Augustin Robespierre
Augustin Bon Joseph de Robespierre entered the world on the 21st of January 1763 in Arras. He was the youngest of four children born to lawyer Maximilien-Barthelemy-François de Robespierre and Jacqueline-Marguerite Carrault. His mother died when he was just one year old, leaving his father grief-stricken. The widower abandoned the family to travel to Bavaria where he eventually died in 1777. Augustin grew up under the care of his grandparents instead of his parents. His older brother Maximilien had won a scholarship from the Abbey of St. Vaast for studies at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand. This outstanding student secured a transfer of that scholarship to Augustin after earning his law degree. Cardinal de Rohan agreed to let Augustin take his brother's place in studying law.
At the start of the Revolution Augustin served as prosecutor-syndic of Arras. He co-founded a political club there with Martial Herman. They wrote to his brother to secure affiliation with the Jacobins in Paris. In 1791 he became administrator of the département of Pas-de-Calais. He ran for election to the Legislative Assembly in Arras during August 1791 but lost. The town elected Sixte François Deusy instead because they found Augustin too radical. On the 16th of September 1792 voters in Paris chose him to the National Convention. He received 392 votes out of 700 cast and took the 19th seat among 24 deputies. He joined his brother in The Mountain and the Jacobin Club. During the trial of Louis XVI he voted for immediate execution within 24 hours.
Augustin Robespierre was known by the nickname Bonbon despite holding radical views. He was handsome and enjoyed good food, gaming, and the company of women. His character contrasted sharply with his brother's austere reputation. When he first arrived in Paris to take his seat he lodged with his sister Charlotte and Maximilien at Maurice Duplay's house on Rue Saint Honoré. Both brothers refused to marry Duplay's daughter Éléonore. Later Charlotte persuaded them to move to a new lodging on Rue Saint-Florentin due to tensions with Madame Duplay. This arrangement ended quickly as political pressures mounted around them.
At the end of July 1793 Augustin traveled to Alpes-Maritimes to suppress Federalist revolts alongside Jean François Ricord. Charlotte accompanied him on this dangerous journey through southeastern France. Counter-revolutionaries attacked their group in Manosque on the 12th of August 1793 but they escaped alive. They reached Nice in September where they attended theatre performances until rotten apples were thrown at them during a third visit. Augustin discovered a pamphlet titled Le souper de Beaucaire written by Napoleon Bonaparte. He felt impressed by its revolutionary context while Napoleon rose to become senior gunner at Toulon. On the 17th of December Augustin stayed in Ollioules before leaving military actions led by Dugommier and Napoleon that retook Toulon from British forces. He returned to Paris without joining Fréron's revenge operations against the local population.
On the day of 9 Thermidor II (the 27th of July 1794) deputies voted to arrest Maximilien Robespierre, Louis Antoine de Saint-Just, and Georges Couthon. Augustin stood up from his bench and declared he was as guilty as them. He stated I share his virtues and want to share his fate. He asked to be charged alongside Philippe-François-Joseph Le Bas. The five men remained under guard in Committee rooms until transport became available. The Commune of Paris ordered all prisons to refuse Convention prisoners so Augustin went to La Force prison instead of Saint-Lazare. They escaped custody and reached the Hôtel de Ville where they spent hours trying to coordinate an insurrection. Forces under Paul Barras burst into the building early on 10 Thermidor capturing most rebels except Le Bas who shot himself and Coffinhal who fled briefly before surrendering.
To avoid capture Augustin removed his shoes and jumped from a ledge onto steps or bayonets below. The fall caused a pelvic fracture and several serious head contusions. Barras ordered him carried back to Committee rooms while four other prisoners lay on stretchers. After identification at the Revolutionary Tribunal under the Law of 22 Prairial twenty-two convicts marched to Place de la Révolution that evening. Couthon died second followed by Robespierre as the third person executed. Maximilien Robespierre died tenth among those sentenced. Augustin Bon Joseph de Robespierre died on the 28th of July 1794 after sustaining injuries during his failed escape attempt.
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Common questions
When was Augustin Robespierre born and where did he enter the world?
Augustin Bon Joseph de Robespierre entered the world on the 21st of January 1763 in Arras. He was the youngest of four children born to lawyer Maximilien-Barthelemy-François de Robespierre and Jacqueline-Marguerite Carrault.
How did Augustin Robespierre obtain his law degree and study at Lycée Louis-le-Grand?
His older brother Maximilien secured a transfer of a scholarship from the Abbey of St. Vaast to Augustin after earning his own law degree. Cardinal de Rohan agreed to let Augustin take his brother's place in studying law.
What happened during the Federalist revolts when Augustin Robespierre traveled to Alpes-Maritimes in 1793?
Counter-revolutionaries attacked their group in Manosque on the 12th of August 1793 but they escaped alive. They reached Nice in September where they attended theatre performances until rotten apples were thrown at them during a third visit.
Why did Augustin Robespierre die on the 28th of July 1794 instead of being executed immediately like his brother?
Augustin removed his shoes and jumped from a ledge onto steps or bayonets below which caused a pelvic fracture and several serious head contusions. He died on the 28th of July 1794 after sustaining injuries during his failed escape attempt.
Who was Augustin Robespierre and what role did he play during the trial of Louis XVI?
Augustin Robespierre served as prosecutor-syndic of Arras before becoming a deputy to the National Convention on the 16th of September 1792. During the trial of Louis XVI he voted for immediate execution within 24 hours.