Quiberon Campaign

Background. Joseph de Puisaye, a nobleman and military veteran, fled to Britain in 1794 and negotiated with the Count of Artois. He planned an invasion to incite the largely royalist populations of northwest France to rise against the Republic and open a new front in the French Revolutionary Wars, claiming an army of 40,000 men in Brittany. The expedition aimed to raise western France in revolt, end the French Revolution, and restore the monarchy.

Naval Operations and the Landing. On 23 June 1795 two squadrons of nine warships and 60 transports, carrying two émigré divisions totalling 3,500 men plus British regiments and supplies for 40,000, sailed under admirals Hood and Warren. Villaret-Joyeuse attacked Warren's squadron above the Îles de Glénan on 23 June but retired towards the Île de Groix, losing two ships of the line. The squadrons anchored off Quiberon on 26 June, and disembarkation was observed on 27 June.

Outcome. The landing was definitively repulsed on 21 July 1795. After the defeat of the Quiberon landings, the Chartreuse at Auray preserved a printed list of prisoners and a vault containing the remains of 952 Royal army prisoners who died between 1 and 25 August 1795. A planned diversionary landing near Saint-Brieuc drew one column towards the Côtes-d'Armor against Cadoudal's advice.