Maximilien Robespierre

Categories: Social Science

  • Maximilien Robespierre was leader of the Jacobin Club during the French Revolution. As a member of the Committee of Public Safety, he and was extensively involved in the bloody Reign of Terror which ended with his beheading in 1794. Fast Facts:

    1. Born May 6, 1758 in Arras, France
    2. Nickname: The Incorruptible
    3. Participated in trial of Louis XVI
    4. Disciple of Jean-Jacques Rousseau

  • Political Background

    Robespierre started his career as a lawyer, then a criminal judge. During the early days of the Revolution, Robespierre became known as an eloquent speaker of the Far Left. He became involved in the Jacobin Club, a faction of the new National Assembly established after the Tennis Court Oath. When the Assembly dissolved in 1791, he was named Public Prosecutor of Paris.

  • Reign of Terror

    After the execution of Louis XVI, who had attempted to flee France with his family, the nation faced increasing pressure from abroad as well as frequent food riots.

    On July 27, 1793, Robespierre was elected to head the newly-formed Committee for Public Safety, a position he used to root out potential counter-revolutionary agitators. After the executions of tens of thousands by guillotine (16,594 by most counts) as counter-revolutionaries, public sentiment turned against the Committee, which was seen as cruel and tyrannical. Robespierre and 14 followers were executed, without trial, for their involvement on July 28, 1794.

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