What event marked the beginning of the Vendée Rebellion?

The beginning of the Vendée Rebellion was significantly marked by issues relating to military conscription. In 1793, the French revolutionary government instituted a levée en masse, or mass conscription, which required men to serve in the military. This policy was met with considerable opposition, particularly in regions like the Vendée, where local populations felt a strong animosity toward the revolutionary government's centralized authority and its demands.

The conscription measures exacerbated existing tensions within the Vendée region, where many residents were already experiencing dissatisfaction due to the radical changes imposed by the Revolution, including the secularization of the Church and the loss of traditional privileges. The enforcement of conscription served as a catalyst that united various local grievances and ultimately ignited a violent uprising against the revolutionary government.

Although factors like food shortages and the political climate contributed to unrest throughout France, it was primarily the imposition of conscription that directly triggered the rebellion in the Vendée. This rebellion evolved into a significant conflict between the royalist supporters in the region and the revolutionary forces, marking a pivotal moment in the larger backdrop of the French Revolution.