Chouan

Jean Cottereau and his brothers all inherited the nickname Chouan from their father, a clog merchant and homme honorable from Saint-Berthevin in Mayenne, on the border with Brittany.

"[1]One possible reason the name was extended to the royalist troops of Maine, Normandy and Brittany is the riot at Saint-Ouën-des-Toits on 15 August 1792, in which (among others) Jean and René Cottereau participated.

The opinion of some historians (including abbot Paulouin) writing on the revolt states[2] that "the insurgents of the Sarthe did not receive the nickname Chouans, but took it up of their own accord at the beginning of their resistance career".

Joseph de Puisaye,[5] the best-informed on the topic after having been the Chouannerie's supreme commander, affirmed that the Chouan brothers gave their name to the revolt which they had first organised.

It bore the arms of France, right,[6] supported by two owls, with a double motto, IN SAPIENTIA ROBUR at the top, SIC REFLORESCENT at the bottom.