M. de Robespierre

Just like every high school student, I learned that Robespierre was a vilain. A murderer. A monster. That's the "black legend" of Robespierre.

Only decades later did I realize that, while his personality and his role in the events following the French Revolution were certainly not blameless, he was a true hero who gave his life for his country.

This is still subject to debate in France. Basically, left-wing voters like him and, of course, right-wing voters despise him. The truth may be in the middle. Sure, he contributed to the horror of the "Terror" during which thousands of people were executed. But "main stream" historians pinned faults on him that he hadn’t committed. On the contrary, those same historians do not emphasize his contributions, starting with the French motto "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité" that Robespierre played a key role in creating.

And the context. As I learned to say, context is so important to any story, small or big. This is no exception. Robespierre wanted to save the Revolution. France was surrounded by enemies - not to mention the enemy within, the King. It was as chaotic and violent a time as any. But Robespierre was no monster. He loved his country more than his own life.

The rise to power is interesting as well. While he did not come from a poor family, he did not come from aristocracy either. He came from "Province" (i.e. outside of Paris, Versailles). His mother died when he was still a child and his father abandoned him and his siblings shortly after. Though he benefited from a scholarship, he was really a self-made man and became a lawyer, then a law-maker and finally the statesman known by all. The Incorruptible. Faithful to what he deemed his mission. He never flinched and he did for it.

This is also why I got to like Robespierre : his reputation has been tainted and even destroyed by malevolent historians and politicians who cherry picked the bad and made it worse (Robespierre is accused of acts he did not commit) while ignoring his contributions to France. In the meantime, true vilains' legends were restored, such a Danton's. Or Mirabeau's and Lafayette's. And it was not emphasized enough how terrible Fouché and Talleyrand were. How unfair ...

In reality, Robespierre was one of the earliest and most consistent defenders of principles that are now at the heart of the French Republic: popular sovereignty, political equality, rejection of privileges based on birth or wealth, and, notably, the motto “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.” Among his contributions :

• Universal male (alas not female yet) suffrage and political equality : he opposed voting rights being restricted by wealth and argued that citizenship should not depend on property

• Popular sovereignty : political power, in his view, belonged to the people rather than the king or a wealthy elite

• Equality beyond birth : he opposed replacing aristocratic privilege with privilege based on money

• A more social Republic / Protection of the poor and working classes : he defended measures such as price controls, aid to the poor and progressive taxation. He argued that laws should especially protect those with the least power and wealth, rather than privilege property owners. No wonder leftists like him and rightists dislike him !

• Opposition to property-based political privilege : he argued repeatedly that wealth should not determine who could vote, hold office or influence the law

• Opposition to slavery and racial discrimination : he defended the rights of free people of color and became an important early voice against slavery

• Defense of Jewish emancipation : Robespierre supported equal civil and political rights for Jews and opposed excluding them from citizenship because of their religion. He contributed to the movement that led France, in 1791, to become one of the first European countries to grant Jews full citizenship

• Religious tolerance, within limits : he opposed radical dechristianization and attacks on ordinary religious believers

• Opposition to the death penalty : in 1791, he publicly argued for its abolition, despite his later role during the Revolution (it would be abolished in 1981 in France)

• Public education / Free and compulsory primary education : he supported ambitious plans for free, state-organized education for children - that was also a very modern view

• Resistance to aggressive war : before France declared war in 1792, Robespierre was one of the strongest voices warning that revolutionary war abroad could strengthen generals, endanger liberty, and fail to spread freedom as easily as its advocates claimed ... Pacifist

• Government accountability and fear of concentrated power : even during the revolutionary government, he repeatedly framed political legitimacy around the Convention and popular sovereignty rather than hereditary or personal rule ... Democrat

Alors, Robespierre, really a monster ?

More than history, this is a lesson for all : do not believe everything you hear or read. Especially not the doxa. Surely not that of the French national education. Some say : "history is written by the victors". History is written by the system, by those in power. To their advantage. Therefore, remain skeptical. Do you own research, cross-check sources and draw your own conclusions. If you do that, you will realize that Robespierre was a much better person than most say.

For a neutral narrative : click here

For what I consider as a fairer, creative and thus outstanding and smarter narrative : click here

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