:51] - Military historian Paul Demet wraps up the Mannheim offensive story begun in episode 15 [15:15] - Professor David Andress of the University of Portsmouth describes the drama of Vendemiare in October 1795, when Napoleon Bonaparte plays a key role in defending the Convention against tens of thousands of armed Parisians [28:10] - Frederick Schneid, Herman and Louise Smith Professor of History at High Point University, sets the scene for the north Italian theatre and talks through the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia and the Battle of Loano [48:25] - Historian and author Adam Zamoyski reflects on the Third Polish Partition Plus throughout Professor Emeritus Charles Esdaile of the University of Liverpool and Professor Alexander Mikaberidze of Louisiana State University-Shreveport offer their analysis of the situation now that "the Revolution, for all practical matters, is done".

We had a good discussion already about that at

My conclusion


One sees the pitfalls to rely on Anglophone literature alone, best information so far - H.Zivy (a secondary source which is however well discussing and citing primary sources - what a difference to the usual Ango Saxon and German blurb I read so far, Cronin included) - but in French and ignored, thanks John Fortune for the link.
Buonaparte was one among several generals, he was neither in command nor second in command. Most likely he was responsible for placing the artillery, not even mentioned in after action reports and newspaper.
The rioters - terrorist - or whatever you will call them, were armed people of the sections - they had no artillery - it wasn't a civilian mob, their military value most likely very in-homogeneous. 
Zivy doubts that the majority of those were royalists, only a few sections were.
The number of attackers and defenders vary quite a lot - certainly no 40,000 nor 30,000 - for attackers 8000 - 25,000 (one has to read again Zivy on this) - defenders 5000 - 8000 (Zivy gives strength reports for the defenders and what units were involved)
Général vendémiaire - a nickname constructed well after the incident and due to creating pro Boney propaganda - to make him appear to be the savior of the universe, pardon, Convention, pardon French Republic. So no uproar at all justified for Napoleon fan boys to see this as denigration.
Nabulieone indeed doesn't see this as insult but as distinction, and why shouldn't he by becoming a national hero by post action propaganda
A whiff of grapeshot - British creation - those journalist should have written whiff of canister instead, but even if this is suggested to be anti Boney propaganda - it isn't - wrongly enhancing the importance of Boney in the action.


Also why call him captain cannon instead of general cannon?

A pity that again the myth was used without taking at least the chance, even briefly to discuss this.

Now the leads me to a question, Boney seems to have gained quite a lot of this - instead of other defenders of the Repbulic, why was it so? His main role to the success or taking over Josephine?