Robespierre & Thermidor

[Stratego]

Robespierre's injury on the night of 9/10 Thermidor

On the 8th of Thermidor 1794 Robespierre made a speech in the Convention concerning a possible conspiracy against the Republic. He proclaimed that some members of the Convention were involved in this conspiracy, but made the politically unwise decision NOT to name the names of the conspirators (which were Fouché, Tallien, Collot d'Herbois, Vadier and Amar...).

The next day, on the 9th of Thermidor, as they appeared in the National Convention, Robespierre and his brother, Saint-Just, Couthon and other supporters were arrested and brought to prison. However, Robespierre could still enjoyed popularity in the Commune of Paris and the Mayor of Paris Fleuriot-Lescot ordered the release of Robespierre and brought them to the Hotel de Ville.
It is here that troops of the National Convention under Barras besieged the City municipality and took Robespierre and his supporters captive.

Robespierre at some point received a vicious wound in the jaw. Not everyone agrees of how this happened. Some say that he was shot by a soldier of the National Guard named Merda others say he tried to commit suicide...

Now, having read enough literature on Maximilien Robespierre, I'm not sure he would have had the 'character' to shoot himself. He was so straightlined in his principles that he would have prefered - as he mentioned himself in his correspondence - that he would rather die a martyr of the Revolution. He had never handled a gun in his life and detested violence and blood. It took him an hour that evening to sign the order of insurrection to the sections that evening (which could have saved his life) so I don't think he would have been able to load and man a gun, bring it to his head and shoot.

I believe he was shot. The anger and fear for him was very great.

What do you think?



Greets,
Stratego

[Snowygerry]

Wasn't there an attempt on his life too, just before, by some girl?

[Stratego]

Originally Posted by Snowygerry

Wasn't there an attempt on his life too, just before, by some girl?

Cecile Renault...

[Snowygerry]

That's her tnx -

As to the matter at hand - I wouldn't know, wouldn't it be fairly obvious from the wound if it was self-inflicted or not?

Isn't there a death-mask too??

[Wellington95]

I always thought he had tried to commit suicide, no?