Maximilien Francois Marie Robespierre Biography and Timeline

Birth of Maximilien Francois Marie Isidore Robespierre

Birth of Maximilien Francois Marie Isidore Robespierre

Election for Artois

Artois electors sent Robespierre to the Estates General as one of their Third Estate representatives.

Role range: 1789-1792

Robespierre becomes deputy from Artois

Robespierre's election enabled the Arras lawyer to argue for reform within a national legislature. The robespierre elected to estates general formed part of the transition from estate-based consultation toward claims of national sovereignty.

Role range: 1789-1792

Robespierre participates in founding constitutional pledge

Robespierre belonged to the deputies committing themselves to a permanent national assembly. The consequences of deputies swear tennis court oath helped redefine the place of the three orders in French public life.

Role range: 1789-1792

Religious Freedom Debate

Robespierre spoke during debates on rights and religious liberty as the Assembly shaped the Declaration of Rights.

Role range: 1789-1792

Robespierre Religious Liberty Debate during Declaration

Robespierre participates in debate over religious liberty as the Assembly shapes the final Declaration of Rights.

Role range: 1789-1792

Article 10 Freedom of Opinion and Religion

Article 10 protects opinions, including religious beliefs, provided their expression does not disturb public order established by law.

Role range: 1789-1792

Religious Liberty Qualified by Public Order

The final declaration protects religious opinions but makes their public exercise subject to legally defined public order.

Role range: 1789-1792

Jacobin Club

The name "Jacobins", given in France to the Dominicans (because their first house in Paris was in the Rue St Jacques), was first applied to the club in ridicule by its enemies. After the March on Versailles in October 1789, the club, still entirely composed of deputies, followed the National Constituent Assembly to Paris, where it rented the refectory of the monastery of the Jacobins in the Rue Saint-Honor‚

National Constituent Assembly

After the March on Versailles in October 1789, the club, still entirely composed of deputies, followed the National Constituent Assembly to Paris, where it rented the refectory of the monastery of the Jacobins in the Rue Saint-Honor‚

Friends of the Constitution

Robespierre becomes associated with the Society of the Friends of the Constitution as radical political debate grows in Paris

Role range: 1789-1795

Friends of the Constitution

Robespierre becomes associated with the Society of the Friends of the Constitution as radical political debate grows in Paris.

Role range: 1789-1795

Rights Language Does Not Produce Universal Suffrage

Despite the declaration's equality language, subsequent electoral rules distinguish active from passive citizens and restrict political participation.

Role range: 1789-1792

Constituent Assembly

Appointed Member of Constituent Assembly

Role range: 1789-1791

Robespierre Develops Jacobin Public Profile

Robespierre became increasingly active in the Society of the Friends of the Constitution. His speeches linked constitutional reform to a defense of political equality.

Role range: 1789-1792

Constituent Assembly

Appointed Member of Constituent Assembly

Role range: 1789-1792 – 1789-1791

Constituent Assembly

Maximilien Francois Marie Robespierre was appointed Member of Constituent Assembly.

Role range: 1789-1792 – 1789-1791

Estates General

Appointed Member of Estates General

Role range: 1789-1792

Estates General

Maximilien Francois Marie Robespierre was appointed Member of Estates General.

Role range: 1789-1792

Voting Rights

Robespierre argues against property qualifications and gains support among radical democrats in the club

Role range: 1789-1795

Voting Rights

Robespierre argues against property qualifications and gains support among radical democrats in the club.

Role range: 1789-1795

Property Based Voting Qualifications Challenged

Robespierre attacked distinctions between active and passive citizens that restricted political participation. His arguments attracted support from members who wanted a broader democratic franchise.

Role range: 1789-1792

Self-Denying Ordinance

Robespierre successfully argued that members of the Constituent Assembly should not sit in the next legislature.

Role range: 1789-1792

Royal Flight Intensifies Jacobin Distrust

The failed flight to Varennes led Jacobin members to reassess the king's reliability. Robespierre questioned whether constitutional monarchy could survive the breach of trust.

Role range: 1789-1792

Aftermath

Robespierre argues that the kings flight reveals a deep crisis of trust in the monarchy

Role range: 1789-1792

Aftermath

Robespierre argues that the kings flight reveals a deep crisis of trust in the monarchy.

Role range: 1789-1792

Flight to Varennes

After the kings flight to Varennes Robespierre and other Jacobins question the future of constitutional monarchy

Role range: 1789-1795

Flight to Varennes

After the kings flight to Varennes Robespierre and other Jacobins question the future of constitutional monarchy.

Role range: 1789-1795

Aftermath of Varennes

Argues that the king's flight exposes a grave crisis of trust in the monarchy

Role range: 1789-1792

Aftermath of Varennes

Argues that the king's flight exposes a grave crisis of trust in the monarchy.

Role range: 1789-1792

Champ de Mars

The Champ de Mars massacre deepens the division between moderate constitutionalists and more radical Jacobins

Role range: 1789-1795

Champ de Mars

The Champ de Mars massacre deepens the division between moderate constitutionalists and more radical Jacobins.

Role range: 1789-1795

Champ de Mars Massacre

The massacre deepens the split between radical Jacobins and moderate constitutionalists

Role range: 1789-1792

Champ de Mars Massacre

The massacre deepens the split between radical Jacobins and moderate constitutionalists.

Role range: 1789-1792

Constituent Assembly Ovation

Crowds acclaimed Robespierre at the close of the Constituent Assembly, reflecting his growing popular reputation.

Role range: 1789-1792

Jacobins Rename Society

The Jacobin Club adopts the name Society of the Friends of the Constitution sitting at the Jacobins in Paris

Role range: 1789-1792

War Debate

Maximilien Francois Marie Robespierre opposed Brissotin arguments for revolutionary war.

Role range: 1789-1792

War Debate

Opposes Brissotin arguments for revolutionary war

Role range: 1789-1792

Constitution of France

The title assumed by the club itself, after the promulgation of the constitution of 1791, was Soci‚t‚ des amis de la constitution s‚ants aux Jacobins … Paris

Jacobin Club

The title assumed by the club itself, after the promulgation of the constitution of 1791, was Soci‚t‚ des amis de la constitution s‚ants aux Jacobins … Paris. Appointed Member of Jacobin Club