Maximilien Robespierre
Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre was baptised on the 6th of May 1758 in the city of Arras, located in Artois. His father, a lawyer named François Maximilien Barthélémy de Robespierre, had married Jacqueline Marguerite Carrault just months before his birth. The young boy lost his mother on the 16th of July 1764 when she died after delivering a stillborn son at age 29. Three years later, their father left the children behind in Arras to pursue his own life elsewhere. Maximilien and his brother Henriette were raised by their maternal grandparents while his sisters lived with unmarried paternal aunts. Demonstrating literacy at an early age, he commenced his education at the Arras College when he was only eight years old. In October 1769, he secured a scholarship at the prestigious Collège Louis-le-Grand in Paris among peers like Camille Desmoulins and Stanislas Fréron. During his schooling, he developed a profound admiration for the Roman Republic and the rhetorical skills of Cicero, Cato and Lucius Junius Brutus. In 1776 he earned the first prize for rhetoric. His appreciation for the classics inspired him to aspire to Roman virtues, particularly the embodiment of Rousseau's citizen-soldier. Robespierre was drawn to the concepts of the influential philosophe regarding political reforms expounded in his work, The Social Contract.
During his three-year study of law at the Sorbonne, Robespierre distinguished himself academically, culminating in his graduation in July 1780. He received a special prize of 600 for his exceptional academic achievements and exemplary conduct. Admitted to the bar, he was appointed as one of the five judges in the local criminal court in March 1782. However, Robespierre soon resigned due to his ethical discomfort in adjudicating capital cases stemming from his opposition to the death penalty. He was elected to the literary Academy of Arras in November 1783. The following year, the Academy of Metz honoured him with a medal for his essay pondering collective punishment. In August 1788, King Louis XVI summoned the Estates-General to convene on the 1st of May 1789. Robespierre advocated in his Address to the Nation of Artois that following the customary mode of election by the members of the provincial estates would fail to adequately represent the people of France in the new Estates-General. On the 26th of April 1789, Robespierre secured his place as one of 16 deputies representing French Flanders in the Estates-General. On the 6th of June, Robespierre delivered his introductory speech in the Estates General targeting the hierarchical structure of the church. His impassioned oratory prompted observers to comment that this young man possessed an eloquence that set him apart from the rest. By the 13th of June, Robespierre aligned with deputies who later proclaimed themselves the National Assembly asserting representation for 96% of the nation. During an altercation with Lally-Tollendal who advocated law and order, Robespierre reminded the citizens of their recent defense of liberty which paradoxically restricted their access to it.
The Declaration of Pillnitz issued by Austria and Prussia on the 27th of August 1791 warned the people of France not to harm Louis XVI or these nations would militarily intervene. Brissot rallied the support of the Legislative Assembly for war with Austria. As Jean-Paul Marat, Georges Danton and Robespierre had not been elected in the new legislature thanks to the Self-Denying Ordinance anti-war politics mainly took place outside the Assembly. On the 18th of December 1791, Robespierre gave a second speech at the Jacobin club against war warning against the threat of dictatorship stemming from it. At the end of December Guadet suggested that a war would be a benefit to the nation and boost the economy. Marat and Robespierre opposed him arguing that victory would create a dictatorship while defeat would restore the king to his former powers. This opposition from expected allies irritated the Girondins and the war became a major point of contention between the factions. In his third speech on the war Robespierre countered on the 25th of January 1792 in the Jacobin club stating that a revolutionary war must be waged to free subjects and slaves from unjust tyranny not for traditional reasons of defending dynasties and expanding frontiers. He argued such a war could only favour the forces of counter-revolution since it would play into the hands of those who opposed the sovereignty of the people. The risks of Caesarism were clear as generals often became the arbiters of the fate of their countries during troubled periods of history.
On the 27th of July 1793, Robespierre finally joined the Committee of Public Safety replacing Thomas-Augustin de Gasparin. This marked Robespierre's second stint in an executive position to oversee the war effort. While generally considered the most recognisable member of the Committee it operated without a hierarchical structure. On the 4th of September the sans-culottes once again stormed the Convention demanding stricter measures against rising prices even though circulating assignats had doubled in preceding months. They also called for the establishment of a system of terror to eradicate counter-revolution. During the session on the 5th of September Barère representing the Committee of Public Safety introduced a decree establishing a paid armed force of 6,000 men and 1,200 gunners tasked with crushing counter-revolutionaries enforcing revolutionary laws and public safety measures decreed by the National Convention. On the 11th of September the authority of the Committee of Public Safety was extended for one month. The Revolutionary Tribunal underwent reorganisation being divided into four sections with two sections always active simultaneously. On the 29th of September the Committee introduced price controls particularly in the area supplying Paris. Shops were emptied within a week due to these measures according to historian Augustin Cochin.
On the 30th of March the two committees decided to arrest Danton and Desmoulins. On the 31st of March Saint-Just publicly attacked both. In the Convention criticism was voiced against the arrests which Robespierre silenced with who trembles at this moment is guilty. Legendre suggested that before you listen to any report you send for the prisoners and hear them. Robespierre replied it would be violating the laws of impartiality to grant to Danton what was refused to others who had an equal right to make the same demand. This answer silenced at once all solicitations in his favour. No friend of the Dantonists dared speak up in case he too should be accused of putting friendship before virtue. Following the executions of Danton and Desmoulins on the 5th of April Robespierre had a partial withdrawal from public life. He did not reappear until the 7th of May. The withdrawal may have been an indication of health issues. On the 10th of June Georges Couthon introduced the Law of 22 Prairial to liberate the Revolutionary Tribunals from Convention control while severely restricting suspects ability to defend themselves. The law significantly expanded the scope of charges criminalising virtually any criticism of the government.
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Common questions
When was Maximilien Robespierre born and where did he grow up?
Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre was baptised on the 6th of May 1758 in the city of Arras, located in Artois. He lost his mother on the 16th of July 1764 when she died after delivering a stillborn son at age 29.
What education did Maximilien Robespierre receive before entering politics?
Robespierre commenced his education at the Arras College when he was only eight years old and secured a scholarship at the prestigious Collège Louis-le-Grand in Paris in October 1769. He graduated from the Sorbonne with a law degree in July 1780 after receiving a special prize of 600 for exceptional academic achievements.
Why did Maximilien Robespierre resign from his position as a judge in March 1782?
Robespierre resigned due to his ethical discomfort in adjudicating capital cases stemming from his opposition to the death penalty. He had been appointed as one of the five judges in the local criminal court in March 1782 but left shortly thereafter.
When did Maximilien Robespierre join the Committee of Public Safety and what powers did it hold?
On the 27th of July 1793, Robespierre joined the Committee of Public Safety replacing Thomas-Augustin de Gasparin to oversee the war effort. The committee operated without a hierarchical structure and introduced measures such as price controls on the 29th of September and established a paid armed force of 6,000 men on the 5th of September.
How did Maximilien Robespierre respond to the arrest of Danton and Desmoulins in March 1794?
On the 30th of March the two committees decided to arrest Danton and Desmoulins while Robespierre silenced criticism by stating that anyone who trembled at this moment was guilty. Following their executions on the 5th of April Robespierre withdrew from public life until he reappeared on the 7th of May.