Maximilien Robespierre was a French lawyer, politician, and one of the central leaders of the French Revolution, especially known for his role in the radical phase known as the Reign of Terror. He became a dominant figure in the revolutionary government in 1793–1794 and was overthrown and executed by guillotine in July 1794.
Early life and career
Robespierre was born on 6 May 1758 in Arras, in northern France, and trained as a lawyer before entering politics. His education and legal work were strongly influenced by Enlightenment ideas, which shaped his later arguments for popular sovereignty and civic virtue.
Role in the Revolution
He first gained prominence as a deputy of the Third Estate and then as a leading member of the Jacobin Club, the main radical political group of the Revolution. Robespierre opposed the monarchy, pushed for the establishment of a republic, and supported measures such as universal male suffrage and broader political rights for ordinary citizens.
The Reign of Terror
In 1793, Robespierre joined and soon dominated the Committee of Public Safety, the body that effectively directed the revolutionary government during the Reign of Terror. Under his influence, the government authorized mass executions of those labeled “enemies of the Revolution,” leading to tens of thousands of deaths and cementing his reputation as both principled and ruthless.
Beliefs and nickname
Robespierre advocated a “Republic of Virtue,” linking political freedom to moral purity and civic duty, and earned the nickname “the Incorruptible” for his austere lifestyle and uncompromising principles. He supported measures such as the abolition of slavery and broader civil rights, while simultaneously justifying terror as a necessary means to defend the Revolution.
Fall and legacy
On 27–28 July 1794 (9 Thermidor in the revolutionary calendar), opponents within the National Convention arrested Robespierre, and he was executed by guillotine without a formal trial. His legacy remains deeply controversial: some view him as a sincere champion of equality and democracy, while others see him as an architect of political violence and authoritarianism.
