July 28: Maximilien Robespierre was guillotined without trial in the Place de la Révolution, Paris on July 28, 1794, during the French Revolution.

Maximilien de Robespierre (1758-94) c.1793 (oil on canvas)

Robespierre´s brother Augustin, his best friends Saint-Just, Couthon, Harriot, and 12 other close followers were also guillotined.

After the French King´s execution Louis XVI.

Maximilien de Robespierre was born on May 6, 1758, in Arras, France. Robespierre became a devotee of social philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, intrigued by the concept of a virtuous man who stands alone accompanied only by his conscience.

Robespierre gained fame for defending the neediest population of Paris, so he also gained the nickname of “The Incorruptible” due to his strong defense of moral values. He soon joined the radical side of Jacobin Party, during the French Revolution becoming one of its main leaders against the “Old Regime” and any form of monarchy.

Towards the end of 1793, Robespierre became the leader of the Committee of Public Safety, the principal organ of the Revolutionary government during the Reign of Terror.

Robespierre was shot through the jaw in the process of signing an appeal to arms — some say a botched suicide, but a wound from the invading national guard is more generally believed; at any rate, the bloodied document with his signature begun “R-o-” is one of the age’s most arresting historical artifacts.

Horrifically injured, he lay most of the following day exposed for public derision before he was hauled with his party to the guillotine, re-erected in the Place de la Revolution for this most memorable execution.

As a matter of fact, it is estimated that Robespierre and his close followers order the execution of mort ha 60 thousand people who did not follow the French Revolution for traitors.

Cartoon showing Robespierre guillotining the executioner after having guillotined everyone else in France.

 But in 1794 he was overthrown and guillotined along with his closest friends and followers.