31 Maximilien Robespierre Facts For Kids To Know About The Frenchman

Maximilien Robespierre is a well-known figure in the French Revolution, which was prominent in 1789.

Robespierre presided over the National Convention and was a member of the Committee on Public Safety. For a short time, Robespierre ruled the powerful Jacobin Organization, a revolutionary organization or political club centered in Paris, for a short time.

Maximilien Robespierre was elected as the deputy of the Third Estate of Artois in the pre-revolutionary estates-general in 1789. This was the initiation of his political career.

Robespierre began to show his keen interest in the lower and middle strata of society. Robespierre joined the National Assembly with the help of other appointed heads of the Third Estate. The National Assembly did not last long and was replaced by the Legislative Assembly, followed later by the National Convention.

Robespierre became more popular with the formation of the National Convention for the safety of people. He was also elected president of the National Convention.

When he rose to power in the French legislature, he also took control of the Committee of Public Safety when the Reign of Terror happened from September 5, 1793-July 27, 1794.

In the course of the Reign of Terror, the advisory board wielded near-dictatorial power over the government of France.

Robespierre seized control of many in order to lead a revolt against democratic reforms, the French monarchy, the death penalty, the French government, and other issues. Robespierre, along with other followers, was arrested on July 27, 1794, near the Hotel de Ville in Paris.

Robespierre and his other 21 followers were accused and condemned to death in Place de la Revolution, now known as Place de la Concorde, by Revolutionary Tribunal.

Facts About Robespierre

The full name of Maximilien de Robespierre is Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre. He was born in 1758 and died at a young age in 1794, as he had many political opponents.

Maximilien Robespierre is a well-known rebel in French history. When France was in crisis as a result of foreign and civil wars, he was the spokesperson for most of the dictatorial powers' policies.

Maximilien de Robespierre was known as a supporter of political democracy. Therefore, he also advocated many revolutionary tribunals along with applications to win equality for working and lower-middle-class families in the French constitution.

He was a firm and ardent supporter of public safety. These ideas and notions gave origin to the Reign of Terror. He was declared the spokesperson as he was with the Jacobins. Robespierre died in 1794 after his arrest, along with 21 other followers.

He was arrested at a hotel in Paris. Robespierre established a new religion known as the 'Cult of the Supreme Being' and made it the official religion of France.

He was not at all in favor of the Catholic Church. He was a revolutionist who thought about the welfare of the common people and the lower-class people who suffered. He was also against slavery.

In 1794, he tried his level best to eradicate slavery from France, but later in 1802, it was re-established by Napoleon. During the Reign of Terror, many of the political opponents were put to death with the help of Robespierre.

There was even a time when anyone found suspicious of any anti-revolutionary act was hanged by the government. Robespierre tried his level best to establish an egalitarian French society.

Initially, he began with the intention of uplifting lower-class people, but with the passage of time and the advent of the Reign of Terror, it turned out to be a nightmare, with thousands of people dying on the basis of suspicion. As a result, determining whether he was a good leader or not would be difficult.

Certain laws were enacted that set a certain price and wage cap in France. The government set down a fixed price for the peasants to sell their grain.

From the French colonies, slavery was annihilated, more freedom was given in the form of speech, all the citizens of France were able to feed themselves with wheat bread, and all the churches were replaced by offices and barracks.

Robespierre's Education

Robespierre was taken care of by his maternal grandparents and was the lawyer's son. He studied at various institutions before becoming a prominent member of the judiciary and after achieving a law degree.

Robespierre's father in Arras was in the position of a lawyer but was abandoned after the death of his mother. His father had abandoned the house leaving behind his younger siblings, along with Robespierre, who were all taken care of by the parents of his mother.

In 1765, he studied at the Oratorians' college in Arras. Later, he was given the scholarship of Louis-le-Grand of Paris in 1769.

He studied law and philosophy, and consequently, in 1781, achieved a degree in law. He was a lawyer in Arras and settled down with Charlotte, his younger sister.

He rose to power and become a member of the Salle Épiscopale's judging panel, a court that oversees the diocese's provostship. He was making a good living with all of his private practices at the time. In 1783, he got accepted into the Academy of Arras and gained the position of chancellor along with the presidency.

Although he was so successful in his career, he always wanted to do something for the welfare of ordinary people. He won many competitions at Metz Academy and even secured first place in the Mémoire sur les peines infamantes.

He was no doubt an altruistic person and was recognized for the same in 1788. He fought for the rights of poor people and also fought many cases as a lawyer for them.

Robespierre As A Soldier

Robespierre was a soldier from the very beginning of his studies, as he was abandoned by his father and was taken care of by his maternal grandparents. From his short lifespan of being a lawyer to his death, he fought as a military coup in the civil war for the lower classes of people.

He started studying in Arras, ,France, and became a law student. He won many competitions and became a judge. He was a revolutionist who fought for the rights of poor people and wanted to create an egalitarian society. The revolution started when he was elected a member of the Third Estate, which was later named the National Assembly.

Robespierre was a very outspoken member of the assembly and wanted equal rights for the citizens of France. From here, the French Revolution started. Later, Robespierre joined the club of Jacobins and was against the French monarchy. He wanted the democratic form of the constituent assembly but, for many reasons, had to face military failure.

He rose to power and was the president of the Jacobins. The Committee of Public Safety was created in 1793 and the government of France was greatly ruled by them.

According to one of the revolutionary tribunals, Robespierre was the leader of this group and also the most powerful person in France. His government was more of a revolutionary government.

Then began the Reign of Terror, which led to more deaths if someone was suspected of being against the revolutionary government. He passed certain laws and declared the rule of terror. The French Revolution took many lives. Robespierre's last words were 'Merci, Monsier'.

Characteristics Of Robespierre

The ultimate goal and belief of Robespierre were to bring equality to different strata of people and establish an egalitarian society.

In Versailles and afterward in Paris, Robespierre maintained his economic style of living, meticulous maintenance, and modest demeanor. In a crowd with several well-known personalities, he drew considerable interest swiftly. Amidst the feeble conveying ability of their speech and the hostility he sparked, he was able to get his message out, and his movements were generally appreciated.

Later, the French Revolution deaths laid down his main and ultimate goal. Despite his professional achievements, he was always eager to contribute to the well-being of ordinary people. He was undeniably philanthropic, as evidenced by the fact that he was honored for it.

He campaigned for the rights of the disadvantaged and represented them in several disputes as a lawyer. From his brief career as a lawyer until his demise in Paris, he campaigned as a military coup in the civil war for the lower and middle classes of humanity.