Articles |
Revolt and Repression in the Midi Toulousain (1799)
1 The author is Professor of History at Binghamton University (State University of New York). His forthcoming book is entitled Ending the French Revolution: violence, justice, repression. University of Virginia Press
The insurrection around Toulouse in August 1799 is usually treated as evidence of growing anarchy before the coup of 18 Brumaire VIII. The revolt certainly raised fears around the country especially as Republican armies suffered defeats in the War of the Second Coalition. And yet it is a mistake to treat events in the South-West as a sign of the Directory’s imminent collapse. In fact, a closer look at the revolt reveals that it was less ideological, smaller in scope, and more opportunistic than previously thought. Moreover, the revolt itself has eclipsed both the ease with which it was defeated and the moderation of subsequent measures. Viewed in its entirety, the cycle of revolt and repression in the Midi toulousain becomes evidence that the Directorial regime had greater resiliency than generally claimed. Rather than helping to justify the Brumaire coup, events in the South-West question the need for it.