Republicanism and Counter-Revolution, 1792–1795

Abstract

By overthrowing the monarchy, popular rebellion had effectively issued the ultimate challenge to the whole of Europe; internally, its armed insurrection had dissolved any distinction between ‘active’ and ‘passive’ citizens. The Revolution was now armed, democratic and republican. Within a few weeks it would face its greatest challenge. On 2 September word reached Paris that the great fortress at Verdun, just 250 kilometres from the capital and the last major obstacle to invading armies, had fallen to the Prussians. The news generated an immediate, dramatic surge in popular fear and resolve. Convinced that ‘counter-revolutionaries’ (whether nobles, priests or common-law criminals) in prisons were waiting to break out and welcome the invaders, hastily-convened popular courts sentenced to death about 1,200 of the 2,700 prisoners brought before them. Among them were about 240 priests; their deaths were the final proof for nonjuring clergy that the Revolution had become godless and anarchic. Yet those who ‘tried’ the prisoners were plainly convinced of the necessity and justice of their actions: one of them wrote home on 2 September: ‘necessity has made this execution inevitable…. It is sad to have to go to such lengths, but it is better (as they say) to kill the devil than to let the devil kill you.’ Another was himself put to death for the uncivic act of stealing a handkerchief from a corpse’s clothing.¹