Born in Arras, Maximilien de Robespierre was the son of a lawyer and a brewer. His father's family was supposedly tied to nobilty, so his marriage to a mere commoner was frowned upon. Living in a social rift and not belonging to aristocracy or peasantry, Maximillien's poor health only enhanced his lack of interactions with boys of his age.
When he was 6, his mother died after attempting to give birth to a fifth child. This sudden loss drove his father to despair, prompting him to abandon his job, drink and disappear without notice. One day he simply left and never returned.It was agreed that Maximilien's paternal aunts would take care of his two sisters Charlotte and Henriette while his maternal granfather Carrault would look after Maximilien and his brother Augustin.
However, both parties made it clear that the orphaned children were nothing but a nuisance; it was under these circumstances that Maximillien's "righteousness" first began to form. Believing that, as the eldest son, he had the duty to protect his siblings, he developed a sense of responsibility that would mark him for the rest of his life.
At the age of 11 he left Arras on a scholarship for the College Louis-le-Grand, the most respected university in Paris; his intent was to graduate and earn a job to support his brother and sisters. During his twelve years of studies he befriended Camille Desmoulins, a dear friend he would sentence to death, and Stanislas Freron, one of the many who would overthrow Maximilien. At the same time he became enamored with the ideals of freedom, inherent goodness and virtue, gaining a particular passion for Rousseau and his teachings.
After he turned 23 he returned to Arras and was a judge for a brief period of time. Although he had the resolve to protect the weak from the oppressors, he still wasn't ruthless enough to knowingly send a man to his demise. He resigned after condemning a criminal to death and refused to eat for two days afterwards.
"I know he is to blame. He is a rascal... but to kill a man..."
He decided instead to become an attourney for the poor people, often arguing for human rights. Needless to say, this made him extremely popular amongst them and contributed to his election as one of the eight delegates of the Third Estate, which then became the National Assembly, introducing him to the world of politics.
The people "intoxicated with liberty and enthusiasm" grew more and more excited at the prospect of a French Constitution. The excited crowd eventually turned its zeal into violence towards anything they perceived as a symbol of the monarchy.
A mob stormed the Bastille and, even though relatively few died, this event greatly disillusioned Maximilien. He who believed in the goodness of man, fought for human rights and stood for the oppressed witnessed the rabid fury of the commoners that weren't better than animals. Could France be truly left to them? Who would lead, who would command, who would inspire?
"Someone must take responsibility."
Someone who could bear the burden of cruelty, someone who would not fall to the temptation of power. Maximilien believed himself to be such a man. It was both a desire for justice, but also arrogance and conceit, which drove this man to his decision. He would fight for France, but not for its inhabitants.
In time he became more powerful, made important friends and joined influential organizations such as the Jacobin Club. The principles he had stubbornly held close to his heart slowly gave way to acceptance of violence as long as it aided the Revolution and, eventually, even the penalty of death he once greatly abhorred became agreeable.
"I do not hate King Louis, but only his crimes. For the Revolution to live, the King must die."
The Royal Executioner, Charles Henri-Sanson, decapitated the King with the guillotine. Months later, the Queen Marie Antoinette would be beheaded by his son, but a week before the execution Robespierre was ambushed and almost assassinated by someone of unspecified gender. He would later discover that he had locked swords with Chevalier d'Eon, the Knight of the White Lily.
Despite the death of the royal family, external and internal threats were still present. In order to stabilize the government, it was decided that terror would be needed to control the masses, but there were still disputes on how to handle it. Maximilien, having identified himself with the will of France, began to interpret any objection as a personal attack and as a sign of betrayal, to the point he ordered Sanson to execute his comrade Danton and even his childhood friend Camille Desmoulins.
In order to rally the people and appease the growing tension, he held a speech at the Convention; he denied any tyranny and announced the presence of a conspiracy against the Republic. Precisely because he didn't specify the traitor's name or affiliation, Maximilien unknowingly caused his own downfall by alarming all his enemies and prompting them to act.
The following day Saint-Just, one of Maximilien's allies, gave a speech to support him but was interrupted. When Maximilien intervened, a sudden crowd inexplicably kept shouting him down until he could no longer retaliate from the shock. As he was arrested, one man mocked him:
"The blood of Danton chokes him!"
Maximilien angrily replied: "Is it Danton you regret?... Cowards! Why didn't you defend him then?!"
Dogs that used the deads as a pretext and could only act when supported by a group angered him, but the sight of his brother Augustin being arrested as well nearly drove him to madness. At night, a man entered the chambers he was trapped in and shot him in the jaw. The wound brought him unspeakable pain even as he was ironically placed in the same cell Marie Antoinette had been imprisoned in.
He was executed the next day without trial. Charles Henri-Sanson, the executioner who had slayed many men under his orders, stared at him impassively. Maximilien made no attempt to meet the man's gaze and remained silent until the latter violently tore off the bandage holding his shattered jaw in place.
Maximilien Robespierre let out a last, agonized scream before the blade of the guilottine silenced him.
Originally Posted by RoydGolden
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