The Reign of Terror
Global History 10 · The French Revolution

THE REIGN OF TERROR

Paris, 1793–1794
4:52 runtimeDeep British narratorBlack and white, only the red keptCaptions burned in

The question it ends on

Do the ends justify the means?

Robespierre's goal was to save a free and virtuous France from its enemies. He used Rousseau's idea that people can be “forced to be free” to justify the killing. His method was terror.

The list, in order

CONDAMNÉS À MORT
Paris, 1793–1794
Louis Capetthe former king21 January 1793
Marie Antoinettethe former queen16 October 1793
Brissot and twenty othersthe Girondins31 October 1793
Georges Dantona leader since 17895 April 1794
Camille DesmoulinsRobespierre’s school friend5 April 1794
Maximilien Robespierrethe list-maker28 July 1794

Pictures used

  1. Roll Call of the Last Victims of the TerrorCharles-Louis Müller, 1850. Wikimedia CommonsPublic domain
  2. Inside a Revolutionary Committee during the TerrorBerthault and Malapeau, after Fragonard, 1802. Wikimedia CommonsPublic domain
  3. Maximilien RobespierreUnknown painter, about 1790. Wikimedia CommonsCC0
  4. Massacre of the French King! View of La GuillotineAnonymous British print, 1793. Wikimedia CommonsPublic domain
  5. Joseph-Ignace GuillotinFrançois Voyez, about 1789. Wikimedia CommonsCC0
  6. The Battle of Valmy (1792)Horace Vernet, 1826. Wikimedia CommonsPublic domain
  7. Corridor of Saint-Lazare PrisonHubert Robert (a prisoner there), about 1794. Wikimedia CommonsCC0
  8. Marie Antoinette on the way to the guillotineCopy of Jacques-Louis David's sketch, 1793. Wikimedia CommonsPublic domain
  9. The Last Banquet of the GirondinsFélix Philippoteaux, about 1850. Wikimedia CommonsPublic domain
  10. The Drownings at NantesBerthault, after Duplessis-Bertaux, 1802. Wikimedia CommonsPublic domain
  11. Jean-Baptiste CarrierUnknown painter, 1790s. Wikimedia CommonsPublic domain
  12. Jean-Jacques RousseauMaurice Quentin de La Tour, 1753. Wikimedia CommonsPublic domain
  13. The King’s petition to the National AssemblyAnonymous engraver, 1790. Wikimedia CommonsCC0
  14. Georges DantonConstance-Marie Charpentier, about 1790. Wikimedia CommonsPublic domain
  15. Camille DesmoulinsUnknown painter, 1790. Wikimedia CommonsPublic domain
  16. Danton on his way to the guillotineAttributed to Pierre-Alexandre Wille, 5 April 1794. Wikimedia CommonsPublic domain
  17. Loizerolles dies in his son’s placeBerthault, after Duplessis-Bertaux, about 1802. Wikimedia CommonsPublic domain
  18. The Fall of Robespierre in the ConventionMax Adamo, 1870. Wikimedia CommonsPublic domain
  19. The night of 9 to 10 Thermidor at the Hôtel de VilleAfter Charles Monnet, 1790s. Wikimedia CommonsCC0
  20. The 10th of Thermidor (Robespierre wounded)After Lucien Mélingue, 1877. Wikimedia CommonsPublic domain
  21. An Execution in the Place de la RévolutionPierre-Antoine Demachy, 1793. Wikimedia CommonsPublic domain

Music and sound effects

  1. Beethoven, Coriolan OvertureUsed for: The title, and the Law of Suspects. Musopen recording, Internet ArchivePublic domain
  2. Schubert, Piano Sonata in A minor, D. 784Used for: The guillotine and the king. Musopen recording, Internet ArchivePublic domain
  3. Beethoven, Egmont OvertureUsed for: Marie Antoinette, Robespierre, the fall. Musopen recording, Internet ArchivePublic domain
  4. La Marseillaise, sung by Marcel JournetUsed for: The Girondins (Victor, 1910). Great 78 Project, Internet ArchivePublic domain
  5. Beethoven, String Quartet Op. 18 No. 6, “La Malinconia”Used for: Danton and Desmoulins, Loizerolles, the ending. Musopen recording, Internet ArchivePublic domain
  6. Mendelssohn, String Quartet No. 6, Op. 80Used for: The law of 22 Prairial. Musopen recording, Internet ArchivePublic domain
  7. Footsteps in the prison“Walking down the hallway.wav” by brainwaves8, FreesoundCC0
  8. Cell door“locking cell's door1 .wav” by bruno.auzet, FreesoundCC0
  9. Keys“Keys Jingle” by BanditXF, FreesoundCC0
  10. Crowd“Generic Exterior Walla” by brunoboselli, FreesoundCC0
  11. Guillotine blade“Giljotiini / Guillotine, metal blade sliding, hit, chink, some echo, i” by YleArkisto, FreesoundCC BY 4.0
  12. Uproar in the Convention“angry mob loop.aiff” by bevibeldesign, FreesoundCC0
  13. Pistol shot“musket.wav” by fennelliott, FreesoundCC0
  14. Crowd cheering“S11-28 Outdoor crowd reactions; cheering; very happy.wav” by craigsmith, FreesoundCC0