Register of the decisions of the Committee of Public Safety, 22 October 1793, signed by Robespierre
© Photo12.com The royal family's attempt to escape from Paris in June 1791 hardened popular opinion against them and converted even moderate politicians to the Republican cause. The Prussians, sensing weakness, threatened to invade France and the Duke of Brunswick warned that he would destroy Paris if the King were harmed. Louis XVI's position became increasingly diffcult. The monarchy was overthrown and a Republic declared on 22 September 1792. On 21 January 1793, the King was tried and executed as a traitor.

The crisis continued and counter-revolution broke out. The moderate Girondins failed to secure order and were ousted from the ruling National Convention by the more radical Montagnards in June 1793. As the situation deteriorated, the sansculottes – those from the lowest orders of society – called for the Convention to adopt more violent methods of central control.

The Committee of Public Safety unleashed the Terror against the Revolution's supposed enemies. Internal rebellion was crushed through widespread arrests and about 3000 executions. The Terror lasted until July 1794.

Britain and the Revolution >>