Photo: Unidentified painter · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
Born in France · Nationality French — French Revolution / power / Terror / civic religion
Documented profile covering 12 controversies, including “1793–1794: Association with the Terror despite shared and historically disputed responsibility” and “Late 1793–March 1794: Campaign against radical dechristianisation and Hébertists”.
Profile No. 2149 · Updated on 12 October 2026
§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology
1793–1794
Robespierre became the symbol of the Reign of Terror, a period of exceptional tribunals, political repression and thousands of executions.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1793–1794
Robespierre denounced militant atheism and campaigns to close churches, believing that they alienated the population and served the counter-revolution. This conflict merged with the campaign against the Hébertists.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1794-03
Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.
Hébert, Ronsin, Momoro and other radicals were arrested, tried and executed. Robespierre politically supported their downfall in the name of combating the "ultra-revolutionaries".
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1794-03–1794-04
Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.
Robespierre abandoned his former allies Danton and Desmoulins, endorsed Saint-Just's attacks and contributed to the political climate that enabled their arrest and conviction.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1794-05–1794-06
Robespierre secured adoption of the recognition of the Supreme Being and immortality of the soul and played a central role in the national festival on 8 June, prompting ridicule and accusations that he sought to make himself a high priest or moral dictator.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1794-05-26
Following assassination attempts in Paris and amid anti-British propaganda, Robespierre supported the policy leading to the decree denying quarter to British and Hanoverian soldiers.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1794-06-10
The law curtailed defence rights, restricted witnesses, broadened the categories of "enemies of the people" and essentially left only acquittal or death as possible outcomes.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1794-06–1794-07
Following 22 Prairial, the pace of death sentences handed down by the Revolutionary Tribunal increased dramatically, making this its bloodiest period in Paris.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1794-07-26–1794-07-27
Robespierre denounced plots and traitors before the Convention without clearly naming all his targets. Several deputies feared they would be accused next and united the following day to overthrow him.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1791–1793
Robespierre had advocated abolishing the death penalty in 1791. During Louis XVI's trial, however, he argued that the King had to die to save the Republic.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
1792–1793
Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.
Robespierre argued that Louis should not be tried as an ordinary citizen and opposed an appeal to the people, contributing to the political momentum leading to the King's execution.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
May–June 1793
Robespierre participated in the political campaign against the Girondins, accused of federalism and treason, culminating in the events that forced the Convention to place deputies under arrest.
Last verified: 14 September 2026
Documented biographical or institutional milestones (elections, appointments, foundings, acquisitions…). These are not controversies and are not counted as such.
Robespierre joined the Committee of Public Safety and became its principal public speaker, justifying an exceptional government based on virtue and terror until the Republic achieved victory.
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