Historian Melvyn Bragg and guests delve into the French Revolution's reign of terror, discussing the September massacres, motivations of key figures, Louis XVI's fate, internal conflicts among Republicans, Robespierre's ambiguous conduct, and the lasting impact on revolutionary movements worldwide.
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Quick takeaways
The French Revolution's Reign of Terror was fueled by military setbacks, intensifying conflict and leading to extreme violence.
The Terror established a system of state violence to maintain control, intertwining virtue and bloodshed for revolutionary goals.
Deep dives
The French Revolution and the Reign of Terror
The French Revolution, starting in 1789, initiated a period of extreme violence known as the Reign of Terror from 1792 to 1794. The revolution began with Louis XVI's call for the Estates-General, leading to tensions between the monarchy and the Third Estate. The revolutionaries aimed for a constitution based on property qualifications, dividing citizens into active and passive categories. Disagreements within the National Assembly escalated, leading to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of the National Convention.
Influence of the War
The French Revolutionary War played a pivotal role in intensifying the conflict within France. Delays and defeats in the war effort created a sense of urgency and insecurity, fueling radical measures and purges. The drive for war, fueled by key figures like Bressot, aimed to expose the king as a traitor and establish a republic. Military setbacks further heightened tensions and contributed to the September massacres in 1792.
The Dynamics of the Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror introduced a systematic use of violence to maintain control, with the government monopolizing the use of force. Sections in Paris pushed for stringent measures to identify and eliminate suspected enemies, expanding to air trials and arbitrary executions. Robespierre's ideal of virtue intertwined with terror as a means to achieve revolutionary goals.
Impact and Legacy of the Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror left a lasting impact on the perception of revolution and violence across Europe. The excessive use of violence during the Terror complicated the relationship between radical change and bloodshed for generations to come. Subsequent revolutions were characterized by a cautious approach to violence and a desire to avoid the extreme measures witnessed during the French Revolution.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the reign of terror during the French Revolution. On Monday September 10th 1792 The Times of London carried a story covering events in revolutionary France: "The streets of Paris, strewed with the carcases of the mangled victims, are become so familiar to the sight, that they are passed by and trod on without any particular notice. The mob think no more of killing a fellow-creature, who is not even an object of suspicion, than wanton boys would of killing a cat or a dog". These were the infamous September Massacres when Parisian mobs killed thousands of suspected royalists and set the scene for the events to come, when Madame La Guillotine took centre stage and The Terror ruled in France. But how did the French Revolution descend into such extremes of violence? Who or what drove The Terror? And was it really an aberration of the revolutionary cause or the moment when it truly expressed itself? With Mike Broers, Lecturer in Modern History at the University of Oxford and Fellow of Lady Margaret Hall; Rebecca Spang, Lecturer in Modern History at University College London; Tim Blanning, Professor of Modern European History at the University of Cambridge.
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