French Revolution—Political Personalities 1789–1795
RADICALS MODERATES
MAXIMILIEN-FRANÇOIS-MARIE-ISIDORE DE HONORÉ-GABRIEL RIQUETI, COMTE DE ROBESPIERRE, 1758Ð1794 MIRABEAU, 1749Ð1791 Lawyer, prominent member of Jacobin Club (radical Soldier, well-known political essayist, and most cele- political organization), and dominant in National brated orator of revolutionary period. Advocate of con- Convention (revolutionary assembly 1792Ð95) stitutional monarchy for France on British model but May 1789 Elected to Estates General as a deputy for fails to convince radicals or King Louis XVI the 3rd Estate (middle and lower classes) May 1789 Elected to Estates General as deputy for 1791 Appointed Public Accuser by National Assembly 3rd Estate, despite noble birth (revolutionary assembly 1789Ð91) 1791 Appointed president of National Assembly. 1792 Proposes formation of Revolutionary Tribunal to Apr 1791 Dies of ill health try suspected counterrevolutionaries Jul 1793 Joins nine-member Committee of Public MARIE-JOSEPH, MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE, Safety (with powers to arrest counterrevolutionaries) 1757Ð1834 Apr 1794 Dominates Committee of Public Safety Soldier, fights in American Revolution, and becomes a following arrest of Danton French national hero. Strong advocate of political AprÐJul 1794 Virtual dictator of France; largely reform and maintenance of royal authority to prevent responsible for Reign of Terror (1793Ð94) anarchy during period of reform. Hated by Jacobins for Jul 1794 Denounced by political enemies in National his moderation Convention; tried and executed May 1789 Elected to Estates General as deputy for 2nd Estate (noble class); sympathetic to 3rd Estate GEORGES-JACQUES DANTON, 1759Ð1794 Aug 1789 Helps draft Declaration of the Rights of Man Lawyer and founding member of Cordeliers’ Club (bill of rights) based on American Declaration of (radical revolutionary party and influential element in Independence National Convention) Jul 1789 Appointed commander of revolutionary 1791 Minor member of Paris Commune (radical group National Guard organized by Paris Commune formed 1789 to govern Paris during riots) Oct 1789 Protects Louis XVI during march of Parisian Aug 1792 Appointed minister of justice immediately citizens on Versailles after citizens march on the Tuileries (King’s palace in Jun 1791 Aids Louis XVI’s unsuccessful attempt to Paris), an event he helps initiate escape from France Sep 1792 Elected to National Convention Aug 1792 Leaves France for Austria, where he is May 1793 Leads campaign to suppress Girondists imprisoned (released 1797) (moderate party), which results in their arrest Apr 1793 Original member of Committee of Public LOUIS-PHILIPPE-JOSEPH, DUC D’ORLÉANS, Safety; opposes excesses of the Terror 1747Ð1793 Apr 1794 Plotted against and denounced as a counter- Known as Philippe Égalité (Equality). Member of revolutionary by Robespierre; tried and executed Bourbon (French royal) family. Popular and known for liberal views; advocate of government reform JEAN-PAUL MARAT, 1743Ð1793 May 1789 Elected to Estates General as deputy for Physician and scientist, practicing in Paris at time of 2nd Estate Revolution. Member of Cordeliers’ Club and editor of Jun 1789 Leader of group of 2nd Estate representa- influential and controversial revolutionary newspaper tives who renounce their privileges and join represen- L’ami du Peuple (the Friend of the People). Arrested tatives of 3rd Estate several times for publicly denouncing prominent Jul 1790 Becomes member of National Assembly; members of the assembly resists friends who want him to become constitutional Sep 1792 Member of Paris Commune during monarch in place of Louis XVI September Massacres (execution of nobles) Sep 1792 Given title Citoyen Égalité (Citizen Equality) Sep 1792 Elected to National Convention; advocates by Paris Commune in recognition of his support for radical reforms the Revolution May 1793 Active in suppression of Girondists Apr 1793 Arrested after his son becomes an émigré Jul 1793 Assassinated by Girondist activist Charlotte (noble who flees France) Corday; thereafter hailed as a martyr Oct 1793 Executed as a counterrevolutionary
ROYALS KING LOUIS XVI, 1754Ð1793 MARIE ANTOINETTE, 1755Ð1793 King of France; fails to support reforms proposed by Queen of France, wife of Louis XVI (from 1770), and ministers to ease social and economic inequalities daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Francis I and May 1789 Calls meeting of Estates General for first time in Empress Maria Theresa. Unpopular in France; regarded more than 100 years; refuses to accept proposed reforms. as disinterested in French affairs, frivolous, and Jun 1791 Attempts to leave France secretly when revo- extravagant at the cost of the people. Firmly opposed to lution gains strength; is captured and returned to Paris reform; encourages Louis’s conservatism as a traitor Jun 1791 Attempts to leave France with Louis Jan 1793 Tried by National Convention and executed Oct 1793 Tried by Revolutionary Tribunal and executed