Maximilien de Robespierre: A True Revolutionary Man Or A Madman?

A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com -  Maximilien de Robespierre (May 6 1758 – July 28 1794) was a French philosopher, journalist, scholar, judge, lawyer, and an important official during the French Revolution (1789–1799).

Robespierre was one of the principal architects of the Reign of Terror, and many have wondered: Was he a revolutionary or a madman?

He criticized the French monarchy, opposed the death penalty, and slavery, and gained a reputation for protecting the poorest of society as a person with strict moral values, Robespierre earned the nickname "the incorruptible". Photo via Emerson Kent.

He was born on May 6, 1758, at Arras, in the north of France. He studied the law, became a lawyer at 21 years old, and was the leader of the radical Jacobins in the National Assembly.

His main goal was to defend people's rights, especially the more modest people's ones. Soon, Robespierre became famous, calling for political change in the French monarchy.

"The Death of Louis XVI King of France from an English engraving, published 1798. Credit: Public Domain

Being a great supporter of philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Robespierre believed that a virtuous man who stands alone is accompanied only by his conscience.

He criticized the French monarchy, opposed the death penalty and slavery, and gained a reputation for protecting the poorest of society as a person with strict moral values. Robespierre earned the nickname "the incorruptible."

His power increased, but at the same time, his popularity began to wane because some people considered him extreme and too impractical.

He gradually became paranoid about counterrevolutionary opposition and saw enemies everywhere.

In December 1792, Robespierre – an enemy of the aristocracy - strongly argued for the execution of King Louis XVI.

Gendarme Merda shooting at Robespierre during the night of the 9 Thermidor. Credits: Wikipedia

During the Reign of Terror of 1793–1794, he made many attempts to silence all enemies of the Revolution in an effort to save France from invasion.

In the next 11 months, 300,000 suspected enemies of the Revolution were arrested, and more than 17,000 were executed, most by guillotine. Thus, Robespierre eliminated many of his political opponents.

Seemingly intoxicated with the power over life and death, Robespierre called for more purges and executions. By the summer of 1794, many in the Revolutionary government began to question his motives, as outside enemies no longer threatened the country.

In 1794, Robespierre and many of his supporters were arrested and taken to prison.

On July 28, 1794, he and twenty-one of his allies were guillotined.

Updated on May 25, 2022

Written by – A. Sutherland  - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer

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