Maximilien Robespierre was born in Arras in north-east France on the 6th May 1758. He was executed by the guillotine, according to legend the only man to be guillotined face-up, on the 28th July 1794. Maximilien had a difficult childood. His mother died when he was relatively young and his father, a lawyer, left his   family to travel around Europe.

Maximilien was educated in Paris and trained as   a lawyer. Whilst at college Robespierre became very interested in   views which were becoming popular because of the Enlightenment. He read books by famous thinkers from the past and present, including Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Rousseau had written lots of books which   helped influence the revolutionaries during the French Revolution.    

In 1789 Robespierre, who was full of ideas about how France should change, was elected to as a deputy of the Estates-General (a form of parliament, but without real power) that met in May 1789 to try and sort out France's problems.

Later, Robespierre became a member of the National Assembly, which was formed from the meeting in the Tennis Court on the 20th June 1789. Robespierre became increasingly popular with other revolutionaries for his attacks on the monarchy and his support for   democratic reforms.

Robespierre became incredibly popular in Paris. He built up his political power-base as a successful speaker at the Parisian revolutionary 'club' known as the Jacobin Club. In 1792 he was elected   first deputy for Paris to the National Convention, the group which had replaced the National Assembly in running France after the arrest of the king from the Tuileries Palace that summer.

The convention abolished the monarchy, declared France a republic and put the king on trial for treason.   Robespierre strongly   supported these measures. The king was executed in January 1793.

During this time there was a power struggle between the Jacobins and the more moderate Girondins. Control of running the country passed into the hands of the Committee for Public Safety. Robespierre was a member and he quickly became one of the most important. The committee had been set up to protect the revolution from   'anti-revolutionary forces' both   inside and from outside France. The committee, and Robespierre, believed the only way to protect France and the   revolution was to begin a 'regime of terror' againsts its enemies. His   colleagues respected his integrity and austere lifestyle. He was nick-named 'The Incorruptible' for his lack of interest in money.

During the 'Reign of Terror' Robespierre and the committee   ruthlessly eliminated anybody they considered to be enemies of the revolution. At the suggestion of the committee, the Law of 22 Pairial was introduced and passed by the Convention. Under this law people could be condemmed to death without evidence or witnesses. Some sources suggest that over 1,200 people were guillotined in Paris as a result   in just two months!

As the 'Terror' spiralled out of control, one politician described heads 'falling like roof-slates', many members of the National Convention began to feel uneasy at how much power Robespierre and his friends in the committee had.. In July 1794 they decided to act and   on the 27th July   some deputies (members of the   convention) shouted down   Robespierre's supporter Louis de Saint-Just, who was speaking on his behalf, with cries of 'Down with the tryrant!'

Later that day, Robespierre and four of his strongest supporters were arrested, although   they were later freed by guards of the Paris Municipal (city)   Council. The Convention ordered their   rearrest and declared them outlaws.  

Robespierre and the others realised there was no hope.   One, Georges Couthon,   tried to commit suicide to avoid capture by jumping from a balcony. He was found with four shattered limbs at the bottom of the stairs. Robespierre tried to commit suicide by shooting himself with a pistol. However, it went badly wrong and instead he only blew off part of his jaw.

The next evening, the 28th July 1794, Robespierre, badly wounded, was taken from the Tuileries Palace to the site of the guillotine on the Place de la Révolution. Here, on the spot where Louis XVI had been killed, Robespierre and 21 of his colleagues were guillotined 'to the delighted cheers of the usual crowd of onlookers. The Incorruptible had fallen and at last the end of the Terror was in sight'.        

Historians' views of Robespierre

"Anarchy within, invasion from without. A country cracking from outside pressure, disintegrating from internal strain. Revolution is at its height. War. Inflation. Hunger. Fear. Hate. Sabotage. Fanaticism. Hopes. Boundless idealism . . . and the dread that all the gains of the Revolution would be lost. And the faith that if they won, they would bring Liberty, Equality, Fraternity to the world".

R. R. Palmer, Twelve Who Ruled

To judge Robespierre by modern standards is wrong. To modern eyes Robespierre can perhaps be viewed as a tyrant   or mass murderer who unfairly allowed hundreds   or even thousands of innocent people to die. The Terror   claimed many victims. The Heinemann History Scheme textbook (Book 2 The Early Modern World) includes a source which describes how "François Betrand...   [was] convicted of having provided the defenders of the country with sour wine, [and] condemmed to death the same day".

Certainly the   violence and unfairness of the 'Reign of Terror' seems excessive. During Robespierre's time in power it has been suggested that over 14,000   opponents of the revolution met their death. However, can we judge Robespierre by the standards of out own time?

Many contemporaries (people who lived at the same time as Robespierre) were impressed by his manner and gave him is nickname - 'the incorruptible'. After his death, Robespierre   perhaps became a good 'scapegoat' for what had happened. That means that it was easy to blame him for what had happened, especially as he was dead!

A modern history textbook (Heinemann) states that Robespierre was actually only personally responsible for around seventy-two   ot of the many thousands of deaths. Many more were ordered by the Committee for Public Safety. Although   Robespierre and his close friends were powerful members, it is important to realise that there were around   a hundred   other members of the committee!

Others have looked to explain Robespierre's behaviour. One historian, Albert Sobul, explained that most of the measures of the Committee for Public Safety were necessary for the defense of the Revolution. That is to say that Robespierre and others acted because they felt it was the best way to defend their vision for France.

It is important to look at his actions in the context of the time. France and the changes which had taken place   were under threat from both inside and outside France. France was at war with foreign countries, including   Austria and Prussia during this period and there had been uprisings in France against the revolution. The most serious had been in the Vendée between 1793-1796.

The 1911   edition of the Encylopedia Britannica   explained Robespierre's behaviour on the fact that he lots of ideas but very little experience of how they would work in reality.   "Robespierre intensified... [the Terror]   in order to carry out his own ideas and theories" it describes. Basically Robespierre did what he believed was right for France and the French people, regardless of how this was   achieved.

The unfortunate consequence, for some, was death.

For futher information and detail   try www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A689547   or en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robespierre.  

Another good site, Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: Exploring the French   Revolution,   can be found   on the web links page.