Reign Of Terror And Robespierre

739 Words2 Pages

The French Revolution, known for the political intrigue present during its course, specifically contained the highest quantity and quality of political intrigue within the Reign of Terror. This aptly named “Reign of Terror” lasted for around eleven months from September 1793 to July 1794, during which a handful a men belonging to a Committee of Public Safety, hereinafter referred to as the “CPS”, ruled as the executive branch of French Government, supplemented by a larger National Convention. Elected to serve by their peers in the National Convention, nine men were selected to lead the French Government, one of them being Georges Danton. Soon after, however, more radical individuals replaced the moderates led by Georges Danton in the CPS. One …show more content…

At the beginning of the film, while Danton exits his carriage and greets those who believe in him, Robespierre looks on at the commotion, sweating profusely, revealing his sickly nature. Immediately after this scene, Robespierre’s men are shown ransacking a Dantonist print shop, meaning to curtail Daltonist sympathies among the disenfranchised of Paris. In light of the possibility of a Dantonist coup, Robespierre’s CPS urges him to have Danton executed. Robespierre refuses this idea due to Danton’s prestige among the Convention, and in fear of a reaction by Dantonists. This reveals how the film means to portray Robespierre’s political awareness. Robespierre’s interaction with Danton at the dinner builds upon this argument. Robespierre invites Danton to cease his criticism of the actions taken by the CPS; Robespierre does not want his hand forced in executing Danton. Even though Robespierre uses his skills at intrigue in an attempt to persuade Danton, Danton still refuses to cease his counter-CPS activities. Thus, caught between the necessity to keep the CPS in power, and the possible coup that could go hand in hand with the execution of Danton, Robespierre orders Danton, his followers Lacroix, Desmoulins, Westermann, and Philippeaux to be tried unfairly, leading to their executions, wagering against the possibility of an uprising of the common people against the CPS. This bet, of course, was a loss for Robespierre who died several months later as a result of coalition opposing the tyranny of the CPS. Maximilien Robespierre, shown as a master of political intrigue in Danton, eventually becomes desperate and outwitted by the likes of Danton and his followers, resulting in both of their

Open Document