Georges Jacques Danton Biography and Timeline — Page 3

Declaration of War

The Convention declares war on England.

Role range: 1793-1799

Invasion of Belgium

France annexes the Belgian provinces

Role range: 1793-1799

Invasion of Belgium

France annexes the Belgian provinces.

Role range: 1793-1799

War and food shortages test Convention: Military emergency dominates debate

Danton pressed for vigorous defence as European enemies challenged the Republic. The widening conflict increased demands for exceptional executive coordination.

Role range: 1793-1799

Danton Demands Extraordinary Political Court

Danton urged the Convention to establish a special tribunal amid military crisis and fears of conspiracy. The court was intended to punish threats to the new Republic.

Role range: 1793-1799

Revolutionary Tribunal established: Extraordinary court urged

Danton supported creating a revolutionary tribunal to address suspected political conspiracies during the military emergency. The court later became a central institution of the Terror.

Role range: 1793-1799

Revolutionary Tribunal Established

Danton urges the Convention to create an extraordinary tribunal for political offenses as military and internal crises intensify.

Role range: 1789-1799

Declaration of War

The Convention declares war on Spain

Role range: 1793-1799

Declaration of War

The Convention declares war on Spain.

Role range: 1793-1799

Committee of Public Safety

Georges Jacques Danton helped form the committee of public safety which assumes dictatorial powers.

Role range: 1793-1799

Committee of Public Safety

Helps form the committee of public safety which assumes dictatorial powers

Role range: 1793-1799

Constitution of France

Helps form the committee of public safety which assumes dictatorial powers

Role range: 1793-1799

Committee of Public Safety Established

Danton becomes a leading member of the new Committee of Public Safety after the Convention creates an emergency executive body.

Role range: 1789-1799

Committee of Public Safety formed: First emergency leadership

Danton became an influential member of the Committee of Public Safety created to supervise the war and executive action. Its initial membership differed from the later Robespierrist leadership.

Role range: 1793-1799

Marat acquitted by Tribunal: Girondin and Mountain estrangement deepens

Danton witnessed the increasingly bitter use of judicial proceedings in parliamentary disputes. The confrontation suggested that normal legislative competition was becoming impossible.

Role range: 1793-1799

Revolutionary Tribunal

Forms the Revolutionary Tribunal & leads it until July

Role range: 1793-1799

Revolutionary Tribunal

Forms the Revolutionary Tribunal and leads it until July.

Role range: 1793-1799

Revolutionary Tribunal

Forms the Revolutionary Tribunal & leads it until July

Committee of Public Safety

Georges Jacques Danton left the Committee of Public Safety.

Role range: 1793-1799

Committee of Public Safety

Leaves the Committee of Public Safety

Role range: 1793-1799

Dismissal

Leaves the Committee of Public Safety

Role range: 1793-1799

President of National Convention

Danton was elected president of the National Convention during the struggle between revolutionary factions.

Role range: 1793-1799

Marat assassinated: Assassination sharpens emergency atmosphere

Danton's political circle confronted the consequences of Marat's murder during an already severe crisis. The event deepened the climate of suspicion surrounding perceived enemies of the Revolution.

Role range: 1793-1799

Support for Revolutionary Army

Danton supported stronger economic and military emergency measures, including a revolutionary army, during the Republic's crisis.

Role range: 1793-1799

Danton's moderation gains a public voice

Desmoulins's new paper gave prominence to demands associated with Danton's supporters for relief from political terror. The controversy surrounding desmoulins launches le vieux cordelier influenced the changing balance among revolutionary factions.

Role range: 1793-1799

Committee of Public Safety

Carried out by the French Committee of Public Safety

Role range: 1793-1799

Committee of Public Safety

Carried out by the French Committee of Public Safety.

Role range: 1793-1799

Creation of an Extraordinary Criminal Tribunal

Danton urged the Convention to establish a tribunal for political crimes as military defeats and fears of internal conspiracy threatened the Republic.

Role range: 1789-1799

Emergency Committee of Public Safety Established

Danton entered the new Committee of Public Safety, which the Convention created to coordinate executive action while retaining formal parliamentary oversight.

Role range: 1789-1799

Reform of Armed Forces

Raises the 1st ever compulsory national conscription. Carried out by the French Committee of Public Safety

Role range: 1793-1799

Reform of Armed Forces

Raises the 1st ever compulsory national conscription. Carried out by the French Committee of Public Safety.

Role range: 1793-1799

Danton faces pressure from club radicals

Danton's pragmatic faction increasingly clashed with uncompromising militants seeking stronger emergency policies. This aspect of cordeliers divide over pace of revolution illustrates how press campaigns, popular sections and government decisions became connected.

Role range: 1793-1799

Alliance with Camille Desmoulins

Danton's association with Camille Desmoulins helped connect his political position with journalistic arguments for clemency.

Role range: 1793-1799

Belgian mission and diplomacy

Danton traveled on missions connected with the French position in Belgium as the expanding war complicated revolutionary diplomacy.

Role range: 1793-1799

Calls for restraint

Danton increasingly urged moderation in the application of revolutionary coercion, setting him apart from supporters of a broader Terror.

Role range: 1793-1799

Committee of Public Safety membership

Danton joined the newly created Committee of Public Safety in April and took part in directing urgent executive business.

Role range: 1793-1799

Committee reorganization

Danton lost his place on the Committee of Public Safety in July, reducing his direct influence over wartime executive decisions.

Role range: 1793-1799

Convention presidency

Danton presided over the National Convention from late July into early August during a period of profound political instability.

Role range: 1793-1799

Death of his first wife

Antoinette-Gabrielle Danton died in February while Danton was away, deeply affecting his family during a period of public crisis.

Role range: 1793-1799

Economic emergency discussions

Danton backed emergency measures for public security while also confronting demands for tighter control of prices and supplies.

Role range: 1793-1799