TRITONMUN XXII CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS SINGLE CRISIS: “THE TERROR”

French Revolution - Committee of Public Safety Main Members as of 9/1793:

Note: La Plaine and La Montagne refer to the parties the characters are in. La Plaine is the moderates. La Montagne is the more extremist party.

Military and Foreign Relations

❖ (La Plaine) - Minister of War ➢ As the Minister of War, Lazare Carnot is responsible for drafting the campaign strategy to defend the besieged French Republic from the counterrevolutionary forces in Europe. Due to the overlap in their authority, Carnot has recently gotten into disputes with Louis Antoine de Saint Just. Nonetheless, Carnot has been credited with successfully reorganizing the French army and implementing mass conscription. ❖ Jeanbon Saint-André (La Plaine) - Minister of the Navy ➢ A former merchant marine captain and Protestant clergyman, Jeanbon Saint- André is in charge of the French Republic’s naval affairs. Great Britain, France’s greatest rival, has instituted a naval blockade with the hopes of ending the Revolution through starving the people. It is up to Saint-André to see the end of the blockade and, perhaps even, the landing of French troops in Britain. ❖ Louis Antoine de Saint Just (La Montagne) - Military Commissar of the Army of the Rhine ➢ With the recent reports that the French Army of the Rhine has been failing in its duty to spread the Revolution to the German states along the Rhine River, Louis Antoine de Saint Just has been provided extraordinary powers to reimpose order and political cohesion in the army. Known for his close friendship with Robespierre, Louis Antoine de Saint Just is a man feared by friends and enemies of the Revolution alike. ❖ Georges Couthon (La Montagne) - Minister of Laws ➢ Georges Couthon is the Minister of Home Defense and is responsible for dispensing justice against the traitors to France. Despite being confined to a

wheelchair due to his paralysis from Meningitis, he has earned a reputation as a vigorous supporter of Robespierre. ❖ Claude Duvernois (La Montagne) - Head of Military Research and Development ➢ Claude Duvernois heads a team of scientists and engineers whose work aims to improve the capabilities of French troops. A close ally of Lazare Carnot, Duvernois’s work is essential to ensuring that munitions reach French armies. There have been rumors that Claude Duvernois’s scientists have reached a breakthrough in the development of an “aerial platform” that will revolutionize intelligence gathering. ❖ Jean Hérault de Sechelles (La Montagne) - Minister of Foreign Relations ➢ Jean Herault de Sechelles heads the Committee of Public Safety’s diplomatic corps. Despite his active role in shaping the Republic’s war measures and his support of the Terror, many continue to doubt his loyalties because of his noble status and his close relationship with Queen . Nonetheless, his contribution is critical to ensuring that the Revolution gains international allies.

Domestic Affairs

❖ Jacques-Nicolas Billaud-Varenne (La Montagne) - President of the ➢ Jacques-Nicolas Billaud-Varenne serves as the President of the National Convention, the elected assembly that — in theory — governs the French Republic. A strong advocate of the Committee of Public Safety and an ally of Robespierre, it is up to Billaud-Varenne to maintain the Committee’s relations with the Convention. Failure to do so may have dangerous repercussions. ❖ Bertrand Barère (La Plaine) - Minister of Propaganda ➢ Bertrand Barère is a former journalist and one of the Committee of Public Safety’s most eloquent speakers. Barère has attracted a small, yet loyal following due to his calls for a new “religion of the fatherland.” His position as the Minister of Propaganda and his control over education policy grants him a perch to spread these ideas and instill loyalty to the French Republic. ❖ Jean-Marie Collot d’Herbois (La Montagne) - General Secretary of the Committee ➢ Famous even before the Revolution as a successful actor and playwright, Jean- Marie Collot d’Herbois serves as General Secretary of the Committee. A strong supporter of the , d’Herbois’s role is to ensure the loyalty of local

Montagnard organizations and ensure important information is brought to the Committee’s attention. ❖ Robert Lindet (La Plaine) - Minister of Finance ➢ One of the more moderate members in the Committee, Robert Lindet is responsible for overseeing much of the government’s spending. Additionally, Lindet’s role also includes oversight over France’s food supplies and its distribution. His brother, Thomas, is a constitutional bishop and a member of the National Convention. ❖ Pierre Louis Prieur (La Montagne) Minister of Internal Security ➢ Known as the Shouter of the Marne for his fierce opposition to the French monarchy, Pierre Louis Prieur serves as the Minister of Internal Security. It is up to him to ensure that the Revolution is not threatened by internal dissent by any means necessary.