Joseph Fouché
Joseph Fouché arrived in the world on the 21st of May 1759 within the small village of Le Pellerin near Nantes. His father Julien Joseph Fouché worked as a shipowner and his mother Marie Françoise Croizet managed their household. The boy showed early aptitude for literary and scientific studies while attending the college of the Oratorians at Nantes. He made rapid progress through his education and was soon appointed to tutorial duties at colleges in Niort, Saumur, Vendôme, Juilly and Arras. At Arras he became initiated into Freemasonry at the Sophie Madeleine lodge in 1788. These early years established a foundation that would later support his rise through French political chaos.
Fouché traveled to Lyon in November 1793 alongside Jean-Marie Collot d'Herbois to execute reprisals against the city. On the 23rd of November they declared Lyon to be in a state of revolutionary war. They formed the Temporary Commission for Republican Supervision and brought in almost two thousand Parisian Revolutionary Army troops to begin terrorizing the population. On the 4th of December sixty men chained together were blasted with grapeshot on the plain de Brotteaux outside the city. Two hundred eleven more died the following day under similar circumstances. Grotesquely ineffective firing squads resulted in heaps of mutilated victims who were finished off with sabres and musket fire by soldiers physically sickened at the task. Over one thousand eight hundred executions occurred in the coming months as Fouché claimed Terror was now the order of the day here. The blood from mass executions gushed from severed heads and bodies into streets drenching gutters of Rue Lafont until local residents demanded payment for damages.
Together with Pierre Gaspard Chaumette he helped initiate the dechristianization movement in autumn 1793. In the Nièvre department Fouché ransacked churches and sent their valuables to the treasury while helping establish the Cult of Reason. He ordered words Death is an eternal sleep inscribed over gates to cemeteries. The new cult was inaugurated at Notre Dame de Paris by The Festival of Reason where Fouché gave what became known as the most famous example of its early phase. Robespierre grew appalled by atrocities committed during missions and exchanged angry communications with him. Early in June 1794 at the time of the Festival of the Supreme Being Fouché went so far as to mock the theistic revival. Robespierre tried to expel Fouché from the Jacobin Club on the 14th of July 1794 but failed due to protection provided by Barras. Fouché engineered Robespierre's overthrow culminating in dramatic Coup of the 9th Thermidor on the 28th of July 1794.
Fouché joined Bonaparte and Sieyès plotting Directory's overthrow through activity furthering 18 Brumaire coup between 9, the 10th of November 1799. His efficient counteraction against opposition helped increase centralization and police efficiency across both Paris and provinces. While exposing unrealistic intrigue involving duchesse de Guiche Ida d'Orsay he ensured she escaped punishment. Equally skilful action occurred within Aréna-Ceracchi plot where agents provocateurs played sinister parts. Chief conspirators were easily ensnared and executed when Plot of Rue Saint-Nicaise December 1800 enabled Bonaparte to act with rigour. When Napoleon showed eagerness to blame powerful Jacobins Fouché firmly declared outrage was work of Royalists though efforts failed to avert repression. After proclamation of First French Empire July 1804 he again became head reconstituted ministry of police later internal affairs with activities as important as those carried under Consulate. Police agents remained omnipresent terror which Napoleon and Fouché inspired partly accounts for absence of conspiracies after 1804.
When Napoleon abdicated in April 1814 Fouché advised Senate send deputation to Charles comte d'Artois brother Louis XVIII seeking reconciliation between monarchy nation. He addressed banished Napoleon begging withdrawal to United States while sending appeal favoring liberty to new sovereign Louis XVIII. Response proved unsatisfactory leading him into relations with conspirators seeking overthrow Bourbons. Marquis de Lafayette and Louis Nicolas Davout involved but their refusal prevented action. Soon Napoleon escaped Elba making way triumph Paris arriving the 19th of March 1815. Louis XVIII sent offer ministry police declined stating too late only plan adopt retreat. Foiled attempt by Royalists arrest him before receiving portfolio third time upon arrival Napoleon. Entered secret relations Austrian statesman Klemens Wenzel von Metternich Vienna preparing all eventualities. Used powers induce emperor democratize rule causing insertion words sovereignty resides people source power declaration Conseil d'État. Autocratic tendencies Napoleon overrode so taking measures expedite fall securing own interests. After ultimate defeat Battle Waterloo started plotting against Napoleon joining opposition parliament heading provisional government trying negotiate allies. Probably aimed establishing republic head state help Republican freemasons plans never realized. Bourbons regained power July 1815 services necessary again named minister police King Louis XVIII brother Louis XVI.
Austrian novelist Stefan Zweig wrote biography Joseph Fouché asking how minister survived power revolution monarchy. Takes psychological approach understanding complicated figure. Appears main characters For King novel Catherine Delors Dutton 2010 role Plot Rue Saint-Nicaise discussed. Featured two main characters play Jean-Claude Brisville Supping Devil depicting dining Talleyrand deciding preserve respective powers under coming regime drama hugely successful turned film The Supper 1992 directed Édouard Molinaro starring Claude Rich Claude Brasseur. Joseph Conrad portrayed briefly short story Duel 1924 filmed 1977 Duellists written Gerald Vaughan-Hughes directed Ridley Scott Albert Finney portrays him. Recurring character Roger Brook series historical novels Dennis Wheatley referenced first page novel Perfume Story Murderer Patrick Süskind gifted abomination important character Hastening Wind British novelist Edward Grierson concerns Cadoudal conspiracy assassinate Napoleon 1804. Mountolive third novel Lawrence Durrell Alexandria Quartet French diplomat ironically compliments cruel venal Egyptian Minister Interior Memlik Pasha regarded best Minister Interior modern history indeed since Fouché there no-one equal orders bust gathering dust reception room Bernard Cornwell Sharpe Enemy mentioned early mentor French spymaster Pierre Ducos bitter enemy Richard Sharpe later novels.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When and where was Joseph Fouché born?
Joseph Fouché arrived in the world on the 21st of May 1759 within the small village of Le Pellerin near Nantes. His father Julien Joseph Fouché worked as a shipowner and his mother Marie Françoise Croizet managed their household.
What role did Joseph Fouché play during the siege of Lyon in 1793?
Fouché traveled to Lyon in November 1793 alongside Jean-Marie Collot d'Herbois to execute reprisals against the city. Over one thousand eight hundred executions occurred in the coming months as Fouché claimed Terror was now the order of the day here.
How did Joseph Fouché contribute to the dechristianization movement in autumn 1793?
Together with Pierre Gaspard Chaumette he helped initiate the dechristianization movement in autumn 1793. He ordered words Death is an eternal sleep inscribed over gates to cemeteries while helping establish the Cult of Reason.
Why did Robespierre try to expel Joseph Fouché from the Jacobin Club in July 1794?
Robespierre grew appalled by atrocities committed during missions and exchanged angry communications with him. Robespierre tried to expel Fouché from the Jacobin Club on the 14th of July 1794 but failed due to protection provided by Barras.
What position did Joseph Fouché hold after the proclamation of the First French Empire in July 1804?
After proclamation of First French Empire July 1804 he again became head reconstituted ministry of police later internal affairs with activities as important as those carried under Consulate. Police agents remained omnipresent terror which Napoleon and Fouché inspired partly accounts for absence of conspiracies after 1804.