La Victoire ou la mort The levée en masse organised by Lazare Carnot has brought more than three quarters of a million men under arms, and with the enemies of France in retreat on all fronts following the victory at Fleurus, General Pichegru is able to report from Brussels that the threat to the Republic is receding and that the way to Holland seems open. Le tournant du 9 Thermidor Given the improved situation members of the Convention did not support Robespierre when he called for an intensification of the great terror, nor when he warned of further conspiracies that threatened the Republic. Pressed to name those he accused he declined which led to the session of the Convention disintegrating into recrimination. Robespierre received a great ovation renewing his attack before his Jacobin supporters, and leaders of the Convention Collot d'Herbois, and Billaud Varennes were kicked out of the Jacobins Club when they tried to defend their actions. The next morning Saint-Juste addressed the Convention, but with everyone expecting further denunciations, he was interrupted by Tallien further condemning Robespierre. For once Saint Juste was speechless, and when Robespierre tried to defend himself he was shouted down - "Danton's blood is choking you", "Down with the tyrant". The arrest of Robespierre was called for along with Couthon, Saint Juste, Le Bas, Dumas and Hanriot. Taken to the Luxembourg prison the detainees were free again by that evening. The turnkey refused to lock them up and high drama ensued when the Paris Commune sounded the Tocsin. La chute de Robespierre With the Commune calling out the Paris sections things did not look good for the deputies to the Convention, but this time their nerve held and they appointed Barras to the head of the National Guard. He prepared troops to march on the Commune, and Robespierre and his associates were declared "hors la loi" (outlaw). Civil war was feared but the response to the tocsin was lukewarm and by midnight many who had responded to the call had started to go home. At one in the morning, 10 Thermidor, Barras advanced on the Hotel de Ville where Robespierre and his supporters had taken shelter. As they approached Augustin Robespierre threw himself from a window and shots were heard. Inside Robespierre was found with his jaw shattered, it seems he had tried to commit suicide. Executes sans jugement Robespierre was carried to the Committee of Public Safety without treatment. By the afternoon he had been sentenced without a trial and at 6pm a tumbrel came to take him to the Guillotine, with 21 of his companions. Over the next few days 96 of his followers would endure the same fate. Des Victimes de la Tyrannie The great terror is over. The first result of the fall of Ro-bespierre was the revoking of the law of Prairal 22, the prison gates have opened and political detainees are being released. Le Chant du Depart It is 5 years from the fall of the Bastille, and a song has been written for the Convention by Marie-Joseph Chenier to commemorate the event. La victoire, en chantant, nous ouvre la barriere, La Liberte guide nos pas; Et du Nord au Midi la trompette guerriere a sonne l'heure des combats. Tremblez, ennemis de la France, rois ivres de sang et d'orgueil ! Le peuple souverain s'avance, tyrans, descendez au cercueil; La republique nous appelle, sachons vaincre ou sachons perir: Un Francais doit vivre pour elle, Pour elle un Francais doit mourir .... &c Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #19 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1994 by First Empire. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com