Augustin Bon Joseph de Robespierre (; 21 January 1763 – 28 July 1794), known as Robespierre the Younger (Robespierre le Jeune), was a French lawyer and politician, the younger brother of revolutionary leader Maximilien Robespierre. His political views were similar to his brother's. When his brother was arrested on 9 Thermidor, Robespierre volunteered to be arrested as well, and he was executed by the guillotine along with Maximilien and 20 of his supporters.

Early life

Robespierre was born in Arras, the youngest of four children of the lawyer Maximilien-Barthelemy-François de Robespierre and Jacqueline-Marguerite Carrault, the daughter of a brewer. His mother died when he was one year old, and his grief-stricken father abandoned the family to go to Bavaria, where he died in 1777. Augustin was brought up by his grandparents. His brother Maximilien had won a scholarship from the Abbey of St. Vaast to pay for his studies at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand and had been such an outstanding student that when he obtained his degree in law, he asked the Abbot, Cardinal de Rohan, if he would transfer the scholarship to his younger brother to allow him to follow the same career. The Cardinal agreed and Augustin Robespierre took up his brother's place studying law.

Although his political views were very similar to those of his brother, Robespierre was very different in character. Handsome, he was also fond of good food, gaming and the company of women, and called "Bonbon". At the outset of the Revolution, Robespierre was prosecutor-syndic of Arras. Together with Martial Herman he founded a political club in the town and wrote to his brother to secure its affiliation with the Jacobins in Paris. and he joined his brother in The Mountain and the Jacobin Club. <!--Augustin moved out from the Duplays when he was sent on mission to the Midi.--> Soon, Charlotte persuaded Maximilien to come with them to a new lodging in the nearby Rue Saint-Florentin because of his increased prestige and her tensions with Madame Duplay. However, this arrangement did not last long.

At the end of July 1793, Robespierre was sent on a mission to Alpes-Maritimes to suppress the Federalist revolt, On 17 December Augustin stayed in Ollioules. On 19 December 1793 Augustin did not take part in the military action, led by Dugommier and Napoleon, which retook Toulon from the British. In early January Augustin Robespierre was shocked at the changed atmosphere in the Jacobin club. By now the revolutionaries feared one another. Augustin went to live with Ricord and his wife. He also used his influence while with the Army of Italy to advance Napoleon's career. On his return to Paris he served as a secretary to the convention. There they spent the rest of the evening vainly trying to coordinate an insurrection. In the early morning of 10 Thermidor, the forces of the Convention under Paul Barras burst in and succeeded in taking most of them alive, except Le Bas, who had shot himself, and Jean-Baptiste Coffinhal, who succeeded in escaping but turned himself in after a week.

In order to avoid capture, Robespierre took off his shoes and jumped from a ledge. He landed on the steps, or on some bayonets, resulting in a pelvic fracture and several serious head contusions. Barras ordered that Robespierre be carried back to the rooms of the Committee of General Security.

References

Sources

Further reading

  • Alexandre Cousin, Philippe Lebas et Augustin Robespierre, deux météores dans la Révolution française (2010).
  • Marisa Linton, Choosing Terror: Virtue, Friendship and Authenticity in the French Revolution (Oxford University Press, 2013).
  • Sergio Luzzatto, Bonbon Robespierre: la terreur à visage humain (2010).
  • Martial Sicard, Robespierre jeune dans les Basses-Alpes, Forcalquier, A. Crest (1900).
  • Mary Young, Augustin, the Younger Robespierre (2011, ).
  • "L'enfance de Maximilien", in L’association Maximilien Robespierre pour l’Idéal Démocratique bulletin n° 45.
  • "Augustin, the Younger Robespierre", by Mary Young (in English)