Jean Chouan

Jean Cottereau (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ kɔtʁo]), better known by his nom de guerre Jean Chouan (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ ʃwɑ̃]; Saint-Berthevin, 30 October 1757^[1] – Olivet, 18 July 1794), was a French royalist and counter-revolutionary during the Chouannerie.^[2]

Jean was the second-born of four brothers (Pierre, Jean, François, and René). His nickname came from his father who fondly called him chouan ("the silent one"). Others say his nickname came from an imitation of the call of the tawny owl (the chouette hulotte) he customarily used as a recognition signal.^[3] Less flatteringly, Jean's young comrades nicknamed him "the boy liar" (le Gars mentoux or le garçon menteur).^[4]

The 1926 Luitz-Morat film Jean Chouan starred Maurice Lagrenée as Chouan.

^ His birth certificate is recorded in the parish register of St. Berthevin (available online at the site of the Departmental Archives of Mayenne) in the following fashion: "B.(baptism) of Jean Cottereau. Today, 31 October 1757, he was baptized by the vicar of this parish. He was born yesterday, the legitimate son of Pierre, a maker of wooden shoes, and Jeanne Moyné Cottereau, his wife. The godparents were Pierre Amy, a cousin of the child, and Marie Crouillebois, also a cousin of the child." It was signed by the father, the godmother, a 'J. Le Bourdais', possibly the vicar, and a 'M. Gallot', another priest.
^ George J. Hill, The Story of the War in La Vendée and the Little Chouannerie (New York: D. & J. Sadlier & Co. n.d.), pp. 179-180, 182-183.[1]
^ Albert Soboul (dir.), Dictionnaire historique de la Révolution française, Quadrige/PUF, 1989, p. 218, entry on "Chouans/Chouannerie" by Roger Dupuy
^ In the course of his activities as a smuggler, Jean Chouan often demonstrated his courage. Whenever he was intimidated or frightened, he had the habit of saying to his comrades: "Fear not; there is no danger." These words, "there is no danger", became his motto, and he often repeated them, sometimes without reason. This explains his 'liar' nickname.

[1] His birth certificate is recorded in the parish register of St. Berthevin (available online at the site of the Departmental Archives of Mayenne) in the following fashion: "B.(baptism) of Jean Cottereau. Today, 31 October 1757, he was baptized by the vicar of this parish. He was born yesterday, the legitimate son of Pierre, a maker of wooden shoes, and Jeanne Moyné Cottereau, his wife. The godparents were Pierre Amy, a cousin of the child, and Marie Crouillebois, also a cousin of the child." It was signed by the father, the godmother, a 'J. Le Bourdais', possibly the vicar, and a 'M. Gallot', another priest.

[2] George J. Hill, The Story of the War in La Vendée and the Little Chouannerie (New York: D. & J. Sadlier & Co. n.d.), pp. 179-180, 182-183.[1]

[3] Albert Soboul (dir.), Dictionnaire historique de la Révolution française, Quadrige/PUF, 1989, p. 218, entry on "Chouans/Chouannerie" by Roger Dupuy

[4] In the course of his activities as a smuggler, Jean Chouan often demonstrated his courage. Whenever he was intimidated or frightened, he had the habit of saying to his comrades: "Fear not; there is no danger." These words, "there is no danger", became his motto, and he often repeated them, sometimes without reason. This explains his 'liar' nickname.

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