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Home , Augustin Robespierre, Camille Desmoulins, Georges Couthon, Law of 22 Prairial, Le Vieux Cordelier, Maximin Isnard

Committee of Public Safety

For other uses, see Committee of Public Safety (disam- biguation).

The Committee of Public Safety (French: Comité de sa- lut public), created in March 1793 by the National Con- vention and then restructured in July 1793, formed the de facto executive government in during the (1793–1794), a stage of the . The Committee of Public Safety succeeded the previous Committee of General Defence (established in January 1793) and assumed its role of protecting the newly estab- lished against foreign attacks and internal rebel- lion. As a wartime measure, the Committee—composed at first of nine, and later of twelve, members—was given Lettre anglaise (English Letter) dated 29 June 1793 as published broad supervisory powers over military, judicial, and leg- by the French during the Revolution (1793). islative efforts. It was formed as an administrative body This document was used to prove English spying and conspiracy. to supervise and expedite the work of the executive bod- ies of the Convention and of the government ministers appointed by the Convention. As the Committee tried tion did not accede to his leadership. News of his de- to meet the dangers of a coalition of European nations fection caused alarm in , where imminent defeat by and counter- forces within the country, it the Austrians and their allies was feared. A widespread became more and more powerful. belief held that revolutionary France was in immediate peril, threatened not only by foreign armies and by recent In July 1793, following the defeat at the Convention of anti-revolutionary revolts in the Vendée, but also by for- the moderate Republicans (or "Girondists"), the promi- eign agents who plotted the destruction of the nation from nent leaders of the radical —Maximilien Robe- within.[1] spierre and Saint-Just —were added to the Committee. The power of the Committee peaked between August The betrayal of the revolutionary government by Du- 1793 and July 1794, under the leadership of Robespierre. mouriez lent greater credence to this belief. In light In December 1793, the Convention formally conferred of this threat, the Girondin leader Maximin Isnard pro- executive power upon the Committee, and Robespierre posed the creation of a nine-member Committee of Pub- established a virtual dictatorship. lic Safety. Isnard was supported in this effort by , who declared, “This Committee is precisely what The execution of Robespierre in July 1794 represented we want, a hand to grasp the weapon of the Revolutionary a reactionary period against the Committee of Public Tribunal.”[1] Safety. This is known as the , as Robespierre’s fall from power occurred during the The Committee was formally created on 6 April 1793. Revolutionary month of . The Committee’s Closely associated with the leadership of Danton, it was influence diminished, and it was disestablished in 1795. initially known as “the Danton Committee”.[2] Danton steered the Committee through the 31 May and 2 June 1793 journées that resulted in the fall of the , and through the intensifying war in the Vendée. How- 1 Origins and evolution ever, when the Committee was recomposed on 10 July, Danton was not included. Nevertheless, he continued to [3] 1.1 Committee of discussion support the centralization of power by the Committee. On 27 July 1793, was elected to On 5 April 1793, the French military commander and the Committee. At this time, the Committee was enter- former minister of war General Charles François Du- ing a more powerful and active phase, which would see mouriez defected to Austria, following the publication it become a de facto dictatorship alongside its powerful of an incendiary letter in which he threatened to march partner, the Committee of General Security. The role his army on the city of Paris if the National Conven- of the Committee of Public Safety included the gover-

1 2 1 ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION nance of the war (including the appointment of generals), the appointing of judges and juries for the ,[4] the provisioning of the armies and the pub- lic, the maintenance of public order, and oversight of the state bureaucracy.[5] The Committee was also responsible for interpreting and applying the decrees of the National Convention, and thus for implementing some of the most stringent policies of the Terror—for instance, the levée en masse, passed on 23 August 1793, the , passed on 17 Septem- ber 1793, and the Law of the Maximum, passed on 29 September 1793. The broad and centralized powers of the Committee were codified by the Law of 14 Frimaire (also known as the Law of Revolutionary Government) on 4 December 1793.

1.1.1 Execution of the Hébertists and Dantonists

On 5 December 1793, journalist be- gan publishing , a newspaper initially aimed—with the approval of Robespierre and the Com- mittee of Public Safety[6]—at the ultra-revolutionary Hébertist faction, whose extremist demands, anti- Maximilien Robespierre, spokesman and a radical voice behind religious fervor, and propensity for sudden insurrec- the leadership of the Committee of Public Safety tions were problematic for the Committee. However, Desmoulins quickly turned his pen against the Committee of Public Safety and the Committee of General Security, comparing their reign to that of the Roman tyrants chron- icled by , and expounding the "indulgent" views of the Dantonist faction. Public Safety and enacted on 10 June 1794, went further Consequently, though the Hébertists were arrested and in establishing the iron control of the Revolutionary Tri- executed in March 1794, the Committee of Public Safety bunal and, above it, the Committees of Public Safety and and the Committee of General Security ensured that General Security. The law enumerated various forms of Desmoulins and Danton were also arrested. Hérault de public enemies, made mandatory their denunciation, and Séchelles—a friend and ally of Danton—was expelled severely limited the legal recourse available to those ac- from the Committee of Public Safety, arrested, and tried cused. The punishment for all crimes under the Law of alongside them. On 5 April 1794, the Dantonists went to 22 Prairal was death. From the initiation of this law to the . the fall of Robespierre on 27 July, more people were con- demned to death than in the entire previous history of the Revolutionary Tribunal.[8] 1.2 Committee of rule However, even as the Terror reached its height, and with it the Committee’s political power, discord was growing The elimination of the Hébertists and the Dantonists, in within the revolutionary government. Members of the the opinion of historian François Furet, “had definitively Committee of General Security resented the autocratic closed the book on a collegial executive: Robespierre [7] behavior of the Committee of Public Safety, and par- was, in fact, the head of the Republic’s government.” ticularly the encroachment of Robespierre’s General Po- Certainly the strength of the committees had been made lice Bureau upon their own brief.[9] Arguments within evident, as had their ability to control and silence opposi- the Committee of Public Safety itself had grown so vi- tion. The Law of 14 Frimaire was enacted in December olent that it relocated its meetings to a more private 1793 to centralize and consolidate power within the Com- room to preserve the illusion of agreement.[10] Robe- mittee of Public Safety. The creation, in March 1794, of spierre, a fervent supporter of the theistic Cult of the a “General Police Bureau”—reporting nominally to the Supreme Being, found himself frequently in conflict with Committee of Public Safety, but more often directly to anti-religious Committee members Collot d'Herbois and Robespierre and his closest ally, Louis Antoine de Saint- Billaud-Varenne. Moreover, Robespierre’s increasingly Just—served to increase the power of the Committee of extensive absences from the Committee due to illness (he Public Safety, and of Robespierre himself. all but ceased to attend meetings in June 1794) created The , proposed by the Committee of the impression that he was isolated and out of touch. 3

1.3 Fall of the Committee, and aftermath • Bertrand Barère de Vieuzac, representative of Hautes-Pyrénées (imprisoned, escaped guillotine to When it became evident, in mid-July 1794, that Robe- live in hiding) spierre and Saint-Just were planning to strike against their • Jean-François Delmas, representative of Haute- political opponents Joseph Fouché, Jean-Lambert Tal- Garonne lien, and Marc-Guillaume Alexis Vadier (the latter two of whom were members of the Committee of General • Jean-Jacques Bréard, representative of Charente- Security), the fragile truce within the government was Inférieure dissolved. Saint-Just and his fellow Committee of Pub- lic Safety member Barère attempted to keep the peace • Pierre-Joseph Cambon, representative of Hérault between the Committees of Public Safety and General (forced to live in hiding) Security; however, on 26 July, Robespierre delivered a • speech to the National Convention in which he empha- Georges Danton, representative of Paris proper sized the need to “purify” the Committees and “crush all (guillotined) factions.”[11] In a speech to the Club that night, • Jean-Antoine Debry, representative of , later he attacked Collot d'Herbois and Billaud-Varenne, who replaced by Robert Lindet, representative of Eure had refused to allow the printing and distribution of his upon resignation speech to the Convention. On the following day, 27 July 1794 (or 9 Thermidor ac- • Louis-Bernard Guyton-Morveau, representative of cording to the Revolutionary calendar), Saint-Just began Côte d'Or to deliver a speech to the Convention in which he had • Jean-Baptiste Treilhard, representative of Seine-at- planned to denounce Collot d'Herbois, Billaud-Varenne, Oise and other members of the Committee of Public Safety. However, he was almost immediately interrupted by Tal- • Jean-François Delacroix, representative of Eure-at- lien and by Billaud-Varenne, who accused Saint-Just of Loir (guillotined) intending to “murder the Convention.”[12] Barère, Vadier, and Stanislas Fréron joined the accusations against Saint- Just and Robespierre. The arrest of Robespierre, his After Robespierre’s election to the Committee on 27 brother Augustin, and Saint-Just was ordered, along with July 1793, the Committee increased its membership that of their supporters, Philippe Le Bas and Georges to twelve. The list below represents the Committee’s Couthon. membership from the addition of Collot d'Herbois and Billaud-Varenne in September 1793 through the arrest of A period of intense civil unrest ensued, during which Hérault de Séchelles in March 1794. the members of the Committees of Public Safety and General Security were forced to seek refuge in the Con- • Maximilien de Robespierre, representative of Paris vention. The Robespierre brothers, Saint-Just, Le Bas, (guillotined) and Couthon ensconced themselves in the Hôtel de Ville, attempting to incite an insurrection. Ultimately, faced • Bertrand Barère de Vieuzac, representative of with defeat and arrest, Le Bas committed suicide. Saint- Hautes-Pyrénées (imprisoned) Just, Couthon, and Maximilien and were arrested and guillotined on 28 July. • Jean-Baptiste Robert Lindet, representative of Eure The ensuing period of upheaval, dubbed the (denounced and tried) Thermidorian Reaction, saw the repeal of many of • André Jeanbon Saint André, representative of Lot the Terror’s most unpopular laws and the reduction (arrested but released) in power of the Committees of General Security and Public Safety. The Committees ceased to exist under the • , representative of Puy-at-Dôme Constitution of 1795, which marked the beginning of (guillotined) the Directory. • Marie-Jean Hérault de Séchelles, representative of Seine-at-Oise (guillotined)

• Pierre-Louis Prieur (called Prieur de la Marne), rep- 2 Composition resentative of Marne

• Louis Antoine Léon de Saint-Just, representative of The Committee was initially composed of nine members, Aisne (guillotined) all selected by the National Convention for one month at a time, without term limits. Its first members, instated on • Lazare Nicolas Marguerite Carnot, representative of 6 April 1793, were as follows, in order of election. Pas-de-Calais 4 5 REFERENCES

• Claude-Antoine Prieur-Duvernois (former Prior of • Palmer, R.R. (September 1941). “Fifty Years of the Côte-d’Or), representative of Côte-d'Or Committee of Public Safety”. Journal of Modern History 13 (3): 375–397. JSTOR 1871581. • Jacques Nicolas Billaud-Varenne, representative of Paris (arrested and exiled) • ——— (1970). Twelve Who Ruled: The Year of the Terror in the French Revolution. Princeton: Prince- • Jean-Marie Collot d'Herbois, representative of Paris ton University Press. ISBN 0-691-05119-4. (arrested and deported) • Schama, Simon (1989). Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 3 See also • Scurr, Ruth (2006). Fatal Purity: Robespierre and the French Revolution. New York: Owl Books. • Commissioners of the Committee of Public Safety • Committee of General Security • National Convention • Historiography of the French Revolution • Revolutionary Tribunal • Reflections on the Revolution in France

4 Notes

[1] Belloc (1899), p. 210.

[2] Mantel (2009).

[3] Belloc (1899), p. 235.

[4] Scurr (2006), p. 284.

[5] Furet (1992), p. 134.

[6] Furet (1992), p. 141.

[7] Furet (1992), p. 142.

[8] Scurr (2006), p. 328.

[9] Scurr (2006), p. 331.

[10] Scurr (2006), p. 340.

[11] Madelin (1916), p. 418.

[12] Madelin (1916), p. 422.

5 References

• Belloc, Hillaire (1899). Danton: A Study. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons. • Furet, François (1992). Revolutionary France, 1770–1880. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. • Madelin, Louis (1916). The French Revolution. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. • Mantel, Hilary (6 August 2009). “He Roared”. Lon- don Review of Books 3 (15): 3–6. Retrieved 16 Jan- uary 2010. 5

6 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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• Committee of Public Safety Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee%20of%20Public%20Safety?oldid=655227674 Contribu- tors: Olivier, Lquilter, Darkwind, Ugen64, John K, RodC, Charles Matthews, Rednblu, DJ Clayworth, Tpbradbury, JorgeGG, Jhobson1, Sbisolo, Jmabel, Caknuck, Guy Peters, Marc Venot, Fabiform, Per Honor et Gloria, Bacchiad, Ukexpat, Discospinster, AlexKepler, Yono, Bobo192, Nk, Hagerman, Messhermit, Bart133, Dtobias, Kelly Martin, Tabletop, Oleg Schultz, Rjwilmsi, Margosbot, IceDrake523, Shark- face217, Cornellrockey, Mollyclare, Wavelength, RussBot, Rjensen, Journalist, Moe Epsilon, R.D.H. (Ghost In The Machine), 21655, Theda, JoanneB, KnightRider, SmackBot, WookieInHeat, Imzadi1979, Durova, Chris the speller, Persian Poet Gal, Tamfang, Greenshed, Bigturtle, Ohconfucius, Esrever, Btritchie, Dwpaul, Rigadoun, Tazmaniacs, Neddyseagoon, Courcelles, Tawkerbot2, JForget, Ale jrb, FlyingToaster, Yaris678, Shirulashem, Dougweller, NMChico24, Mr Gronk, Mamalujo, Thijs!bot, Epbr123, AntiVandalBot, Seaphoto, Stev17, Arch dude, Jvhertum, KConWiki, Gomm, VirtualDelight, Tgeairn, Shellwood, Nev1, Pajfarmor, NobleHelium, NewEnglandYan- kee, Molly-in-md, Trilobitealive, Jeff G., Technopat, Rei-bot, Aymatth2, Chrisieboy, Clarince63, LeaveSleaves, PeterHuntington, Tid- dly Tom, RJaguar3, Lightmouse, Macy, ClueBot, Snigbrook, The Thing That Should Not Be, FieldMarine, Saddhiyama, Adam Lein, Arunsingh16, PixelBot, Rhododendrites, NuclearWarfare, The Red, CalumH93, Addbot, Some jerk on the Internet, Ronhjones, Jncraton, Download, Favonian, Numbo3-bot, LuK3, Legobot, Luckas-bot, Yobot, KamikazeBot, Pohick2, AnomieBOT, Sartus, Materialscientist, Maxis ftw, Caliguurl, Capricorn42, Folsombiker, Brandon5485, FrescoBot, Drake456, Dhtwiki, Pinethicket, HRoestBot, Calmer Waters, RedBot, Idunius, Lotje, Jeffrd10, Onel5969, Vinnyzz, EmausBot, Wikipelli, JSquish, Dffgd, Gz33, Demiurge1000, Donner60, Chuispas- tonBot, Rocketrod1960, Gwen-chan, ClueBot NG, Crispz, Lucasoutloud, Zhuravlei, VirgoMagna, Grizly211, Krenair, MusikAnimal, Fyl- becatulous, Hghyux, ChrisGualtieri, Hingoglopper, Zumwalte, Lugia2453, Frosty, Moagim, Goriallas, Totallylegitsmartguy, Grachial6599, Swaggy17, DiscantX and Anonymous: 254

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