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==Coup of 9 Thermidor==

==Coup of 9 Thermidor==

[[Image:Robespierre.jpg|thumb|Maximilien de Robespierre]]

[[Image:Robespierre.jpg|thumb|Maximilien de Robespierre]]

The coup that brought down Robespierre and his allies unfolded between 8-10 Thermidor (July 26-28), though the most critical events happened over the course of 9 Thermidor (July 27). It is also often referred to as "The Thermidor Coup," or simply "Thermidor."

The coup that brought down Robespierre and his allies unfolded between 8-10 Thermidor (July 26–28), though the most critical events happened over the course of 9 Thermidor (July 27). It is also often referred to as "The Thermidor Coup," or simply "Thermidor."

'''Prelude'''

'''Prelude'''

'''Arrest'''

'''Arrest'''

When the Convention met around 11:00 a.m. on the 27th, Saint-Just proceeded to deliver his speech. At a prearranged moment, however, he was interrupted by one of the opposition members, Jean-Lambert Tallien, who charged that he and Robespierre were speaking for themselves, not on behalf of the Committee, while Billaud-Varenne added that Robespierre's claims the previous day had been a threat against the Convention itself. Saint-Just, usually known for his eloquence and quick wit, seems to have shut down in the face of this unexpected counterattack, while Robespierre's attempts to regain control of the debate were shouted down. After cries of "Down with the tyrant! Arrest him!" and "The blood of Danton chokes him!" the Convention voted to arrest Robespierre, along with Saint-Just and three other Convention deputies--Georges Auguste Couthon, also on the Committee; Augustin Robespierre, Maximilien's younger brother; and Philippe-François-Joseph Le Bas--and François Hanriot, commandant of the National Guard and known to be loyal to Robespierre.

When the Convention met around 11:00 a.m. on the 27th, Saint-Just proceeded to deliver his speech. At a prearranged moment, however, he was interrupted by one of the opposition members, Jean-Lambert Tallien, who charged that he and Robespierre were speaking for themselves, not on behalf of the Committee, while Billaud-Varenne added that Robespierre's claims the previous day had been a threat against the Convention itself. Saint-Just, usually known for his eloquence and quick wit, seems to have shut down in the face of this unexpected counterattack, while Robespierre's attempts to regain control of the debate were shouted down. After cries of "Down with the tyrant! Arrest him!" and "The blood of Danton chokes him!" the Convention voted to arrest Robespierre, along with Saint-Just and three other Convention deputies—Georges Auguste Couthon, also on the Committee; Augustin Robespierre, Maximilien's younger brother; and Philippe-François-Joseph Le Bas—and François Hanriot, commandant of the National Guard and known to be loyal to Robespierre.

The arrested deputies were taken to the Committee of General Security and interrogated, then escorted to separate prisons. Word of the Convention's actions had spread through the city by now, however, and the Paris Commune, still led by extremist Jacobins, sent instructions to the prison officials not to accept them upon arrival. After this, at some point in the early evening, the deputies were freed and took refuge in the Hôtel de Ville, while the various urban ''sections'' were mobilized to provide a small army that would march on and suppress the Convention.

The arrested deputies were taken to the Committee of General Security and interrogated, then escorted to separate prisons. Word of the Convention's actions had spread through the city by now, however, and the Paris Commune, still led by extremist Jacobins, sent instructions to the prison officials not to accept them upon arrival. After this, at some point in the early evening, the deputies were freed and took refuge in the Hôtel de Ville, while the various urban ''sections'' were mobilized to provide a small army that would march on and suppress the Convention.

By nightfall, the Commune troops, led by Hanriot, had surrounded the Convention. However, the Commune's ability to mobilize the Parisian population on Robespierre's behalf had itself been weakened by the mass killings of the Terror, and many ''sections'' from the western half of the city were in fact sending troops to protect the Convention. Inside, the deputies declared Robespierre and the other arrested men outlaws, meaning they could be executed on mere verification of identity. Realizing he lacked the force to take the Convention, Hanriot and his army fell back to the Hôtel de Ville, but his troops were already becoming demoralized and deserting in the darkness, and by about 2:00 a.m. there was no longer anyone left to defend the building. The Convention forces, led by Paul Barras, broke into the Hôtel and arrested those inside.

By nightfall, the Commune troops, led by Hanriot, had surrounded the Convention. However, the Commune's ability to mobilize the Parisian population on Robespierre's behalf had itself been weakened by the mass killings of the Terror, and many ''sections'' from the western half of the city were in fact sending troops to protect the Convention. Inside, the deputies declared Robespierre and the other arrested men outlaws, meaning they could be executed on mere verification of identity. Realizing he lacked the force to take the Convention, Hanriot and his army fell back to the Hôtel de Ville, but his troops were already becoming demoralized and deserting in the darkness, and by about 2:00 a.m. there was no longer anyone left to defend the building. The Convention forces, led by Paul Barras, broke into the Hôtel and arrested those inside.

'''Execution'''   

'''Execution'''   

'''Aftermath'''

'''Aftermath'''

On July 29 and 30 (11 and 12 Thermidor), another eighty-three Jacobins, mostly members of the Paris Commune, who were associated with Robespierre were executed. Others were imprisoned, including [[Jacques-Louis David]], the famed revolutionary painter, while many who were already in prison on charges associated with the Terror were released. In the midst of the coup, the Convention had ordered a halt to the executions (apart from its own purge of the Robespierre faction), with the final victims of the Terror being guillotined during the night of July 27-28.  

On July 29 and 30 (11 and 12 Thermidor), another eighty-three Jacobins, mostly members of the Paris Commune, who were associated with Robespierre were executed. Others were imprisoned, including [[Jacques-Louis David]], the famed revolutionary painter, while many who were already in prison on charges associated with the Terror were released. In the midst of the coup, the Convention had ordered a halt to the executions (apart from its own purge of the Robespierre faction), with the final victims of the Terror being guillotined during the night of July 27–28.  

As the Terror was brought to an end, the new leadership within the Convention sought to pin responsibility for it on a few individuals, Robespierre in particular but also those who had directly aided in its operations. The prosecutor for the Revolutionary Tribunal, Antoine Quentin Fouquier-Tinville, who had zealously orchestrated the execution of entire families during the Terror, was especially singled out; he was arrested in August 1794 and, despite defending himself as a loyal public servant who had merely obeyed his orders (a forerunner of the defense many [[Nazi]] members would use at the [[Nuremberg Trials]]), was condemned and guillotined in May 1795.

As the Terror was brought to an end, the new leadership within the Convention sought to pin responsibility for it on a few individuals, Robespierre in particular but also those who had directly aided in its operations. The prosecutor for the Revolutionary Tribunal, Antoine Quentin Fouquier-Tinville, who had zealously orchestrated the execution of entire families during the Terror, was especially singled out; he was arrested in August 1794 and, despite defending himself as a loyal public servant who had merely obeyed his orders (a forerunner of the defense many [[Nazi]] members would use at the [[Nuremberg Trials]]), was condemned and guillotined in May 1795.