Maximilien Robespierre

History! History is the systematic study of the retrospective; we humans judge our fellow beings descending from the past often with black and white notions. This black and white thinking gives a rather simplified approach of viewing events and individuals. Perhaps this is done subconsciously to make it easier for us to swallow the endless number of individual and incidents. Despite the prevailing method there is still a shade of grayness residing over history; some individuals fall into this category; the art of improperly labeling via black and white notions is used by the uninterested masses; for the sake of truth this cannot be done.Truth seekers of history know this very well. Such is Maximilien Robespierre, Just hearing his name brings thoughts of blood, decapitations.Maximilien is often lambasted by laymen as ''that dictator of the French Revolution.'' A litte search into the matter may show otherwise; to people who desire the true Maximilien Robespierre will be puzzled to call him a hero or a villian. Either of these titles don't fit the character of Maximilien Robespierre correctly. Both hero and villam titles pull him too far into either spectrum. This level of ambiguity adds complexity to the issue. We study the French Revolution itself to understand him; he has come to represent the idealism that ignite the French Revolution . Unraveling the man will shed light to the French Revolution. To speak of the Revolution without the bare mentioning of his name will result in lopsided,artificial, superficial look to the infamous Revolution. His influence is so well intergrated that nearly important event could be traced back to him. Robespierre is not an another character rather more specifically a major protagonist of it.




The future Jacobinite was bought into the world on May 6, 1758 in Arras, France. Both of the parents were unmarried at the time of his conception. His father was also a lawyer, his mother the daughter of a local brewer. The sudden romance between the two led to the creation of Maximilien Robespierre. Robespierre's young family didn't last very long, within years his beloved mother passed away.Robespierre's father had now become an emotionally unstable man he soon abandoned his children to the care of relatives. Thus Maximilien Robespierre's father's debacle had turned him effectively into an orphan. The early losses in his life forced him into an early maturity. Young Robespierre was granted a scholarship to attend one of the most prestige universities in France Lycée Louis-le-Grand. Where Robespierre proved to be a hard working, studious student. Robespierre returned to Arras as an accomplished man. Robespierre took up the trade of his forefathers. As a local attorney he sided his sympathies usually with lower classes possibility due to empathy or out of his virtuous personal character. In 1789 history was calling for Robespierre . It is here he was selected to represent his province in the upcoming Estates- General. Estates- General was a last ditch effort by King Louis XVI to save the Kingdom of France from falling into financial collapse. Financial problems weren't only aspects of France's dilemma. Social problems bogged down France for social reforms, France was one of the most powerful, modern nations in the world this however was under the cloak of a medieval, archaic system known as the 3 estates. These were not mere labels; instead these were driving hedges that broke French Society into 3 sections. Both nobility class and clergy class had special privileges such as exempted from paying taxes or exclusive government jobs. Commoners made up more than 90% of the population.Commoners were forced to pay all of the taxes put on them by the two orders ,they were exempted from many jobs and other miscellaneous things that are too long to list. There was a growing frustration among the Commoners for supporting the hedonistic lifestyle of the nobility also with the enlightenment behind them pushing for reform.


The circumstances in France would see to the rise of Maximilien Robespierre. Just a day after Robespierre turned 31 Estates General commenced then Robespierre a shy young lawyer begin making a name for himself. Robespierre there articulated his radical views which won him admirers. The ill-fated Estates- General did nothing to solve France's numerous problems. The only good outcome was the 3 estates had morphed into the National Assembly. The Storming of the Bastille is used to signal the Revolution it can also can be used as the fall of royal authority. Just months after the fall of the Bastille the situation took a darker turn there were massive famines all over France suddenly on 5 October 1789 people's frustration erupted . A enraged crowd broke into King's palace demanded that he and his family return to Paris to solve the problems. The king having little chance in the matter accepted the offer.Maximilien Robespierre was never personally in these events however the are vital parts in his life. Robespierre would come to see himself as the spirit of the people or the general will for Robespierre the revolution was everything there was nothing else beside it to him. It fundamentally changed him to an revolutionary ascetic earning him the title'' the incorruptible''. In the midst of the Revolution there was the Great Fear a paranoia that there was an aristocratic scheme to overthrow what the revolutionaries had accomplished. Robespierre exploited this fear to his advantage and Robespierre saw counterrevolutionaries everywhere. The fear wasn't totally irrational every single monarch in Europe was hostile to the ideas of the revolution and with nobles leaving France helped keep it alive. All wasn't glooming ,In August the Declaration of the Rights of Man was declared and laws passed ensuring equality. Finally the much sought equality came on to effect still this was not feeding mouths the food shortages still endured.Robespierre became popular in the local Parisian Jacobin Club where he regularly gave speeches. Meanwhile the National Assembly was focused on creating a new constitution.

French Revolution was venturing on to a new era a more heated, more radical, bloodletting stage all thanks to ironically the King himself. Louis XVI and his family executed an escape attempt that was soon foiled. To many people they saw this as an abdication to political radicals as chance to actualizing their dream of creating a republic. The public image of the monarchy would never recovered after that disastrous event. The much waited constitution of 1791 was finally put into effect France was now officially a constitutional monarchy while the national assembly superseded its self into the legislative assembly. This awkwardly made government would be short-lived, it wasn't widely popular, there was petition held at the Champ de Mars againist the monarchy. The National Guard were sent to quell the crowd, the troops there were throwed rocks at, the troops suddenly fired into the crowds. This become known as the Champ de Mars Massacre, it helped add ill to an already unpopular regime.Robespierre, himself had no part in the incident. To provide himself closer to center of things he moved his dwelling to the residence of Maurice Duplay a carpenter and an admirer of him. Living in Duplay's residence he was given great care by his hosts; it will be his final residence to his death . There was talk all over the legislative assembly to declare war on France's enemies. Robespierre fiercely opposed this while believing the war would destroy the revolution and rally the counter revolutionaries. He also held a paranoid fear of military generals launching coup d'états to secure power. The Girondists controlled assembly declared war along with the king's approval. The war took over 200,000 lives it could be marked as the first modern war massive conscriptions, massive battles not seen since the days of antiquity, the birth of many modern war tactics. At first the French forces suffered but gradually the tide would turn. Victory for the French was not approaching yet, By August the Revolution would enter new period of radicalism, the August 10 insurrection would be the platform for propelling it there. Parisian insurrectionaries forces attacked the Tuileries Palace, the Royal family went soon to seek shelter in the legislative assembly. An die hard gallant defense was attempted by the heavily outnumbered Swiss Guard. Robespierre was not in the close proximity to witness the harrowing episode. More than likely he was in the Paris Commune populated by other insurrectionary deputies.

Maximilien Robespierre's vision of a republic of virtue was materializing in front of his eyes. He saw the people's disgust for the monarchy. The way the revolution was heading made it obvious to him. The recent populist uprising hastened him into pulling his desire into reality, the republic was the ultimate goal of the revolution more importantly the peope. Maximilien Robespierre was always a republican at heart, from the days as a student he idealised the Roman Republic. A French Republic established on the foundation on enlightenment's principles would progessed the Human Race and France would have the honor of leading the path. The elevation of the common man was in Robespierre's grasp. Legislative assembly had become drained of its power after the insurrection, a new legislative was in the flux of being created. The republic could not be declared in this Legislative assembly where previously the King held power to do otherwise would assault the Republic's sovereignty. The creation of the National Convention also marked the birth of the Republic, On 22 September 1792 it was born. Fate of the former king was looming over the newly elected convention the emasculated King and his family were imprisoned, removed of his royal title the former king was named Citoyen Louis Capet" by the radical Parisian denizens. The matter soon became a party affair, Jacobins unanimously wanted regicide, other parties like Girondins were mixed on his fate, some wanted exile others favored holding the king hostage for a ransom. Trial started 10 of December, 33 charges were bought against France's Ex King. There was a fierce debate nevertheless the French First Republic would commit regicide. People's deputies passed the judgment of death on the unfortunate Louis XVI. Robespierre at least as far as we know had no animosity towards the Louis XVI to Robespierre the deposed Louis XVI was a relic of the past. In Robespierre's word ''the king must die so that the country can live''; Robespierre knew Louis's destiny was to either rule or to die. Death of the king will be a symbolic gesture of the might of the infant Republic. 4th year of the incumbent revolution Louis's neck touched the blade of the guillotine;years earlier an adolescent Robespierre read a flattering poem for the 21 year old Louis XVI. Now he was condemning him to death. Robespierre did not see the execution personally, witnesses say Louis accepted his fate bravely.

Even with the scorned King eliminated, the crisis that launched revolution still loomed over. The progressive governing bodies since the monarchy seem incapable of fixing the various crisis. National Convention was losing its grip, more blood would be on the way with the civil war erupting in the Vendée. Civil War in the Vendée would proved to be bloodiest theater in the French Revolutionary Wars the clash of staunch republicans and royalists lead to atrocities.In to maintain the authority of the Convention, the Convention created the Committee of Public Safety. Robespierre was not in the first selection voted to run the Committee.Recent regicide had not even bought calm to the National Convention , internal struggles amidst the revolutionaries would proved to the world that no one in France was saved from the Revolution. A purge would break out leading to confinement of many key Girondists. The incoming result was the increased domination from the Jacobins. A Constitution was underway by the Jacobins. Many of Robespierre's ideals would put into effect through the Constitution of 1793. It would be a landmark in history by proclaming universal male suffrage for all men over 25 plus addition essential civil liberties now taken for granted.Robespierre's republic of virtue had planted its foundational framework, the chaotic situation now in control of France would yield the Convention to put their cherished constitution on hiatus.Committee of Public Safety served as the defacto government of the French Republic, Committee's critics accused it of dictatorship but people in support of it argued as an emergency tool to safeguard the Republic. On July 27 1793 a year before his downfall Robespierre was appointed a memeber of the Committee. Robespierre 's entrance is also the signaling of new aggressive policies to exert their authority. Slight adjustments were made to the feared Revolutionary Tribunal to speed up executions. We appoarch the era that the French Revolution and Maximilien Robespierre synonymous with the Reign of terror. On September 5 1793 the terror became the offical decree of the state combined along with the Law of Suspects the terror become a force to be reckoned with. The terror shreddered through France impacting the every single soul living in France; what the terror demanded was the extermination enemies of the revolution. On the very forefront of the Terror was Maximilien Robespierre. Robespierre's words were the spokesman of the Terror his only ultimate justification was the terror was vital to the survival of the republic. It is the lifeblood of the infant Republic who enemies were at its throat.Incumbent terror glazing over France was nothing more than emulation of virtue; the terror was the manifestation of the virtue riding the oppressors of mankind. Any mercy would destroy the revolution tranny would triumph over liberty. Terror not only demanded blood it also saw the annihilation anything to pertaining to Ancien Régime. A Republican Calendar was declared as the replacement for the Gregorian calendar, it commenced concurrently to the Republic. France had been reborn under the banner of liberty equality fraternity; anyone suspecting of being an antagonist in opposition to revolution was ordered to be eradicated. Being the case France's Former Queen Marie Antoinette met her swift end after an equally swift trial; terror also devoured the expelled Girondists purged recently from the Convention. Blood was constantly dripping down the national razor due to its consistent usage. Under the virtual dictatorship of the Committee Terror had morphed to a social engineering tool sending anyone to death for slightest offensives. The blood was shedding but the question at hand whose blood was it? Infact the Terror's most victims were just normal people being send to death for pettiest crimes under the pretense of saving the Republic. The very same people the revolutionaries claimed to be fighting for; this excesses sacrifice of the innocent is what will cling controversy to Robespierre's reputation for eternity. Robespierre saw this path as a necessity, countless people have accused Robespierre of being a delusional sanguineous dictator this notion remaineds dominant to the present.Robespierre was not exclusive on his decision to appeal to terror, other committee members perceived it as a absolute necessity or the disintegration of the republic lacking the terror.

5th year of the revolution, the revolution which had born out of hope has deteriorated to terror more depressingly state terror.Robespierre firm in his mind believing he was taking France towards prosperity kept to his mind that terror was the only vehicle bringing it there. Many groups used the terror to exploit their radical views Hébertists was one of this kind.Hébertists were conducting a massive Anti Christian campaign in the height of the revolution.Hébertists were materialistic atheists hoping to replace Catholicism with a new state belief deemed the cult of reason.Robespierre deeply resented this although not a Christian; Robespierre held a Rousseauean view of a deity. Conceived Hébertists were determinant to his precious republic of virtue Robespierre wanted them eliminated. The opportunity came to strike Hébertists attemptted a poorly planned Anti-Jacobin insurrection. Unsurprisingly the insurrection failed Hébertists were then promptly executed. Uniformity among the revolutionaries would once again fall over when an ex-committee member Danton came to publicly denounce the terror saying it had served its purpose. Danton was calling for normalcy to reign over France instead of the dreaded terror.Robespierre saw Danton's renunciation as an impression of threat to the Republic.Robespierre knew Danton could use his influence to disassemble the Committee of Public Safety after all Danton himself was the man who proposed the idea in the first place. Terror is the sovereign until the Republic had annihilated its enemies Robespierre maintained.Robespierre was prepared to send his own friends if he was forced to do so; Robespierre prided himself that he was prepared to do the such a thing to him it was a proof of his devotion to his task.Committee ordered the arrest of Danton and his supporters under an alleged conspiracy to overthrow the Republic. The famous trial that followed was a show trial with a verdict from the onset, Danton and his supporters were sent to meet the guillotine. Camille Desmoulins was one of these men, a childhood friend of Maximilien Robespierre.Maximilien was not in attendance to witness the executions. As show by Robespierre's previous reclusive tendencies he was alone in his apartment. French Revolutionary Forces were making considerable gains in the war inflicting France including the desperate food shortages were curbed. Authority was falling back towards the Convention inspite of this terror wouldn't cease until Robespierre's eventual doom. In this interperiod Robespierre grew ever increasing despotic. Robespierre apply nepotistic tactics to further increase his influence;This influence extended to the virtual control of the Revolutionary Tribunal. Robespierre had a certain desire to refashion society in every way to suit his republic of virtue,Robespierre had practically remain silent on the issue of religion to the Committee that wouldn't be the case anymore. Robespierre wanted a new religion to fill spiritual void left by the revolution. That new religion was officialized as the official religion of the French Republic called the Cult of the Supreme Being. A month later after the Cult of the Supreme Being became the official decree a large festival was organized to be held on June 8 1794. All of the pomp and pageantry a custom to these processions were present. A large mass of People were gathered at the Cult of the Supreme Being's procession, Maximilien Robespierre was head of the whole occasion there he gave a speech to commemorate the celebration. Robespierre's naysayers to the contray rather saw this as Robespierre's megalomania.A proper examination of Robespierre's life could reveal this point as Robespierre's decay to his downfall.


Signs of the Committee of Public Safety's unwavering autocratic were turning apparent through a new law named the Law of 22 Prairial. Terror entered its bloodiest phase because of this decree the number of executions surged dramatically. Law of 22 Prairial stated that any person under accusation is likely of immediate execution it came on to effect just a mere 2 days after the festival. The creator of this brutal law wasn't Robespierre but he supported it. A resentment was growing against the Committee. Robespierre's fall had arrived Robespierre went to the National Convention on July 26 1794 a year before he was elected to the Committee of Public Safety. Present situation now he was being hailed as a bloodthirsty dictator by the members of the National Convention.Maximilien Robespierre would commit a fatal tactical error in his two hour rambling speech.Robespierre accused the Convention itself of conspiring to destory the Republic.When interrogated by the Convention to name out the individuals Robespierre refused the request. Whole Convention now alerted that they could be the next victims of guillotine.Anti Robespierre sentiment now currently was all over the Convention. The following day Robespierre attempted an another dialogue this one was quickly overturn by the numerous voices of the Convention.Robespierre in compete shock was unable to prevent the rally against him. He and his remaining supporters retreated at the Hôtel de Ville.Robespierre denounced as an outlaw; troops were ordered for his capture. Robespierre attempted suicide to avoid capture but he only end up shooting his mouth only. He was later carried back to wait for his execution. His badly injured mouth was patched up, July 28 1794 he went to the scaffold for the first time.The Incorruptible met his death nearly the same fashion as those he previously condemned. And likewise to his remaining supporters.


Robespierre undoubtedly became the scapegoat of the deathtoll of the Reign of Terror. The Anti Robespierre fervor made the him perfect target ad nauseum usage as the one solely responsible for the all carnage.This infamous terror had clamied over 25,000 lives the name of those forgotten by history;and will be lost for an endless eternity. There is one name that history will be unable to forgot Maximilien Robespierre. Maximilien Robespierre's name will cling to the French Revolution in the manner hardness is a feature of granite. Each individual is granted a specific opinion upon him. As an ambiguous figure there is no objective view of Maximilien Robespierre. Maximilien Robespierre is what one think of him. An idealist or an delusional fanatic.



''If Maximilien did not feel the ‘necessity for living’, it was partly because he did not see life as a necessity but rather as a duty among others, after others - a duty that his other responsibilities had always made burdensome. He had had to assume responsibility for his mother’s death and father’s flight, he had had to take his father’s place, betray him and identify with him, survive him - the supreme betrayal - by compromising with his detractors and thus survive.

All of his life, ever since childhood, life had been permitted only by others as by charity. A life given to him in such a manner could only be bitter, rotten from the beginning, a compulsorily imposed act of treachery. Death was liberation, death was purification, death was identification and union, it was rediscovery, fidelity to his vanished parents, it was liberty and the end of all stifling responsibilities.

Death was peace; death, in the strongest sense of such a banal expression, was rest, sleep, and quietude.''

Max Gallo