Biography of Robespierre

Maximilien Robespierre is an almost mythical character of the French Revolution. But where did this fiery orator come from? What took him to the barricades of Paris during the Reign of Terror? It is surprising to discover that this symbol of revolutionary fervor was a mild-mannered lawyer from a rather staid family. This is a short look at the life of the legendary Robespierre.

History

The French Revolution began in the harsh winter of 1789, a time when the French noble and clerical classes consumed the fruits of an outmoded feudal social and economic system while peasants could not afford basic bread. Students of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and other philosophers foresaw the rise of a more modern state based on equality among men. During the first heady years of the Revolution, Robespierre was pre-eminent among these thinkers. However, in the summer of 1794, the Reign of Terror was in full swing. Even Robespierre could not escape.

Time Frame

Maximilien Francois Marie Isidore de Robespierre was born May 6, 1758, in Arras, France, attended university and obtained a law degree. In 1782 he was named a criminal judge in Arras. Popular and well-respected, he became a fixture on the social scene. In 1788, he was a participant in a discussion of how to change the French government into a more representative form. Upon Louis XVI's attempt to escape Revolutionary France with his family in 1791, Robespierre condemned him to death on the grounds that he was an enemy of the French people. This wholesale condemnation and execution of those Robespierre viewed as enemies during the Reign of Terror turn his compatriots against him. He in turn was condemned and executed on July 28, 1794. The Revolution continued another five years without him.

Significance

Robespierre has assumed a legendary place in the story of the Reign of Terror. While his political speeches were instrumental in mobilizing the bourgeoisie of Paris, his almost paranoid suspicion of internal enemies fueled the Reign for a time. At the time of his arrest and execution by guillotine, he was falsely accused of wanting to become a dictator by the Girondist Party. It was only after the Revolution had ended that one man claimed that spot for himself: French hero Napoleon Bonaparte.

Misconceptions

Robespierre has been characterized as a wild-eyed radical rabblerouser, both in popular literature of the time and in subsequent history books. One can imagine him with a scruffy beard, standing on the barricade in the streets of Paris.
However, those who knew him or were acquainted with him frequently mentioned his quietness, impeccable grooming and almost cat-like appearance, supposedly because of his dainty, pointed facial features.
His speeches were not especially brilliant and inspiring. Contemporaries noted his careful attention to detail and bulletproof logic. No fiery rhetoric there.

Considerations

Robespierre was inspired by Rousseau's vision of the modern man guided by rationality. His devotion to Rousseau's ideal man eventually became his nemesis, events moving too swiftly and dramatically for an experienced young man. His beatific vision of a perfect republic had never been tempered by the school of hard knocks. The Reign of Terror, rather than being a cleansing of base human impulses, became merely a horrifying and mesmerizing bloodbath.

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